Chapter Six
Hattie woke me up. She wanted to be undress after a cotillion. It was irritating. I was dreaming about my freedom and she spoiled it.
"Ella, you won't be annoyed." Hattie ordered. My thoughts instantly vanished.
I followed her up to her room. There I started to undress her. I waited for her real reason. Probably about some gossip she heard at the ball. She obviously wanted to tell me because Mum Olga already knew and Olive stupid understands. This has already happened for three times now. I expect to hear something about Char because that is what Hattie always speak of.
I was right.
"Prince Charmont is coming!!!" Hattie shrilled. She started jumping up and down while I unbuttoned her.
"Lady Mistress, it is hard to accomplish the task if you are jumping." I scolded her. Hattie stopped. I seldom do this. The feeling was good.
"Ella, it's a good thing you know your place," Hattie said, "Anyway, Prince Charmont talked to me just later during the cotillion. He said he wants to visit! Do you know what this means?"
"No, Mistress."
"He wants me to be his bride!!!" Hattie squealed like a pig, "Oh, Ella. You will be lucky to be a maid to a future sovereign!"
I wanted so much to kill her right now. Her order about not being annoyed has no effect. I was angry.
"Why aren't you surprised?" Hattie asked me. She must have thought I was doubtful of her news.
"Mistress! I wasn't surprised because I knew all along that Prince Charmont would one day come for you! It's about time! I'm so happy, Mistress!" I said falsely. Flattery always affects Hattie. I also have to cover up the suspicion.
Hattie eventually dismissed me. At my room, I couldn't sleep. I just stared at the ceiling. Char won't see me tomorrow. Hattie also mentioned he will come for dinner. That won't be the matter. I would always be at the kitchen tending the cinders. I never serve guests. And I knew Hattie would never let me. Thank you Hattie for being cautious. I couldn't sleep. But eventually, darkness clouded my vision and I fell asleep.
"Do I look splendid?" Hattie said.
We were in her room. It was still morning and Hattie was already trying on gowns to wear. Right now she was wearing a bright red gown with a very voluminous petticoat. She looked like a swollen strawberry. But I have to act happy and pleased and always say "You look splendid Lady Hattie! I don't know what gown fits you!". All I have said for the past half-hour were lies for Hattie. Piles of gowns were already on top of Hattie's bed and still she couldn't decide. So far, all the clothes were turned down by Hattie. If she doesn't pick soon, she might as well come to dinner naked.
"Ella!" I heard Mum Olga's voice. "Come here!"
"Can you wait for a moment Mistress? Your mother is calling," I said while bowing my head. Hattie ordered this. I didn't resist now because the curse won't let me. Once I did and I fainted.
"Yes. Go." I went out.
Mum Olga was sitting inside the parlor. I waited for a punishment.
"Prince Charmont will be coming, as you know. And I have every servant cleaning every bit of this house. You are lucky that Hattie called you, else you would have to scrub the floors on your knees. Anyhow, Prince Charmont knows I have three daughters. He knows you," He does? He must have forgotten me. "And he might be suspicious of your disappearance. I couldn't think of any excuse. If I say you run away, Prince Charmont might think of me as cruel and a bad mother. If I say you are married, Hattie would be disgraced. Older ladies should marry first, you know. It's custom. So, you will go to the dress maker's and buy yourself a gown. Here are some silver KJs. Buy yourself a very, very simple gown. Something that would be nothing compared to Hattie's gowns. And a gown that is the cheapest. I don't want to spend much on a scullery maid. You won't buy anything else. Be back right after you buy one. I don't want you to be late. You still have to serve Hattie. You still have to cook too. Go now!"
This is not good. Very. Char will see me! But then, Hattie would get his attention too right? She could always talk him into distraction. After dessert, Hattie will entertain him and then, I would run. Yes. That's the plan. I would go to my room and lock myself in there. Knowing Char, he would be too polite to run after me and discover my secret slavery.
I have half a day to think of it. I know I won't be in trouble. Char would just think I was lying and he would forget.
I'll see Char again.
-Thanks to Eowyn and Riulyn. Special thanks to Ironic Princess for reviewing again! Thanks for the support! I'm inspired! Okay, maybe this chapter is a bit boring. Well, wait for the next ok? Because I wanted you all to have suspense! Heehee!
