A/N hey guys, another chapter from me!! Now someone pointed out to me that quite possibly the worst thing I could do to this story is make it go around and around in circles… well I certainly DO NOT want to do that, but if it seems to be doing so, know that it IS for effect and a conclusion or at least a conclusion so the whole "your such a lying toad" thing has been written. So you guys can chill. By the way, as we're nearing the end of this story (no tears! Please! Lol) I have another idea bouncing around in my head and I was wondering whether you'd like me to write a quick summary or preview at the end of the very last chapter of "Moonlit Maid."? I can't guarantee that it'll be up very soon (the new story I mean) because school is thoroughly whipping me right now, so I'll be working on it over the next few months, so like last time (after Two psychos I mean) it'll be months if not an entire year. So yes to the preview even though it won't be up for a while? or no to the preview and rather be surprised when I DO get around to writing/editing and posting? Let me know!! (also I'm going out todaaaaaayyy!!! So I'm posting a few hours early in all my girly excitement!!)
Chapter 25 (sorry for the long authors note!)
Serenity fell back asleep, lying on the bed with Leavitt firmly cuddled into her chest and the morning sun warming her chilled body. Hours later she woke again to Leavitt's wriggling and speaks of protest, she'd rolled over and almost squished him. She stretched and pulled herself tiredly from the bed, slumping her shoulders and dragging her body over to the vanity.
Her hair was a shining, tangled mess of curls, with a deep sigh she picked up the silver brush and set to work. The brush set was beautiful, featuring the brush she was holding, a comb and hand mirror, the delicate pieces all silver and carved beautifully in a rose and leaf design. Absolutely stunning and gorgeous… but it hadn't been there the last time she'd visited, they were brand new and, Serenity turned around, her hand still brushing her hair slowly, to notice a new chest of drawers and a funny old-looking Chinese armoire for her hanging dresses and shoes. All of them empty and new additions to the room. So he'd made room for me, conceited, sure-of-himself rakehell.
Serenity spun back on her stool, facing the big round mirror and brushing her hair, teasing out the knots carefully with her fingers. She shook out her mane of hair over her shoulders and then noticed an angry red mark on her neck, right at her pulse.
A love bite.
"Why that…!"
Outraged, Serenity slammed the brush back on the vanity, rummaging through the drawers (filled with brand new cosmetics.) for the powder puff and white concealing powder. She dabbed hopelessly at the mark but no matter how much powder she piled on top of it, the little red bruise refused to be invisible, it didn't even fade.
The door opened behind her and Serenity jumped a mile, standing from her vanity seat as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.
Emily poked her head around the door, a smile on her lips and a large pile of white fabric draped across her arms.
"Miss Serenity! I'm so glad your back, I missed you…" Emily blushed. "If it's not too bold to say miss. I would have arranged for a night rail and hot bricks for the bed but you came home so late! I was already abed. Master Darien has told me you don't have any other clothes, it is a good thing he is so adept at picking sizes, I'll say these undergarments will fit you perfectly!" Delightedly Emily began laying out the various silk and cotton stockings, new garters, a white chemise with tiny cream dots all over it and a few long pantaloons for her riding habits.
Serenity just watched Emily chatter away and organize her clothes; she had missed the little jittery maid. She was so lively as opposed to the tall elegant maid that turned her nose up at Serenity and treated her like an inconvenience.
She was angry at Darien, furious, but she wasn't going to take out her temper on Emily. Instead she pulled her into a tight hug and looked over the under-things laid out on the bed trying to ignore the fact that Darien had obviously taken great time and care to pick out each and every single undergarment with her especially in mind. Each of the stockings were lightly embroidered with roses, the garters matching with flat silken ties. The chemise was soft and looked very comfortable, tying under the bust with a sweet bow at the centre. But there was something missing…
"Um…Emily? Where is my corset? It was in the room before, but it's gone now and there isn't one on the bed…" Serenity looked around the room, trying to spot the fine boned and laced corset.
"Master Darien had told me you won't be wearing one for a few days, something about a minor injury that won't allow you to wear one…I honestly didn't press for more information miss I was too excited to see you again! Would you like me to enquire?" Emily raised her delicate brown eyebrows at Serenity in question.
Serenity scowled at her feet, how dare Darien dictate what she would or wouldn't wear! And after he'd gotten angry at Seiya doing the same thing too!
She grit her teeth for a moment before schooling her face into a more pleasant smile.
"No no, it's fine."
"Mmm hmm. But don't worry miss Serenity one or two of your new day gowns have stiff bodices and I'll make sure you only wear those ones until you can begin wearing a corset again, never you worry!" Emily had a bright smile on her face as she bustled around the room, tidying up Darien's mess and her other discarded clothes.
Serenity began to pull one stocking over her foot, used to dressing herself now because of the unpleasant maid she'd had at Crystal Castle.
"No! no miss! You have a bath one the way! I would have been helping you myself otherwise. Sit, would you like me to pin up your hair or would you like it washed? In which case I'll brush it out for you." Emily didn't wait for an answer, picking up the brush and ushering Serenity to sit while she hummed lightly and began brushing Serenity's already brushed hair.
