Annoying Little Neighbor
The last thing Maudeline needed was to be staring into the glittering eyes of the young girl who lived down the street as she begged her way into her room.
Everyone knew the Everglots were not available for social calls. Not two days after the birth of their daughter. Maudeline preferred to be alone. Social calls were part of life, especially a part of a Baron's wife's life, and Maudeline accepted that. But she would not accept a social call with a barely seventeen-year-old. Good for her for taking calls and such, but Maudeline was a proper lady. She would not hold a conversation with Miss Emily Merrimack, no matter what anyone said.
"Oh, please, Lady Everglot," Emily begged, "I just want to see the baby."
Maudeline bit back from saying, "Shouldn't you be calling on that suitor you can't stop talking about?" Though, she had to pinch herself, out of fear she might snap at her. Usually, Maudeline wouldn't bite her tongue, after all, why should she when she was a lady? But there were enough tears these past days. Maudeline didn't harness the energy to deal with Emily's, as well.
"Fine," Maudeline said with a long sigh, to show how much of a burden there was. Hopefully, Emily would get the message.
She didn't. Of course. Emily clapped her hands together. Maudeline shushed her. Emily apologized and giggled. Again, the giggling, it was more than irritating. What was worse was how constant it was. Emily was always giggling at something or other. She would learn someday there were things not to be giggled at.
"She's in the nursery," Maudeline said, waving Emily away. When she looked up, Emily was still there. She scowled. "What is it?"
"Well, my apologies, Lady Everglot, but I don't know where the nursery is. Would you lead me to it?"
Maudeline gave another sigh as she stood. The midwife told her not to exert herself. Hopefully, the distance to the nursery and back wouldn't be exerting herself too much.
She led Emily down the portrait hall. Maudeline turned around the corner, only to find Emily staring at one of the portraits. The one of Lord Phineas Everglot, to be exact. Somehow, his hideous face made her smile. Emily noticed Maudeline watching and pointed to the painting, which Maudeline already knew was there. Before Emily could ask, Maudeline said,
"That's Lord Phineas Everglot. Finis's grandfather."
Emily nodded and glanced back at it. "My father used to have a coat like that."
Maudeline couldn't care any less about Lord Merrimack. He was nothing but a sour widow. He didn't even attend church meetings. Nothing was less shameful, in Maudeline's opinion. Emily went alone to the chapel, though she had been attending it less in the past few weeks. Maudeline's point stood. Lord Merrimack was bitter and cold and delighted too much in his gin.
Emily caught up with Maudeline. It was only a short walk from there to the nursery. She opened the door, finding Hildegard, the maid, no less, standing over Victoria's cradle, swinging it gently.
"Hildegard!" Maudeline exclaimed, forgetting to silence herself (to be fair, this was absolutely unacceptable, they weren't destitute). "That is a job for the nanny or nursemaid. Remember your place."
Hildegard stopped and clasped her hands together. "Forgive me, my lady. Miss Victoria was crying a storm and I thought it might be best to comfort her."
So that was why the manor was strangely quiet for the last half hour.
Before Maudeline could scold her further, Emily jumped in.
"Victoria? You named her Victoria?"
Maudeline pursed her lips. "She hasn't been christened yet, but yes. Victoria will be her name."
"Oh, how wonderful! Victoria is a rather lovely name, I think. And after the queen, as well! That's perfect!"
It was a practical name, not a lovely one, as Emily described. Maudeline was not the sort who would name their daughter something "pretty". Names should be plain and simple. They hardly meant anything.
Maudeline snapped back to Hildegard, who left the baby be and took her dusting wand. She left the room, looking over her shoulder.
Emily neared the cradle. She rocked back and forth, soothing Victoria once again. Maudeline watched. Her mother told her not to pamper them or they would grow up spoiled and demanding. Maudeline began to tell Emily to stop, but was interrupted, once again by the girl,
"I can't wait to have babies of my own," Emily said with a happy little sigh.
Maudeline couldn't understand why. There was first the act of making the baby, which required more patience than she possessed. Then there was carrying the baby when the baby would push back one's insides and cause humiliating symptoms. Of course, the birth was the worst part. It didn't help Victoria was ten days late. All that prodding from the midwife and feeling her hands inside of Maudeline. She wished to forget the entire experience. The pain was the worst part. Immeasurable, undying, raw pain as she pushed the baby through her.
This wasn't the end. Maudeline would have to raise Victoria. Teach her to be a lady. Land her a good husband. Discipline her. Raise her to be the perfect wife to some poor man one day.
Maudeline felt exhausting thinking about her.
She collapsed onto the chair the nursemaid used.
Emily looked up, seeing this. Her wide eyes grew wider as she rushed towards Maudeline. She raised a hand to stop her.
"I'm fine. Merely tired from walking over here," Maudeline said.
"Oh." Emily held her hands over her lap. "If there's anything I can do for you . . ." She trailed off before perking up again. "May I hold Victoria?"
Hold her? When Maudeline held Victoria for the first time, she wanted her off. The midwife laid the squealing newborn on her chest, ("It's standard procedure, ma'am"), Maudeline hated it. How could she make this baby? This tiny thing was covered in some unknown substance that reminded her too much of cheese. Maudeline hadn't gathered the strength to hold her again.
Best not coddle the child.
"No, you may not," Maudeline said, coldly.
She watched Emily's expression fall. She didn't care. All her annoyance and held-back remarks were getting to her.
"I think it's time for you to leave, Miss Merrimack," Maudeline continued, "You'll be able to find your way back to the door."
It was unladylike to send away a guest without so much as a maid to guide them out, but Maudeline was too exhausted to leave the chair.
Emily nodded. The pain in her expression all too clear as she gathered herself. She adjusted her skirts. With a little "goodbye" to Victoria, she left. Emily said nothing else to Maudeline. Good. Why would she care?
Maudeline heard as Emily got her cloak and exited through the door.
And Maudeline was left with a screaming baby again.
Just an idea that came to me tonight. Instead of sleeping, I wrote it down. Sorry for any grammar mistakes. I edited very quickly, but I intend on polishing it up in the future.
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!