NOT IN OUR STAR
Lisa's POV
As Irene and her father ate breakfast, we prepared a simple porridge for the 3 guests at the inn that had requested breakfast. I delivered that then helped clear the table as she and her father had finished eating breakfast. Once that was done Mark the cook, made a simple but hardy meal for us. It consisted of eggs, bacon, toast and milk that had been squeezed from a cow only a few hours earlier. The milk was a bit different, but I was hungry and didn't care, The food was actually pretty good.
Once our breakfast was prepared we ate in the kitchen. Being new, they asked me a few more questions about Thailand and the old west. I stuck with my cover story and answered the questions as best I could.
After eating, Mina was assigned to cleaning dishes and the kitchen and Mrs. Ahn took me to help with some of the household duties. I could only imagine what she'd have me do first.
From a closet, she pulled out a greenish ceramic pot with a lid and handed it to me.
"Your first duties will be to empty the slop or if you're not familiar with it. Take this pot and empty the chamber pots in Mr. Bae and Miss. Irene's bedrooms. Once the slop is emptied into the privy outside, you will take the soap from the downstairs closet and thoroughly clean both the slop bucket and chamber pots, Once cleaned and dried, they should be put back under the beds. Once you're done with that, you can assist me in changing the linens."
Chamber pot? Seriously you said chamber pot? Oh goodie, I travel back more than a hundred years and I get to do what for the girl of my dreams? Clean up her piss, that's what! It took every bit acting skill I had, not to visibly cringe at the thought of it.
I just bowed slightly, grabbed the slop bucket and set off to work. Heading upstairs, I first went to Mr. Bae room and looked under the bed where I spotted the white ceramic chamber pot. Pulling it out, I did cringe as I could see it had been used.
"So Lisa, how did you spend your summer vacation?" I muttered as I emptied the vessel.
Next was Irene's, but I felt much different as I crept into her room. Though I had perfect reason to be there, I felt like an intruder as I crept into the empty room. Mrs. Ahn told me, Irene had gone riding this morning and wouldn't be back until lunch.
The first thing I noticed was the faint smell of wildflowers. I could see a bunch of flower in a vase by her bed. The room had a large 4 poster bed, an antique dresser and a vanity table with chair. There was also a large trunk at the foot of the bed and a small bookcase in the corner.
I was in her room though on one level I felt like an intruder, I also felt an odd thrill as I walked to her dresser to see her things laid neatly out on the dresser. I picked up a comb; it was the very same come that in 2014 I would find a single strand of hair on it. It looked much newer and had a lot more hairs caught in it. It felt so strange to be holding it again.
But I quickly snapped out of my reverie as I realized, that messing around in Irene's room would not be a good idea. So I retrieved the chamber pot and did my duty, despite how disgusting it was.
When I was done with the rather horrible job of emptying and cleaning the chamber pots, I helped Mrs. Ahn change the linens then I scrubbed the pantry floor, after that I polished the sliver. In this household, there was always something to do and always something the needed cleaning.
Before I knew it lunch had come around and I was once again tasked to help with making and serving of lunch. Actually by the time I had arrived, Mina and Mark had almost already finished making it, I would be just serving lunch and helping with cleanup.
Lunch today consisted of a vegetable soup, assorted cut meat and cheeses and a pudding for dessert.
Like Breakfast, lunch was always served at the exact same time each day. In this case, lunch is always served at 12:30 sharp.
Walking in the kitchen I could see Mina arranging three bowls of soup on a gleaming silver tray. It had better gleam, as I was the one that polished the fucking thing.
I am now able to add to my long list of things I hate, the following
-Chamber pots
-Emptying chamber pots
-Cleaning chamber pots.
-Polishing silver
I'm sure that list will grow much longer by the time I leave 1869.
I looked down at the three bowls. "Who's dining with Miss Irene and Mr. Bae?'
Mina blushed a bit and couldn't help but gush. "It's Mr. Jun-myeon, Miss Irene's husband to be. He's joining them today."
Instantly I felt a sickening feeling form in the pit of my stomach. I would finally meet the villain of this tale.
I was brought out of my thoughts by the chime of the kitchen clock indicating it was 12:30.
"That's my cue." I said with a fake smile, which only resulted in a puzzled look by Mina.
Walking into the dining room, I could see Hyun and her father both seated at the table. However across from Irene was a young, well dressed and even I'll admit, handsome man with thick black hair and sort of a roguish smile.
"Who's this?" He said with a raised eyebrow as he looked me over with a subtle look I've seen from horny men and women all too many times.
Avoiding the overwhelming temptation to take the nearest knife and shove it in his eye, I put on my best fake smile and said. "Miss Lisa Manoban of Thailand, at your service."
The only service I want to do him is bury the asshole. I had read today's diary before I went to work and there was no mention of Suho coming over for lunch. But then again, lunch was never mentioned at all. I guess Irene left out details sometimes.
"Yes Jun-myeon." Said Irene. "This is Miss Lisa. She's a Thai and is traveling. She has taken a job as Nancy's replacement for a while. Today is her first day."
He nodded politely and turned his smile on me. "Well it's nice to meet you Lisa."