Serenity was bewildered, where had her timid little maid gone? The one that jumped every time Serenity became too close to her? This bustling, grinning happy ball of energy was a complete about-face from the girl she'd known before.
"This confidence in you is refreshing Emily, may I enquire as to where it is stemmed?"
Emily blushed at this, laying the brush down and sitting on one of the chairs opposite the vanity, Serenity swiveled to face her as she did.
"After you left miss Serenity I was misplaced, no lady to wait on you see." Serenity blushed, she hadn't meant to displace anyone and was about to question how she had been treated. Obviously her concern had showed on her face because Emily continued…
"So I was moved to be a runner for the kitchens, nothing too strenuous, just out to the mews and back again. Well, at the start of wintertime we took on a few new grooms, one of them a John Stunthorp, and miss! Miss! I've fallen in love! He treats me like a queen and he loves me! Really truly loves me!" Emily began to describe him, her words dizzily mixing into each other as Serenity sat silent and listening.
When finally she paused for a breath Serenity pulled the little maid into her arms.
"I'm so happy for you Emily, this change in your is refreshingly lovely. And now I'm back would you mind ever so terribly becoming my maid again? I'll make sure you can spend your every free moment in the mews." A familiar face between Darien and herself would do nicely for keeping his tempting hands from her.
Before she could answer, a knock sounded at the door and a half dozen maids trailed in, each of them holding a big bucket of water and giggling. Serenity furrowed her brow until the door opened wider and Zoicite and Jadeite wandered in after them, both of then holding either side of the large wooden tub, stumbling slightly and growled at each other to hold it steady.
"Happy to have you back Serenity." Zoicite said, bowing after dumping the tub in front of the cheerily crackling fire, leaving Jed to sort it out having dropped his side and moved away. Serenity giggled at the death-glare Jed threw him.
"Yes indeed, I'll inform Rei of your arrival, she'll be simply thrilled." Jadeite said, stretching his back, swinging from side to side after shoving the tub in front of the fire.
Serenity glared at the both of them, she knew that they were only welcoming her back because she couldn't very well yell at them about Darien with so many maids and servants around. Each of the maids began emptying their buckets, curtsying swiftly to Serenity before leaving, obviously off to some other duty.
"I am not so glad, as I'm sure you well know. Tell me did Darien enjoy stomping out of the room naked?" She said smugly.
Zoicite snorted and left without another word, a hand over his mouth and quickened footsteps following him.
"Naked? Without clothes?" Jadeite looked disbelieving, his eyes wide and slightly leaning forward, waiting for Serenity to admit he'd been wearing his pantaloons….surely!
"That's generally what naked implies Jed." Serenity crossed her arms and ignored his riotous laughter on his way out the door, closing it behind him.
Emily blushed prettily but helped Serenity out of her clothes, standing at her back, but when she tried to come around the front, Serenity suddenly remembered the welts.
"Uh there's no need Emily, I'll uh bathe myself if you wouldn't mind. I'll call for you in say, about an hour?" Serenity said nervously, she was deeply ashamed of the abrasions, they showed just how young she was and how easily manipulated. She clutched her chemise to her in a death-grip, her dainty knuckles going white.
"I've already been told of those red marks miss. I did the same thing to myself as a child, I wanted to be as skinny at my mother you see. I understand." Emily said softly.
Serenity nodded, allowing her dress to fall from her hands. Emily helped her into the tub, dumping bucket after bucket over her head to wet her hair. She washed it thoroughly, chatting away about the gossip she'd missed since she'd been gone. Washed and rinsed, cleaned and feeling much better Emily helped Serenity out of the tub, rubbing her down with the drying sheets left in Darien's dressing room.
Emily helped Serenity into her undergarments, silk stockings and garters and the white chemise, all of which fitted beautifully.
A knock sounded at the door just as Emily was tying up the last sleeve of her chemise. A few maids bustled in at Serenity's bid, each of them holding a draped pile of different colored gowns, two maids following in after them had a trunk full of her accessories, her spencers, hats and parasols.
Emily hung them all up while Serenity sat on the bed.
"Now what would you like to wear today miss Serenity? Ahh, now this is quite fetching…" Emily held out a gown of purest white.
"No! burn it, rip it to shreds for rags I don't care! I will never wear white again!" Serenity angrily grabbed the gown from Emily's grasp, ripping it in her hands and throwing the pieces off the balcony.
Emily looked shocked for a moment, Serenity had nearly come to tears because of the colors of her dress. What on earth had her poor miss gone through?
"Okay, no white I promise. Are you feeling quite alright miss?"
"I-I'm fine. Just no white okay? How about that pink gown, the one with the roses about the neckline."
"Splendid, I chose this fabric for you miss, thought you might like it. And look!" Emily lay the dress on the bed and hurried over to the trunk, pulling out a beautiful dark red rose spencer to match it, practically vibrating in her excitement.
