Hey guys! Really, really sorry I haven't been updating. I've been really busy and such, but I finally have Chapter 3 up! yay! Haha, anyways, so I sent out a message to all of those users who have an account and have been kind enough to review, so they knew when this one was coming ;). Awesome job guys hehe. Anyway, I'm hoping that I will be able to update sooner than just every few months. Gah, that was terrible of me, and I'm so sorry. As for that, anyone who reviews gets a shout out, and I'll check out your pages...if you have an account of course ;). Love you all, and really sorry!
~Shelbator
"Mrs. Levski?" Katerina called, feeling vulnerable in her towel. The small woman appeared suddenly in front of her.
"Ms. Katerina darling, what are you doing without your clothes on?" The woman almost shrieked. Katerina shifted from one foot to another uncomfortably.
"Mrs. Levski, my clothes are soiled. Is there a place to wash them?"
"Why, of course dear, but first get dressed quickly! Mr. Levski is usually home upon this hour!" Mrs. Levski cried, looking extremely concerned. Katerina nodded quickly and hurried up the narrow staircase and into her room, first one on the left. The room was plain, with a small burrow, a twin size bed, and a full length mirror. Katerina struggled to contain her emotions as she closed the white curtains and opened her suitcase. Choosing a soft dress, one she often used for sleeping if she was too lazy to change, Katerina slipped it over her head and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes looked a little red, her face drawn, and her wet, dark brown hair was not as shiny as it usually was. Katerina rubbed her eyes tiredly. She looked older, much too experienced for her own age.
"Oh, Darling, I have wonderful news!" Cried Mrs. Levski. Katerina jolted slightly, before realizing that Mrs. Levski was not talking to her and instead was talking to someone downstairs, presumably her husband.
"What is it?" Mr. Levski's voice was soft, but commanding. Nothing at all like Katerina's father. Katerina's eyes watered at the thought of her Father. But no, she must remain strong.
"We have a guest!" Mrs. Levski gushed.
"A guest?" Mr. Levski repeated, sounding confused.
"Yes, a guest. The local inn was all filled up and I told Mr. Ellwood that if he had any extra people that needed a place to stay they could station here. You even said it would be a wonderful idea," Mrs. Levski cooed. For some reason, Katerina doubted Mr. Levski had any say in the matter, and that he would never use the word wonderful unless he was being sarcastic.
"Oh, yes. Well, may I meet the chap?" Mr. Levski wondered, and Katerina heard shuffling.
"Oh, no it's a young lady," Mrs. Levski explained quickly. There was a moment of pause.
"May I meet her, then?"
"Of course you can, darling! Just let me see if she is still up. She's had a very tiring day."
"Very well," Mr. Levski replied, and Katerina heard rustling and creaking as Mrs. Levski walked up the stairs. Katerina, feeling very tired and not at all generous, hurried to her bed, ducking under the covers just as Mrs. Levski opened the doors. There was a moment of silence, Katerina trying to keep her breathing even and steady, while Mrs. Levski stood in the doorway. After another moment, Mrs. Levski shut the door and Katerina let out a huge breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
"She's asleep dear," Katerina heard Mrs. Levski call quietly down. "You can meet her in the morn." Katerina let slow tears trickle down her pretty face and onto the pillow as she fell asleep to the carriages outside clambering on.
OoOoOoOo
"Good morning!" Cried Mrs. Levski, throwing open the curtains. The sun was just rising, a small light peaking into Katerina's room. Katerina resisted the urge to huddle under the blankets and sob, and instead looked up at Mrs. Levski sleepily.
"What time is it?"
"Oh, like my mother always told me, 'Time to get your buttocks out of your bed,'" Mrs. Levski informed her, all smiling. Katerina almost groaned, then stopped herself. These people were giving her a place to stay, and warm hospitality. She needed to give something in return.
"Yes, Mrs. Levski," Katerina said softly, getting out of bed and rubbing her eyes.
"Ms. Katerina, you are not to be working yet; you have not even had breakfast!"
"B-"
"No 'but's', my dear you must be starving! To think, last night you were so tired you just went straight to bed, but not now dear!" Mrs. Levski refused to take 'no' for an answer. She rushed to the kitchen, and Katerina heard the her heave something heavy, then a muffled thump followed. Katerina hurried in after her, worried, but found she was putting wood into the oven.
"Mrs. Levski you do not need to go through so much trouble-"
"Oh, it is no trouble at all, dear. Would you like eggs?" She asked, a kind smile on her face. Katerina felt her eyes tear up once more, and knew it most likely would not be the last.
"Could I?"
"Why, of course my dear," Mrs. Levski turned and opened the ice box, grabbed the egg carton and started cracking. She mixed it all into a separate bowl while greasing up the pan with a butter stick. She worked with small delicate hands that moved so quickly Katerina had to stop watching in order not to get nauseous.