-Nayie
Hattie woke me up. She wanted to be undress after a cotillion. It was irritating. I was dreaming about my freedom and she spoiled it.
"Ella, you won't be annoyed." Hattie ordered. My thoughts instantly vanished.
I followed her up to her room. There I started to undress her. I waited for her real reason. Probably about some gossip she heard at the ball. She obviously wanted to tell me because Mum Olga already knew and Olive stupid understands. This has already happened for three times now. I expect to hear something about Char because that is what Hattie always speak of.
I was right.
"Prince Charmont is coming!!!" Hattie shrilled. She started jumping up and down while I unbuttoned her.
"Lady Mistress, it is hard to accomplish the task if you are jumping." I scolded her. Hattie stopped. I seldom do this. The feeling was good.
"Ella, it's a good thing you know your place," Hattie said, "Anyway, Prince Charmont talked to me just later during the cotillion. He said he wants to visit! Do you know what this means?"
"No, Mistress."
"He wants me to be his bride!!!" Hattie squealed like a pig, "Oh, Ella. You will be lucky to be a maid to a future sovereign!"
I wanted so much to kill her right now. Her order about not being annoyed has no effect. I was angry.
"Why aren't you surprised?" Hattie asked me. She must have thought I was doubtful of her news.
"Mistress! I wasn't surprised because I knew all along that Prince Charmont would one day come for you! It's about time! I'm so happy, Mistress!" I said falsely. Flattery always affects Hattie. I also have to cover up the suspicion.
Hattie eventually dismissed me. At my room, I couldn't sleep. I just stared at the ceiling. Char won't see me tomorrow. Hattie also mentioned he will come for dinner. That won't be the matter. I would always be at the kitchen tending the cinders. I never serve guests. And I knew Hattie would never let me. Thank you Hattie for being cautious. I couldn't sleep. But eventually, darkness clouded my vision and I fell asleep.
"Do I look splendid?" Hattie said.
We were in her room. It was still morning and Hattie was already trying on gowns to wear. Right now she was wearing a bright red gown with a very voluminous petticoat. She looked like a swollen strawberry. But I have to act happy and pleased and always say "You look splendid Lady Hattie! I don't know what gown fits you!". All I have said for the past half-hour were lies for Hattie. Piles of gowns were already on top of Hattie's bed and still she couldn't decide. So far, all the clothes were turned down by Hattie. If she doesn't pick soon, she might as well come to dinner naked.
"Ella!" I heard Mum Olga's voice. "Come here!"
"Can you wait for a moment Mistress? Your mother is calling," I said while bowing my head. Hattie ordered this. I didn't resist now because the curse won't let me. Once I did and I fainted.
"Yes. Go." I went out.
Mum Olga was sitting inside the parlor. I waited for a punishment.
"Prince Charmont will be coming, as you know. And I have every servant cleaning every bit of this house. You are lucky that Hattie called you, else you would have to scrub the floors on your knees. Anyhow, Prince Charmont knows I have three daughters. He knows you," He does? He must have forgotten me. "And he might be suspicious of your disappearance. I couldn't think of any excuse. If I say you run away, Prince Charmont might think of me as cruel and a bad mother. If I say you are married, Hattie would be disgraced. Older ladies should marry first, you know. It's custom. So, you will go to the dress maker's and buy yourself a gown. Here are some silver KJs. Buy yourself a very, very simple gown. Something that would be nothing compared to Hattie's gowns. And a gown that is the cheapest. I don't want to spend much on a scullery maid. You won't buy anything else. Be back right after you buy one. I don't want you to be late. You still have to serve Hattie. You still have to cook too. Go now!"
This is not good. Very. Char will see me! But then, Hattie would get his attention too right? She could always talk him into distraction. After dessert, Hattie will entertain him and then, I would run. Yes. That's the plan. I would go to my room and lock myself in there. Knowing Char, he would be too polite to run after me and discover my secret slavery.
I have half a day to think of it. I know I won't be in trouble. Char would just think I was lying and he would forget.
I'll see Char again.
-Thanks to Eowyn and Riulyn. Special thanks to Ironic Princess for reviewing again! Thanks for the support! I'm inspired! Okay, maybe this chapter is a bit boring. Well, wait for the next ok? Because I wanted you all to have suspense! Heehee!
-Nayie
