I woke that morning to a handmaiden pulling the curtains open, flooding the room with light.
After the party last night, the Queen had met with me, and she had two handmaidens behind her. One a red haired, blue eyed, teen, and the other a brown haired, brown eyed, middle-aged women. The Queen had put them in my authority for as long as I remained here, as I had not brought my own, not wanting to burden them with harsh travel.
That is also why I hadn't brought my spare wardrobe, the only thing I had was a night dress, and one spare dress. Both had been thrown together and very quickly thrown at D'artagnan when he had run to her house asking for something to help me.
So the Queen had also had several articles of clothing brought into my temporary chambers.
The handmaidens' names were Anna and Theresa, and they were both pleased to serve me.
I detested someone being there to serve my every wish, to I ordered them to the do the least amount of work I could away with, using the excuse that 'I was raised in a household where we preformed most of our own tasks, and the servants helped us more than did the work for us' which the Queen seemed to accept. She told me I was very kind as such, and was confident that Anna and Theresa could please me during my stay.
They had showed me to the grandeur room which was bigger than many common rooms I'd seen, and it was a dark blue color nearly everywhere.
The high, sloping ceiling was white; the walls were dark blue, and was trimmed with purple; the vanity was a royal blue color, as was the dresser and cabinet; the four poster bed was extremely big, and covered with dark blue and purple blankets, pillows, and a big blue rug sat beside the bed that was very fluffy and soft; and the clothes that were brought to me by more servants were mostly dark blue and crimson, and purple and black, since those colors suited me best.
Thankfully I wouldn't be forced to wear different shoes, and the shoes I still had were extremely durable, so I was set.
Or, so I thought.
I had difficulty allowing the handmaidens to undress me and wash my hair for me, since that was something I normally did on my own. Plus, though they did understand that I wore a wig for beauty (I told them that my hair had been caught up in brambles a few days prior to leaving for the party and had to be cut short so I didn't ruin my hair. And had put the wig on for the sake of anyone thinking I was a man. They understood. Even if Anna was horrified with my story), I still didn't want them carding through my short, shoulder length hair.
And yet, I offended Theresa, though she hadn't said it, when I said I could untie my shoes on my own.
Apparently that meant that I basically told them I didn't trust them, nor did I think they were competent enough to do it for me.
So, after that, I just let them do what they wished.
As a result, I smelled like lavender and rose by the time they pushed a nightgown over my head, I hadn't worn one of these since I was a child, at least 5 years old, and led me to the fluffy bed.
The last thing Theresa did before she left, after ordering the younger girl out, was smooth my hair out maternally (I had told them my mother died when I was young after Anna asked if my mother was as pretty as I was) and blowing out the candle, informing me that if I needed anything, to ring the bell beside my door and she would be there to attend to me.
Anyway, back to my waking.
I woke groggily to the sun kissing my face as Anna threw the curtains open. I had woken partly when they had opened the door softly, but was too tired to really wake up.
Now though, I almost bolted out of my bed, berating myself for letting my guard down.
Theresa greeted me, already pulling me out of bed and sitting me down at the dark brown mahogany table, where breakfast (Warm ham and buttered bread) was already set.
As I ate daintily, Anna cleaned my wig and brushed it for me, and Theresa combed my regular hair.
Apparently, the Queen already knew of the wig, so there wasn't a need for me to wear it anymore.
Not with how pretty my normal hair was in Anna's opinion.
So I consented and Theresa combed through the curled mess that was my hair. I would be cutting it shorter the moment I could, because A) It was actually a respectable length for a girl, and B) It was getting annoying with how long it was.
Plus, even with the makeup that Anna was already preparing, and the girlish dresses, if I cut my hair, it would allow me to slip back into Rogue's persona. And, if anyone asked, I could just jokingly say my sister declared it too long and chopped it off.
"My Lady, are you finished? It isn't proper to pick through your food." Theresa chided gently.
I straightened as she pulled out a dark blue dress from the closet. I placed my silverware on the plate, and my napkin followed.
"Apologies, Theresa. Yes, I am finished." I replied with a small, innocent smile.
Theresa nodded and beckoned to me, "Then come here, and we shall get you prepared for the day. Anna, remove the food and return after you gather the Countess' escort."
Athos had been given a room near the servant's quarters, but had said he would come if I needed him.
Anna dipped her head, "Of course, ma'am. Right away."
She quickly cleared the desk and vanished through the door.
