Miss Vanessa and the Dinner

Vanessa looked at her watch. It was a quarter to six. She decided to set off to look for the dining room as she didn’t want to be late for dinner on her first night and make a bad first impression. As she walked down the corridor she looked out of the windows. She could see the woodlands behind the castle. She couldn’t wait to get out there, back into the fresh air. The castle had a bit of a mustiness about it. She supposed that came from age. The carpets were beautiful but a little dusty. They could do with a jolly good vacuum. There were portraits lining the walls of the corridor of men, each with a little nameplate and description underneath. She made a mental note to come back later and inspect each of these more carefully. She made her way down the curved staircase and back through the grand foyer. She walked through the first room which was a beautiful reception room and when she opened the door at the other end found herself in the dining room. The dining table was long and made of dark coloured wood.  At each place setting there was an impressive looking chair. The Professor was already seated at the head of the table and he motioned to her to have a seat near him. The little girl came bouncing in happily and took her seat at the table. “Hello young lady! I am Miss Vanessa and we are going to be great friends.” Vanessa said to the little girl. The little girl nodded but didn’t talk or make any eye contact. “What is your name?” asked Vanessa. At this point the professor interjected. “She doesn’t have a name.” he said. Puzzled, Vanessa looked at him quizzically. The professor went on… “Well you see, ten years ago there was a knock on the castle door. By the time I had gotten there the person had left and there was just a baby wrapped in a blanket left on the doorstep. I kept thinking someone would come back for her so I didn’t think I needed to give her a name so I just never did! Now I don’t see why we should impose a name on her.” “I see.” said Vanessa. With that cook bustled in with big serving platters on a trolley. There was roast chicken, vegetables, potatoes and gravy. The food was delicious and Vanessa enjoyed her first meal with the strange Professor and the little girl with no name.