The eggs did not take long to make at all, and Katerina was soon eating the eggs like a caveman. When she finally looked up about halfway through her meal, egg yoke dripping down her face, she met Mrs. Levski's astonished look. Katerina swallowed heavily and used a napkin to daintily wipe her burning face. She was so embarrassed; how could she forget her manners in another woman's house?
"I am so sorry, madam, please forgive me. It is just…I have not eaten in a long while," Katerina stated, blinking at her worriedly. Mrs. Levski stared at her for another moment, before smiling kindly.
"Do not fret, your table manners are forgotten. However, if you are to go out into society, as I imagine you will- with your beauty and all- I would suggest trying to eat a little bit more as to not eat all of the host's food, hmm?" Mrs. Levski chuckled and walked out of the room, humming to herself. Katerina stared after her in shock.
"Go out into…society?" Katerina whispered, going pale. Oh no, not yet! It's far to early! What if someone recognizes me? What if they know I have been ruined, soiled, no good-
"Good morning, young lady!" A booming voice echoed around Katerina. Katerina jumped, startled, knocking her plate to the ground. With a horrified gasp, she was staring at a man who looked very much like her father, besides the fact that this man was plumper, more broad, and had a smile on his happy face.
"Oh, I am so sorry! I promise I will clean it up!" Katerina stuttered, reaching down and grabbing the broken plate, egg spilling onto the stone floor. However, Katerina picked up the wrong side and the jagged plate cut into her palm. Blood seeped out of her wound, and Katerina winced, trying to hide the fact she just not only cut herself, but ruined the plate even more with her blood.
Before Katerina could put her hand behind her back, a beefy one grabbed onto her wrist tightly. Katerina gasped, not really in pain but in shock. She looked up slowly at the man, seeing his eyes darken. He turned away quickly, letting go, and Katerina rubbed her wrist.
"I thought I hear something-" Mrs. Levski stopped at the edge of the room, eyes on Katerina's hand.
"Mrs. Levski, I promise I will pay you back! Oh this is so terrible, all I wanted to do was to stay out of everyone's way-"
"Nonsense, child. Dropping a plate and making a small mess is not deadly, it is a cut that stays untreated that is deadly," Mrs. Levski said lightly, keeping her eyes on Katerina's hand.
"B-"
"Mr. Levski, would you be a dear and get some wipes and bandages for poor Ms. Katerina? She's had a hard few days, and losing a hand is not going to bring her any happiness," Mrs. Levski asked the man. Mr. Levski nodded without looking back and walked into another room. Mrs. Levski sighed, raising her eyes to meet guilt stricken chocolate ones.
"Now, now, don't be upset. It is not necessarily your fault; accidents do happen."
"What about the mess?" Katerina asked, looking at Mrs. Levski. Mrs. Levski studied the young girl before her. She obviously needed someone to talk to, someone her own age.
"Not to worry, I can clean it up," Mr. Levski came back in, all smiles again. Mrs. Levski playfully scowled at him.
"No you will not! My husband is not a doctor who cleans while his wife has to deal with…blood," Mrs. Levski hesitated before saying 'blood' and shuddered. Mr. Levski rolled his dark eyes, and went to stand in front of Katerina. He stood there, staring at Katerina's hand what must have been at least ten seconds, before Mrs. Levski cleared her throat delicately.
"Dear…" Mr. Levski jumped, causing Katerina to start and almost fall off her chair.
"Sorry, just dreaming off. At a most inconvenient time as well," Mr. Levski chuckled to himself, before undoing the bandage from it's tight ball and taking alcohol from the cabinet. "I am terribly sorry, Ms. Katerina is it?, but this might sting a little," he warned, before taking a swig of the alcohol, then pouring a little of it on the clean bandage. Katerina watched as he pressed it against her palm, wincing a little at the sting.
"This should just be cleaning it of infections," he explained, dabbing a little more, then seeming satisfied, wrapping her injured hand with a new clean cloth. "There, good as new. The next time you bathe, make sure you soak it in the warm water, before you wash. It'll help the sting of the soap on the cut." Getting up, Mr. Levski put away the medical supplies before turning back to her.
"How are you, Mrs. Levski?"
"Oh, just finished," she smiled at him prettily. He grinned back, and the both looked at Katerina.
"Mrs. Levski," Mr. Levski said, still staring at Katerina.
"Yes?"
"I think it's about time you got a new dress; for that upcoming ball." Mrs. Levski's eyes widened it surprise.
"Really?" She cried, smiling hugely.
"Yes. Now I have business to attend to, but perhaps our guest would like to join you? If you find one you simply must get, or even two, go ahead. I'll call ahead to Mr. Ellwood so he can perhaps assist you." With that, Mr. Levski left the room, and Katerina's head spun at the thought of going out into society to buy a ball gown, even if it wasn't for her.
Oh, right forgot to say this at the top:
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