Ok I lied. This chapter isn't very long either.
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The next morning there was a mass meeting for all the household servants. When it was quiet, Belinda began her speech. "As you all know, there is a formal ball being held in just three weeks at the castle." There was excited chitter- apparently some kitchen maids hadn't been informed- but Belinda quieted them down with a glare. "Therefore," she continued, "we must all do our best to help the Trachlein family. I am assigning Matthew to go with them the night of the ball as a hand for the coach. That is all. You are dismissed."
As the throng on servants dispersed, I made my way up to Belinda. "Excuse me ma'am" I said curtsying. "might it be possible for me to go with Matthew to the ball? He may need, help with having both the carriage and the horses to handle." Belinda regarded me with suspicion. "Are you a stablehand?" Confused, I shook my head. "Do you have any skills with handling coaches?" she inquired. "No but-" "But?" Belinda raised an eyebrow. "Have a secret agenda do we?" I was silent. She leaned in close. "Know this Melinda. You are a servant. A lowly servant. That is all you are and all you ever will be. You follow my orders until you are fired, then you live on the streets until you die, or some other fool employs you. Don't meddle with the affairs of others above your status. Do I make myself clear?" I ground my teeth together to keep the rage in. "Mabel'' I murmured. "What?" Belinda leaned in closer. "My name is Mabel!!!!" I screamed into her ear. She staggered back, then slapped me across the face. "Get out of here. If I hear of you trying to weasel your way to the ball again, you will wish that you had been fired. Now go!" I ran out of the room, blinded by tears.
The rest of the day was a gray one. I was assigned to go shopping for items that were needed for the ball. This task left me with too much time to think. Why had I even asked Belinda? I should have just stowed away on the carriage. But I knew that plan was impossible. I would never see Ethan again save for a glimpse during parades. The thought eroded at me, too unbearable to comprehend.
So wrapped up was I in my own thoughts that I nearly missed the next stop, Sewing and Fabrics. Walking in, I gave my order to a rather sour- faced woman; 2 satchels of needles, 3 spools of black thread, 1 spool of red thread, 2 feet of lace, and one yard of gold silk. She went off to fill the order, leaving me free to look around. My eyes slid across the racks of fabric, the shelves of lace buttons and thread, and finally to a piece of heaven. It was a dress, a beautiful midnight blue dress with a delicately tapered waist, a lacy neckline, billowing sleeves, and a fashionably short train. I looked at the dress and felt a strange idea form in my head. Why didn't I go to the ball as a guest? I could go in masked, meet Ethan, then leave masked, maybe even run away with him. I knew all the laws about servants attending public events, and the consequences, but at the moment, none of them mattered.. Hadn't Queen Cythnia, or what-ever-her- name-was, do that over 200 years ago in order to become royalty? Couldn't I do that too? Seeing that dress made me believe that it was possible.
I turned to the now waiting shopkeeper. "Excuse me, but how much is that dress? The blue one on display." She sniffed. "Much more than you'll ever have." She said haughtily. She told me the price and my eyes must have bulged. I would never make that much money. Sadly I got my order and trudged out of the store. I got about two blocks when I saw something in the street. It was red and shown like a ruby. Digging it out of the dirt, I inspected it closer. It WAS a ruby! A ruby that had been cut into the shape of a heart- most unusual. How could it have ended up in the street? I didn't think about the question, didn't care. I knew what I was going to do with that ruby. I turned and ran all the way back to the Sewing Shop.
Once I got there I burst through the door. Panting, I plopped down the gem on the counter, in front of the pickled lady. "Will.. Will this..be enough to pay. for the dress." She eyed me with suspicion. For what seemed like eternity, she just stood there, staring at me, then the ruby, then me again. Suddenly her hand shot out and grabbed a chunk of my hair. I was too surprised to move. "Where did you get this wench?" She hissed. "Who did you steal from? A noblewoman, a vendor? Answer me!" She yanked cruelly on my hair forcing me to nearly crawl up unto the counter with a strangled cry. "I found it. In the road! I swear! Please, let go!" I wailed. She did, but only to throw me unto the floor. I sat there, dazed, rubbing my head. I turned up to look at her and was met with an icy glare. "Get out of here now you dirty little bitch. Be thankful that I will not call the authorities on you. Now scat!"
Under any other circumstances I wouldn't have listened to her. Now I just pick up my bundle and ran out of the store. My dreams gone, my love lost forever.
**************************************************************************** ************** Ok for all of you that feel the ruby was a bit cheesy, don't worry- I have plans for that ruby.