I nodded in return and played my part as a respectful servant perfectly. "Thank you Mr. Kim." Despite I was screaming inside, at the fact I knew what he would do to Irene. I get him now. He's charming and devilishly handsome, but behind that, lays a total self-centered asshole with utterly black heart. A bit like a male version of my ex girlfriend Ji-eun. Wouldn't it be hideously ironic if Ji-eun was his descendant?
Not wanting to be in his presence anymore, I quickly but efficiently served the soup and returned to the kitchen to get the rest of the food.
"Isn't he handsome?" Said Mina as I returned. I could tell that she's like probably half the women in this town had a crush on him.
Not wanting to be rude to Mina who was rather simple but nice, I shrugged noncommittally as I grabbed the next tray to be brought out. "I guess."
I served lunch and then went to help to dish the pudding that would be for dessert.
I came back out at the end of lunch with Mina to collect the dishes, so the pudding could be served. As I came out I could hear Suho boasting.
"I've been told I have some talent in the field of acting. Lord Ellsworth was so impressed by my reciting of the opening soliloquy from Richard the III, that he said I could be the next John Philip Kremble."
"Oh could I hear it please?" Said Irene, looking impressed, that irked me to no end.
I kept on working collecting dishes as I heard him speak.
"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments;
Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front;
And now, instead of mounting barded steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,"
"Oh. That's so good Jun-myeon." Irene said clapping and looking even more impressed than before, sending my jealousy meter off the scale.
But thinking over what he just said, I realized something and though it was a horribly idea, I couldn't resist.
"You forgot two of the lines", I said as I started to walk out of the room.
Besides being an actor, I played the part of Lady Ann Neville from that play in high school.
Suho's smug smile abruptly melted off his face. "I'm sorry, What?"
By now both Irene and Mr. Bae were looking at me oddly. From the doorway, I could see Mina looking at me with a horrified expression her face.
I stood up and put a slight smirk on my face. "You did well, but you forgot two of the lines. After, Our Bruised arms hung up for monuments; you should have said."
I stood up straight and confidently said.
"Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures."
"Then comes the line, Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front."
To say they looked stunned wasn't quite the word for it. Judging by the embarrassed look on Suho's face, he knew I was right.
"I..I...Think that's correct." He stammered briefly before trying to recover. "You are familiar with Shakespeare?" He said cautiously.
Besides the fact that I played in Richard the III, and Macbeth at different times, got an A+ last semester in my class on William Shakespeare.
"My father had an extensive library and believe it or not there was a small theatre troupe that operated in my area that was led by one of your former countrymen. His name was Barnabas Collins. I attended several of the performances and had a few minor parts."
Still looking slightly insulted, he said in a rather snotty tone. "Perhaps you could quote something for us."
I looked him straight in the eye and confidently recited another one.
"Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Julius Caesar, Act 1, scene 2."
It was a quote about fate and in this case very appropriate. Suho sat there looking as if he didn't know what to make of me. Irene just looked really puzzled, and Mr. Bae's face had a very unreadable expression.
After a moment, Mr. Bae nodded politely. "That's quite good Miss Lisa."
Realizing my jealous need to drop Suho down a few pegs, may have gotten me in hot water, I quickly bowed.
"Over the years I've grown to love Shakespeare and I just hate to see it misquoted. My apologies. If you'll excuse me, I have to attend to my duties."
I didn't want to apologize, but felt it was necessary as the last thing I needed was to lose my job.
As I walked into the kitchen, Mina looked at me as if I had strangled a whole basket of puppies. Mrs. Ahn quickly pulled me aside and mildly chewed me out for embarrassing Suho. I was reminded I was there to serve and had done an excellent job so far, but I was not hired to correct misquoted Shakespeare. I apologized profusely and was told to return to the duties of serving.
"You're lucky Miss Lisa. Mr. Bae father was a great lover of Shakespeare and he will understand, but don't press your luck." Mrs. Ahn said as I went back to work.
"I am sorry, I just let my passions get the best of me. It won't happen again."
When I returned, Suho gave me a rather dour look and Irene's father looked at me suspiciously for a moment. Irene's jaw, I think was still hanging open from before.
Knowing it was the best course of action. I quickly swallowed my pride and apologized. "Again my apologies, Mr. Kim. I meant no offense. I'd hate to see you embarrass yourself by misquoting it another time. My father always said, if you do something, do it right."
This time Suho eyed me suspiciously for a moment, but then begrudgingly accepted my apology. "Quite alright Miss Lisa. I see you are quite passionate about Shakespeare. It's nice to know that not all Thai's are totally uncultured."
I think there was an insult buried in there, but I half expected that. At this point I smiled, finished serving the pudding began to leave.
"That was very impressive Lisa." A now smiling Irene said as she looked to me with admiration. Just seeing that, made my heart sing right then and there.
I genuinely smiled back. "Thank you Miss Irene. If you'll excuse me."
As I left the room, I reminded myself that I needed to not let my jealousy interfere with my plan. Little victory's like that are nice, but could do more harm than good. If I blow this job I might possibly blow my chance to save Irene. I need to be more careful.