Theresa shook her head fondly as the girl retreated out of sight, "That girl…" Then she straightened and held up the elegant dress. "Do you think this would be a match for you today, Mistress?"
I dipped my head, "You have impeccable tastes. I think that shall do well."
Theresa nodded, then began to go through the motions of getting me dressed. I still didn't like it, but I didn't stop her, for fearing she'd get offended again.
I will say this though, getting a corset on was much easier with someone else.
Once I was done getting dressed, I sat down in front of the vanity and Theresa arranged tasteful makeup on my face so I had dark red lips, purple shadow on my eyelids, long black eyelashes, and dark pink blush.
Then she brushed my hair, making it curler than it normally was in the morning, and braided a rose on one side of my face so it hung over my ear.
She drew my dark blue cloak out and hung it over the chair, just in case I needed it at all today.
I stood and dipped my head towards her, "Many thanks to you, Theresa. If you don't mind me asking, do you have children?"
Theresa gave me a gentle smile, "That I do, Mistress. One daughter, and one son. They're twins, and they seem to adore giving me grey hairs. They are the most precious things I have in life. Besides their father of course." She giggled lightly, and she seemed to transform from a 30 year old who had to grow up to fast working her entire life, to a 20 year old laughing at an idiot who held her heart gently in his hands.
A warm smile blossomed on my face, "I thought you were a mother, Theresa. You remind me of my own." And in a way, she did. My mother had the same gruff exterior, a no nonsense woman who wouldn't hesitate to yell, but would transform into such a gentle person with the softest hands when she played with my sisters.
Theresa smiled at my words and asked, "Did you have siblings, Mistress?"
I nodded, "Yes. Two of them. I have not spoken to one in many years. But the other one and I are very close." I shook my head fondly, "The trouble we got into was enough to make my mother faint sometimes. I was certain she'd kill us on more than one occasion. But my father always managed to calm her." I smiled wistfully and Theresa walked up to me.
"Where are your sisters now?" She asked gently.
"One is married, far away from where I reside. The other remains with my uncle after her husband died." I wish I could have killed him, "I reside alone in my parent's old estate. They passed it on to me before they died." That was true. The land that my father owned was still mine, if I ever wanted to go back to the place that spawns many of my nightmares.
Theresa patted my hand, "Take my advice, Mistress, speak as much as you can with your sisters. Or you may lose them too quickly."
I smiled at her, "I cherish all the words they give me. But nothing beats seeing them in person. Perhaps I shall, eventually."
Theresa smiled gently at me, "I wish you luck in your endeavors then, Mistress."
I grinned, "And the same to you with your children."
Just then, a knock interrupted us.
Theresa crossed the room quickly and opened the door slowly, then backed away as Athos stepped into the room following Anna.
Anna curtsied saying, "The Musketeer is here, Mistress."
I bowed my head to her, watching Athos as he carefully took in my appearance. "Thank you, Anna, Theresa. You are excused for now."
"Mistress." Theresa dipped her head to me, and she and Anna left, closing the door as they exited.
"So, royalty suits you well." Athos said as he looked at the dress.
I crossed my arms and stood like I normally would, which was the opposite of lady-like. "I would love it if the days could go by extremely quickly now, then go back to normal once I'm Rogue again. I hate this get-up. Although," I looked him up and down, "You certainly look well as a Comte."
He wore a crimson suit with a black tunic underneath, he still had his sword at his side, and a hat covered one of his eyes with a pompous red feather.
He rolled his eyes and replied, "I detest this as much as you do. I never wanted to be a Comte again, and yet, here we both are."
"Yes, brother, we are here, and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it." I said with a sigh.
"Aramis could be with you instead." Athos offered with a glint in his eye.
"He would have flirted with the staff too much, and you still would have to come and clean up a mess." I fired back and he smirked at me, dipping his head in consent.
A knock intruded on us and Theresa poked her head inside, staring almost shrewdly at Athos, her maternal instincts already on alert. One big, strong, intelligent man alone with one weak, innocent, kind woman. Not a combo she wanted to experiment with.
"Her Majesty has sent a messenger, requesting your company, Mistress. It would be unwise to decline." Theresa stated, the under spoken 'and you don't need to be alone with this man' went with that sentence well.
Athos offered me his arm, and after I accepted it readily, we followed Theresa through the winding hallways, with Anna a few steps behind us.
I wanted to laugh at how protective Theresa seemed already, after only showing her kindness for one night. Yet, she was willing to 'get rid of' the Musketeer beside me should he look at me wrong. It was amusing, and somehow sweet.