The next morning there was a mass meeting for all the household servants. When it was quiet, Belinda began her speech. "As you all know, there is a formal ball being held in just three weeks at the castle." There was excited chitter- apparently some kitchen maids hadn't been informed- but Belinda quieted them down with a glare. "Therefore," she continued, "we must all do our best to help the Trachlein family. I am assigning Matthew to go with them the night of the ball as a hand for the coach. That is all. You are dismissed."
As the throng on servants dispersed, I made my way up to Belinda. "Excuse me ma'am" I said curtsying. "might it be possible for me to go with Matthew to the ball? He may need, help with having both the carriage and the horses to handle." Belinda regarded me with suspicion. "Are you a stablehand?" Confused, I shook my head. "Do you have any skills with handling coaches?" she inquired. "No but-" "But?" Belinda raised an eyebrow. "Have a secret agenda do we?" I was silent. She leaned in close. "Know this Melinda. You are a servant. A lowly servant. That is all you are and all you ever will be. You follow my orders until you are fired, then you live on the streets until you die, or some other fool employs you. Don't meddle with the affairs of others above your status. Do I make myself clear?" I ground my teeth together to keep the rage in. "Mabel'' I murmured. "What?" Belinda leaned in closer. "My name is Mabel!!!!" I screamed into her ear. She staggered back, then slapped me across the face. "Get out of here. If I hear of you trying to weasel your way to the ball again, you will wish that you had been fired. Now go!" I ran out of the room, blinded by tears.
The rest of the day was a gray one. I was assigned to go shopping for items that were needed for the ball. This task left me with too much time to think. Why had I even asked Belinda? I should have just stowed away on the carriage. But I knew that plan was impossible. I would never see Ethan again save for a glimpse during parades. The thought eroded at me, too unbearable to comprehend.
So wrapped up was I in my own thoughts that I nearly missed the next stop, Sewing and Fabrics. Walking in, I gave my order to a rather sour- faced woman; 2 satchels of needles, 3 spools of black thread, 1 spool of red thread, 2 feet of lace, and one yard of gold silk. She went off to fill the order, leaving me free to look around. My eyes slid across the racks of fabric, the shelves of lace buttons and thread, and finally to a piece of heaven. It was a dress, a beautiful midnight blue dress with a delicately tapered waist, a lacy neckline, billowing sleeves, and a fashionably short train. I looked at the dress and felt a strange idea form in my head. Why didn't I go to the ball as a guest? I could go in masked, meet Ethan, then leave masked, maybe even run away with him. I knew all the laws about servants attending public events, and the consequences, but at the moment, none of them mattered.. Hadn't Queen Cythnia, or what-ever-her- name-was, do that over 200 years ago in order to become royalty? Couldn't I do that too? Seeing that dress made me believe that it was possible.
I turned to the now waiting shopkeeper. "Excuse me, but how much is that dress? The blue one on display." She sniffed. "Much more than you'll ever have." She said haughtily. She told me the price and my eyes must have bulged. I would never make that much money. Sadly I got my order and trudged out of the store. I got about two blocks when I saw something in the street. It was red and shown like a ruby. Digging it out of the dirt, I inspected it closer. It WAS a ruby! A ruby that had been cut into the shape of a heart- most unusual. How could it have ended up in the street? I didn't think about the question, didn't care. I knew what I was going to do with that ruby. I turned and ran all the way back to the Sewing Shop.
Once I got there I burst through the door. Panting, I plopped down the gem on the counter, in front of the pickled lady. "Will.. Will this..be enough to pay. for the dress." She eyed me with suspicion. For what seemed like eternity, she just stood there, staring at me, then the ruby, then me again. Suddenly her hand shot out and grabbed a chunk of my hair. I was too surprised to move. "Where did you get this wench?" She hissed. "Who did you steal from? A noblewoman, a vendor? Answer me!" She yanked cruelly on my hair forcing me to nearly crawl up unto the counter with a strangled cry. "I found it. In the road! I swear! Please, let go!" I wailed. She did, but only to throw me unto the floor. I sat there, dazed, rubbing my head. I turned up to look at her and was met with an icy glare. "Get out of here now you dirty little bitch. Be thankful that I will not call the authorities on you. Now scat!"
Under any other circumstances I wouldn't have listened to her. Now I just pick up my bundle and ran out of the store. My dreams gone, my love lost forever.
**************************************************************************** ************** Ok for all of you that feel the ruby was a bit cheesy, don't worry- I have plans for that ruby.
