It was 1933, the height of the Great Depression, and Ruby was headed to the "nice" side of town on a train. She was alone for the first time in all of her twenty-one years, and her hands shook with nervousness. All she had was one small suit case of belongings and a small pouch of change to pay the driver once she got off the train and into a cab that would take her to the manor. The slightly too small black dress barely went down to her knees, and it barely covered her chest. She had wanted to borrow a dress of her aunt's, but she had refused. Her aunt explained that this was a man she was going to work for - he'd appreciate the exposed skin.
It made Ruby feel dirty. Even with the obvious white apron that she wore around her waist, the nice black heels her uncle bought, and her brand new pantyhose, she still felt like a whore in the tight black dress. It felt as if she was not going to simply clean some old man's house, but selling her body to him. When she explained this to her aunt, she simply laughed. It gave Ruby chills.
Ruby had been orphaned by her parents at a young age, and while her aunt and uncle refused to tell her what happened, they took her in to their home and offered to feed and cloth her. No, she was not treated near as well as her five cousins, but it was better than an orphanage. They took care of her for nearly fifteen years, and that was why she was being sent away to live with a stranger and do his bidding. It made sense, and she wasn't bitter about it. She knew that she owed this to her aunt and uncle, and she'd do the best she could.
Once at the manor, Ruby walked on shaking legs toward the front door. The house was huge - at least five of her uncle's houses in one- and extremely nice. How the hell she was supposed to clean it all and do the cooking (and whatever else), she had no clue. However, if the pay was as nice as the house, she'd be wiling to do just about anything.
In the reflection of the beautiful glass door, Ruby inspected herself, trying to make her long, red curls tame enough to make an impression. Of course, she was expecting an elderly man of some kind, so this was all business. She just needed the job, and she'd do anything to keep it. There was no telling what her aunt and uncle would do if they had to pay for her to come home...
It made Ruby feel dirty. Even with the obvious white apron that she wore around her waist, the nice black heels her uncle bought, and her brand new pantyhose, she still felt like a whore in the tight black dress. It felt as if she was not going to simply clean some old man's house, but selling her body to him. When she explained this to her aunt, she simply laughed. It gave Ruby chills.
Ruby had been orphaned by her parents at a young age, and while her aunt and uncle refused to tell her what happened, they took her in to their home and offered to feed and cloth her. No, she was not treated near as well as her five cousins, but it was better than an orphanage. They took care of her for nearly fifteen years, and that was why she was being sent away to live with a stranger and do his bidding. It made sense, and she wasn't bitter about it. She knew that she owed this to her aunt and uncle, and she'd do the best she could.
Once at the manor, Ruby walked on shaking legs toward the front door. The house was huge - at least five of her uncle's houses in one- and extremely nice. How the hell she was supposed to clean it all and do the cooking (and whatever else), she had no clue. However, if the pay was as nice as the house, she'd be wiling to do just about anything.
In the reflection of the beautiful glass door, Ruby inspected herself, trying to make her long, red curls tame enough to make an impression. Of course, she was expecting an elderly man of some kind, so this was all business. She just needed the job, and she'd do anything to keep it. There was no telling what her aunt and uncle would do if they had to pay for her to come home...