Man at War – Excerpt No. 29

The courtier walked out on the hall and shortly thereafter a long progression of rough two dozen staff walked in carrying in bags and that was followed by several pairs carrying steamer trunks. All of it was stacked neatly by the door, and every single one retreated from sight before either of the women could say anything.

With the last man done, the courtier lingered long enough to ensure there were no additional instructions. When it became clear they were ignoring him, he excused himself and closed the door behind him.

This concluded the first of what would be many training sessions. Maxwell, the night concierge, felt it was best to work up the night staff in dealing with difficult clients. This happened to be the same demographic who tend to decapitate waiters due to their tone.

a cinematic black and white photo of a dignified Courtier stands at the ornate door waiting to be acknowledged by two women, a refined lady and a humble maid, who are intentionally ignoring him, their faces expressionless, the lady's skin a porcelain complexion and the maid's a slightly tanned tone, both with distinct facial features, the lady's hair styled in an elegant updo and the maid's in a simple bun, their clothing and the setting, including the lavish furnishings and wallpaper, are all appropriate for 1914, with the Courtier dressed in a formal suit and top hat, the lady in a luxurious gown and the maid in a modest uniform, the photography style is highly detailed and dramatic, with a shallow depth of field, and a sense of tension and anticipation palpable in the air.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.