Back At The Estate
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who
After arriving home, Rose went in through the kitchen door and began preparing lunch.
Cassandra and Yvonne were very strict in their meals. Everything had be on the table at a specific time, placed in a certain order and everything had to be near-perfect. This was often irritating, but Rose was used to it.
Rose had barely finished placing the salad and hardboiled eggs on the table, when she heard Yvonne's yell as she entered the dining room, followed by Cassandra and Martha.
"Isn't lunch ready yet?" she complained. "I'm starving!"
"Yes, it's ready," said Rose. "Salad and six-minute hardboiled eggs, as you requested. Good afternoon, my ladies. I trust you've had a good morning?"
"That's none of your business, is it, Cinder-pig?" Yvonne snapped. "A filthy beggar like you shouldn't even be preparing meals for high society like me and my family. You're pure filth! Look at you, ash and soot everywhere! You should sleep with the pigs and not in the house!"
Rose resisted the urge to slap her. She would not lose her temper and sink to Yvonne's level.
"Milady, is the meal to your liking?" Rose asked.
"If you cannot do better, then I suppose it will have to do. Your efforts are dreadfully inadequate as I've noticed there is no salt on the table," Cassandra sneered.
"My apologies, I'll go fetch some now," said Rose, grateful for the chance to get away.
She'd barely placed the salt on the table when there was a knock at the door.
"Well, don't sit there gawking at the meal!" Cassandra snapped. "Go open the door!"
Rose opened the door to find it was a messenger, who handed her a telegram sealed with golden wax. Rose thanked him and went back to the table.
"Well, who was at the door?" Cassandra asked.
"A messenger from the palace—" she was cut off as Cassandra snatched the letter from her hands.
"It's a invitation to the Midsummer Eve's ball tomorrow night. One of the princes will most likely choose a bride that very night—or both of them. All women eligible are invited to attend. Well, this will be a fine opportunity for the two of you to be married!" said Cassandra.
Yvonne looked delighted and Martha rolled her eyes.
"It's just a ball, Mother," said Martha. "And I don't want to marry a Prince. I love—"
"Hush," Yvonne snapped. "Marrying royalty will be good for us! Think of the money and status we'll have!"
"Your sister's right. Well, we'll prepare you two for the ball. It's the chance of a lifetime."
"Two?" said Martha. "Can't Rose come?"
"Of course she can't!" snapped Yvonne. "My patience, Martha! Who on earth ever heard of a servant girl attending a royal ball? We'd be the disgrace and laughingstock of the entire town!"
"Mother, can't Rose come?" Martha asked, ignoring her sister.
"She can't," said Cassandra.
"What?!" said Martha and Rose, together.
"She has too much work to do getting the house clean and the two of you ready. Besides, why would she even want to go?"
"But she—"
Rose cut her off. "No, it's fine. She's right, I've got a lot of work to do and I doubt I'd enjoy myself anyway." She was lying. She wanted to go but she didn't want Martha in trouble for defending her.
Martha looked regretful as she kept silent.
"You see, she's fine with it, Really, Martha, sometimes I wonder if you're really my sister," said Yvonne.
That night, Rose cried a little. How could she be denied every small chance for a little happiness? She thought of her friend who'd helped her. Who was he and why had he been so kind to her when she only got good treatment from Mickey and Martha?
There was the sound of the door opening and Martha came in carrying some blankets. "You look cold. Come and warm up," she whispered.
Rose gratefully took the blankets as she snuggled up against Martha, who stroked her hair.
"Yvonne's wrong, Rose. You have to go to the ball," said Martha.
Rose shook her head. "I can't go. Cassandra said I couldn't. What if I get caught? And what if they found out you tried to help me? And I have nothing to wear."
"We'll figure something out."
"But what if—"
Martha cut her off.
"No more 'what if's' Rose," she said, firmly. "I'll find someway for you to go and that's that. Now, get some sleep. I promise you, everything will fine."
Rose nodded and began to fall asleep. "Thanks, Martha."
Martha squeezed her shoulder and let Rose sleep.