You walked your way through the streets, heading for Chamber House, Wapping Wall on the east end of London, otherwise known as the Delaney Family residence.

You had moved to London for work & by happenstance, the Delaney family needed a second servant alongside the main servant that already resided there.

No one seemed to want the job so you took it

By the time you got to the Victorian town house, past the black iron gate, through the small front garden & up the brickwork steps the rain had begun. How typical of late autumn weather in London.

You knocked three times, before an elderly man with a balding head answered; Brace, the longest standing servant of the Delaney family & fiercely loyal to them.

Brace looked you up & down before speaking with a Scottish accent in an almost irritable manner: you’re the new help?

You nodded: yes sir.

Brace: you’re late… it’s pissin’ down out there, get inside before ye catch yer death & I’ll have to look for a second set of hands again.

You hurried inside immediately with your small suitcase & all you owned inside it as Brace slammed the front door & brought you through to the kitchen.

Brace: your job is as simple as they come You help me cook, clean, look after the garden & run errands for the master of the house.

You: yes sir.

Brace: don’t call me sir, I’m not the master of the house I’m just a bloody servant too.

On the third floor you’ll find a small bedroom, that’s where you’ll sleep, your work day starts at 6am before Mr Delaney & Mrs Delaney wake up.

Before you ask me; Mrs Delaney is the widow of Mr Delaney’s late father; Horace.

She technically hired you, but it’s his money that pays your wage. So you “work” for her but if James isn’t happy, yer gone. Is that understood?

You: Yes sir, sorry, yes…

Brace: Brace!

You: Yes Brace!

Brace: one more thing, the Delaney’s are a… quirky family. But whatever you do, whatever people you see come & go, you don’t speak unless spoken to & you mind yer own business is that clear?

You: Yes Brace

Brace: good, also it goes without saying, if anyone unfamiliar to the house - anyone on the streets inquires about James, myself or Mrs Delaney, you shut yer mouth & tell them nothing, even if the devil himself shot out of the floor boards, You. Know. Nothing.

You: understood

Brace: good, now on ye go up the stairs, third floor, last door on the left, can’t miss it. Make sure you take a bath too, ye stink of someone who slept in a barn. James is out & God knows when he’ll be home, Mrs Delaney is an actress in theatre nearby, she’s already there, so you have time to make sure you’re well settled in & make sure you’re personal hygiene is exceptional.

You flushed at that: yes Brace. 
Brace: & one final thing

You listened intently

Brace: Whatever you see James do, or don’t do, mind your business. He has… certain interests, odd ones, turn the other cheek if you witness anything

You, for the final time said: yes Brace

The Scotsman nodded & gestured with his head for you to get up to your room, get cleaned up & settled in. So off you went dwelling on the advertisement in the papers that brought you to here “Dedicated & trustworthy housekeeper wanted” wondering if those specific words, now meant something else entirely.