A/N – I was just reading all the reviews I got for the original version…*tear* I almost went on a whim and printed them all out but then I realized, hello! There are 190! That's crazy! So I didn't. But I hope I get just as many wonderful reviews for this version! Unless they're like this:
Dood. Evelyn is like,WEIRD. x3 Bossy,too. And she seems to need a buddah. XD I mean,like,DOOD. She tried to make friends with the GARDENER X3
That made me laugh. Anyway, on with the story!
Ivy woke early the next morning to the hustle and bustle of the servants waking up. Mehri awoke also, and the two women quickly changed and went to find Maria.
"Good morning girls!" Maria said to them as they entered the kitchen. "Everyone," she addressed the large group of servants standing in a bunch behind her, "I want you to meet Ivy and Mehri. They are joining us today, and I hope you make them feel at home."
The servants smiled and greeted them, but soon broke apart to begin their daily chores.
"You, Mehri, are in for no surprise. You are staying in the kitchen," Maria said. "And you, dear, what do you do?" she turned to Ivy.
"I work in the garden, mostly," Ivy answered.
"She's an excellent gardener," Mehri added.
Maria's eyes opened wide. "Perfect!" she cried. "Lady Evelyn has been requesting a gardener, as her last one left a month ago. She has her own private garden, as she lives her full-time, and she does not accept just any old palace gardener. But don't worry child, she is the kindest courtier in the palace," Maria told her.
Ivy couldn't believe her good luck. From what Maria told her as she led Ivy to Lady Evelyn's quarters, Evelyn was about the same age as Ivy herself, and had her own private garden on the north side of the palace, and, to Ivy's great delight, adored lilies.
The palace seemed even more enormous from the inside. Maria led Ivy through what seemed like thousands of hallways, every so often stopping to curtsy for a passing noble. The palace was light and airy, and the hallways were painted white and gold, and had large windows. Ivy felt at home.
"Almost there, just one more hallway," Maria said after what seemed like a half hour. They turned one last corner, when Maria stopped abruptly at the end of the hall.
"Now don't be shocked, Ivy, but Evelyn is very friendly and has made very good friends with almost every single servant in the palace," she said. "Trust me, she's a very good person." Ivy nodded. "This is her room," she told Ivy. Ivy nervously straightened her apron and smoothed her hair as Maria knocked on the great white door.
The door opened and a young woman with pale skin, black, curly hair but violent blue eyes came out.
"Maria, good morning!" she said cheerfully.
"Good morning, Lady Evelyn," Maria said as she curtsied, and Ivy quickly did the same. "How does the day find you?"
"Perfect! It is a beautiful day, is it not, Maria?"
"Yes, my lady, it is."
"And who is this? I do not recognize you." She turned to Ivy.
"Lady Evelyn, I have found you a gardener," Maria said.
"Really?" Evelyn said excitedly, clasping her hands together.
"This is Ivy. She is new, and is an excellent gardener."
"How do you do?" Ivy said, curtsying again.
"Oh silly, you don't have to curtsy. Ivy…what a pretty name. And perfect for a gardener!" Evelyn said. "Tell me, Ivy, do you know how to grow lilies?"
"Yes, my lady."
"How exciting! I do dearly miss them." Evelyn turned back to Maria. "Thank you so much, Maria, I can take it from here."
"Yes, my lady," Maria said, winked at Ivy, and left.
"Come in, come in!" Evelyn said to Ivy, ushering her inside the chamber. "How old are you Ivy?"
"Eighteen, madam," Ivy replied.
"Nonsense, call me Evelyn," the young woman said, waving a hand impatiently. "Eighteen, you say? This is wonderful! I am twenty, and have no one normal my age to talk to in this God-awful place. Mother makes me stay however," she said as she went to the window. "She says I need to stay to find a husband. Honestly! We constantly have quarrels about it. She pushes me toward the prince, but he is so arrogant and conceited, and I-" she stopped suddenly. "Listen to me, rambling on. Tell me about yourself, Ivy."
"Oh, there isn't much to say," Ivy said. Evelyn was opening the doors that led out onto her balcony. The room was large and gorgeous. There was a satin couch and two chairs, and large canopy bed, and washroom, and the balcony.
"Nonsense. Where do you come from?" Evelyn asked.
"Faye, not too far from here," Ivy replied, naming the small village close to her old home.
"Charming little town. Of course, I haven't left this palace in four years!" Evelyn said, sitting herself down on the couch. She patted the place next to her, but Ivy shook her head.
"I don't want to get your furniture dirty," she said, looking down at her worn clothes. Evelyn snorted.
"Please, this place could do with a little dirtying up," she said. Ivy smiled, and Evelyn returned it. Ivy could tell that she and Evelyn would get along marvelously.
"Say, come here, Ivy," Evelyn said, as if she just had a thought. She grabbed Ivy's hand and hurried her over to the closet. She threw open the doors, and rummaged through the clothing.
"Ah! Here, try this on," she said, handing a crimson dress to Ivy.
"Oh, no, I couldn't," Ivy protested.
"Of course you can! Come on, it'll be fun! I know I sure could do with some fun," Evelyn said.
"No, I really couldn't, miss."
"This is the first time in four years I've had the chance to be with someone normal my own age!"
Yet Ivy continued to protest strongly, but Evelyn finally stopped and raised her hand.
"I didn't want to have to do this, but I'm afraid I must order you to put on this dress," she said, a look of mock-seriousness on her face.
Ivy sighed, but wanted to make her new mistress happy, so she took the beautiful silk dress. Evelyn shoved her playfully behind the clothing screen, and Ivy slowly took off her clothes. She heard Evelyn bounce back to the sitting area.
"Do you always have crazy ideas like this?" Ivy asked from behind the screen.
She heard Evelyn chuckle and say, "Yes, all the time!"
Ivy had not taken off her servants clothing in over ten years, and the feel of the silk on her skin was a strange one. The crimson dress was light, perfect for summer, and had pearl buttons in the back. It flowed past Ivy's feet, but it fit perfectly.
She sighed again, and left the safety of the screen.
"Oh!" Evelyn cried, jumping off the couch. "You look gorgeous!" she exclaimed. She steered Ivy to the mirror, and even Ivy took in a sharp breath. She looked older, more refined in the dress, and the change was astonishing.
"You could pass as a noble," Evelyn said. Ivy just laughed, but continued to stare at herself in the mirror. Suddenly, Evelyn cried out.
"I just had a brilliant idea!" she exclaimed. She was jumping up and down, clapping her hands. "Stay in that dress, and I can take you around today as my cousin! It will be so much fun!"
To Ivy, however, it didn't sound like so much fun.
"No, my lady, that would not be wise…" she began to say, but Evelyn waved the excuse away.
"Oh, please, and when was being wise fun? I know I need some fun…this place is like graveyard sometimes. Oh, come on, Ivy…consider it a…a bonding experience," she said with a nod.
"I'm sorry my lady, it just wouldn't be right…"
"Oh, please. I've been doing the right thing for years now, and I'm dreadfully bored of it," Evelyn said.
"No, I really must refuse."
"Don't make me order you again, Ivy."
Ivy laughed. She turned her attention back to the mirror. It couldn't hurt, a voice said in her head. No one will ever know…
Evelyn looked at her expectantly, and Ivy said, "Alright. I suppose it would be rather fun."
"Yay!" Evelyn said, jumping up and down again. "This is so exciting! We are going to be excellent friends, I can already tell."
And so began Ivy's first day at the palace.