Asking Miss Flora

by FranziskavonKarmaWhippedYou

Spin-off to my fanfic, "Clive's Toy". The nurse and doctor, Miss Flora, sees everyone in Luke's Manor every week, and she's a lot more aware of the corruption and violence than she lets on, especially the corruption lead by Clive, and yet there's nothing she can do but try to help his wife Eliza. Clive/OC, AU, mention of domestic abuse.

"Good morning, Miss Eliza," Miss Flora said cheerfully. "How are you today?"

"Fine," Eliza sighed, rubbing her head. "I feel a little strange not being a blood slave anymore." She folded her arms and gazed out into the azure sky, watching the puffy clouds float by. "I don't deserve to be anything but a slave. That's all I ever will be."

"Don't think that way, Miss Eliza," Miss Flora replied, tilting her head to the side. "You deserve to be much more than a slave, everyone does. Sadly, the world isn't perfect. So, has Master Clive hurt you at all lately? I can't do much now, but if he is hurting you we really should do something."

"He's not hurting me at all," Eliza lied. She had become a very good, fluent liar from lying so much to Miss Flora. "Not at all. We're just... totally fine." She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I'm a little tired, though. It was difficult getting to sleep last night, you know, those days when you can hardly sleep."

"Yes, yes, they're quite common. Make sure your sleeplessness doesn't happen too often, though. If it does, I can give you some pills for it," Miss Flora said cheerfully. "Anything else you would like to mention?"

"No, nothing," Eliza yawned. "Can I go?" Miss Flora nodded and Eliza almost ran out in her desperation. The next in was Clive, who looked half-dead, his hair unbrushed and his face unshaven.

"You're tearing her apart, you know that, don't you?" Miss Flora asked sharply, her eyes darkening.

Clive shrugged. "She's never been whole."