Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. And if your name is Gretchen or Priscilla, please don't hate me for the next few chapters.
Chapter 46: Gretchen Thatcher
Somebody was pounding at her door. "Servant girl!" a shrill voice called. "I need you in here, now!"
Camille slowly got out of bed. She hated not remembering where she was when she woke up; it was getting frightening. Several moments passed, and she was dressed and out of her room. All of the noise was coming from down the hallway. As she was entering, a silver tray was just flying across the room. Camille had enough sense to duck, and it went right past her.
"It's too hot! I burnt my tongue, you worthless hag!" a woman was sitting up in bed, yelling. She looked just about Camille's own age, perhaps a bit younger. She had dark ebony hair, and a beautiful face. But now it was all scrunched up as she began to cry. "I can't start my day without my tea, and now I shall be late!" she sulked.
Camille tried to prepare herself for this one. But she couldn't do anything except stand there and look disgusted. So this was why none of the servants ever smiled. She thanked God that Annie had raised her better than to be a spoiled brat.
Suddenly, the girl in bed spotted her. "You there!" she said, rudely pointing. "Come fluff my pillows, they're becoming hard."
Camille bit her tongue, approaching the bed with a plastered smile and fluffing the pillows, which felt fine to her. She began leaving as a maid entered with the young woman's breakfast on a tray. She ducked as that too, came whizzing over her head shortly.
"The milk isn't cold enough, and there's too much fat on that sausage! You know I'm trying to watch my figure, you idiotic old coot!"
Camille saw a piece of sausage roll next to her foot. "Mmm," she said, picking up the piece and consuming it as she made her way downstairs.
Gabriel was passing the hallway, and he looked up at her. "Miss Camille! Lovely to see you this morning," he called.
"Good morning, Master Gabriel," she almost sang. Oh, was he handsome. She made her way downstairs and nodded. "Which one of your lovely sisters is that?" she inquired.
He listened a moment. "That's Gretchen. Beastly woman, isn't she? She's a tad miffed with me because I've been allowing her suitors to see the true side of her," he said with a snicker.
"God bless you," Camille said, looking up at the maid running around, picking up everything that was being thrown into the hallway.
"I was just about to go for a drive in the countryside. Would you like to accompany me?" he asked.
"Nothing would make me happier," she said honestly.
"Well, you can't go like that. We must get you one of Gretchen's dresses." He paused for a moment. "It sounds like the maids are dressing her now. Just stand by her doorway and wait for her to throw out something you like. I'll be waiting for you right here."
Camille nodded, making her way back upstairs. Gabriel had been right. And what a scene it was! There were articles of clothing flying everywhere, lying in the piles of breakfast, strewn about along the banister... Camille quickly picked out a lovely yellow one. She frowned as she would have to fit into a corset for this one, but she quickly took a deep breath and tied her own underthings together. That had always been an advantage of being a pirate. It didn't take two women to dress her anymore.
She put on a matching hat, pinned up her hair and was back downstairs in no time at all. Gabriel was patiently waiting for her, and she jumped as she heard another small voice. "No, I don't want that one! I want another pony…NOW!"
She looked at Gabriel questioningly. He took her arm. "That would be Priscilla. If you think Gretchen's bad, just wait until you meet that little firecracker." He helped her into the carriage and took the reins. "As you can see, I like to spend a good deal of my time out of the house."
Camille smiled at him, as the mansion became further away. "Yes, I can see you're quite avoidant. I think I would be as well, were I in your position." And I would like to be in some positions, she wanted to add.
Gabriel was so charming, and had a very witty sense of humor. He took her mind right off Jack, and she liked that about him. They spent almost the entire day walking, picnicking, and riding in the countryside until it was almost dark out. They discussed the treasure of Diablo's Gate a little more, but there was really nothing else to be said about it. All that was left to do now was to wait, and plan an escape.