"Beautiful isn't it? I was shocked when Master Darien asked me to help with the fabric. Said he knew nothing of lady's fashion!" Emily giggled.
Serenity smiled, Emily's grin was infectious, that of a woman in love and loving it. Eagerly Emily dressed her, keeping up a constant happy stream of chatter until at last She started on Serenity's hair and began teasing the knots at the bottom when a rather large running blur of red gown and long black hair hurtled into the room, throwing it's arms around Serenity and hugging her fiercely.
Serenity's arms automatically went around the slightly hysterical woman hugging her, and then recognized her when her mahogany eyes looked up at her.
"Lady Rei!"
"Serenity! You're back! I Didn't think you'd ever… Even with Darien going to the ball… but then Jadeite told me you were back and not even the least bit homicidal!" Rei said pleasantly, squeezing Serenity tightly.
She patted Rei's shoulder.
"Yes, back for now, not that I got a choice in the matter." Serenity gritted.
"Oh it really is for the best Serenity I promise! That Seiya fellow is bad news! Why when he took poor Bethany, Darien was devastated! We were just so thrilled to hear you were unhurt!" Rei gushed.
"Bethany…?" Serenity started, but was interrupted by three more heads peeping around the door, that of Ami, Mina and Lita.
"See? I told you she was back with us!" Mina said triumphantly, stepping into the room.
"Ladies." Serenity greeted regally.
"Don't you ladies us!" Lita pulled her into a hug, quickly followed by the bouncing ball of energy known as Mina and a more subdued embrace from Ami.
The four of them ushered Serenity out of the room, sweeping her down the hall and then the front stairs, shoving her none too gracefully into one of the parlors. All of them completely ignoring Serenity's protests. In short order tea was rung for and the ladies had each taken a seat and now all eyes were on Serenity.
"So… Darien swept you off your feet right?" Mina asked.
"Literally or figuratively?" Serenity answered furtively.
"Well figuratively, he must have said something amazing to have brought you home to us! How did he convince you?" Mina, ever the gossip, enquired, leaning forward in her chair.
Serenity let out a harsh bark of laughter. "Convince me? I wasn't convinced I was stolen!...again!" She snapped.
"Again?" Ami asked, sipping her tea.
"Yes again, once from the Elliot's, and now again from my own ball. He is rude and chauvinistic, I'd have nothing to do with that liar if I could help it." She said haughtily.
"He did lie, but he did it for a good reason Serenity. He was desperate…" Lita said logically.
"Desperate for something new and pretty to play with. Trust me Lita I know."
"Mayhap we should change subjects?" Mina asked hopefully.
Serenity was thoroughly annoyed by these women, each one of them loyal to Darien and all of them giving her looks like she was a petulant child, ignoring what Darien said and why he lied… like it made a difference! She'd still been destroyed, hurt and deceived, none of those things had changed…and they wouldn't.
"Oh a change of subject?" Serenity asked with a sugary smile. "Who on earth is Bethany?"
Mina went white, her pallor becoming slightly green tinged when Rei opened her mouth to answer.
"Bethany was my brother's misstr…uh…well he was very fond of her." Rei started, looking at the suddenly ill-looking Mina and stumbling over the word "mistress."
Serenity looked suspiciously from Rei to Mina, she decided right then and there to get the answers she wanted. Something was being hidden from her, had been hidden from her since Seiya had shown up.
"Mina, who was she? And why did Seiya take her?" Serenity turned her attention to Mina, irreverent to her green complexion and her big eyes swimming in tears.
"She is…was...my little sister. It's uncanny how much she looks like you actually, so full of life and pleasant looking to boot." Misery and grief swept firmly into Mina's eyes, a small tear slid down her cheek.
"But as she got older, she found out just how beautiful she was…she enjoyed company of the male kind a little too much. She could have had any man here, but she wanted Darien, she thought she loved him and he seemed to be fond of her…" Mina choked, suppressing a shuddering sob with difficulty, Lita put an arm around her shoulders.
"Did you know the Fae used to live in the forest surround us? Darien allowed them there because they promised to honor the compact, leave ware's to wares you know? But then, then that Seiya fellow moved into the forest. Bethany was fixated on him, couldn't tear her eyes away from him. She wouldn't eat for days because she'd sit in the gardens waiting for a glimpse of him. Darien couldn't do a thing to coax her back inside, he'd been so distraught…" Serenity furrowed her brow here, why had Darien been so concerned?
Suddenly the word fond came back to her.
"And then…then Seiya broke the compact! He used his seduction on Beth, drawing her away from the castle. He kept her from us for a whole month, using her for her body and she'd been dead-eyed and grateful to him, grateful! Can you imagine? She ran away with him and then he'd…then she died." Mina finished and burst into tears in Lita's arms.
Serenity looked around at the sorrowful faces surrounding her and she suddenly understood the hostility Seiya had created when he'd come to the castle. Why Darien hated him so much…But there was something there, something Mina hadn't said.
Why had Darien cared so much? And how had Bethany just suddenly up and died?