A/N: Rosette's Chapter. She's so brilliant!
The hallways were regal as we made our way downstairs. The Oriental rug beneath our feet made light pitter-patter noises as we walked. Alice's hand was wrapped firmly around my own; she nearly bounced with each step.
The spiral staircase led us to the foyer again, where countless vases were being hauled in and white drapery was placed over chairs and tables. Alice wasted no time walking though the crowd of maids and back to a large white door.
Pastels hung over flower pots that lined the walkway on a large white rug rolled out from the front entrance to the door. Two maids stationed on either side of the doors pulled them open.
A gasp passed through my lips at the sight. A chandelier above the center of the large ballroom showered glittering rainbows along the line of white curtains and gold trimmings. The floor was waxed and shimmering; flowers were arranged on dozens of tables spread throughout the ballroom.
Dual staircases led to common ground flooring which looked like a platform. The blonde, Rosalie, was using it as just that. She pointed her finger to and fro with a commanding voice that set everyone on edge. The maids wandered around stiffly, paying special attention to detail.
"Just take some of vases and place them on the tables. The others will do the floral arrangements. It's some complicated order of red to the left and white to the right with blue in the middle. Rosalie is a perfectionist." Alice rolled her eyes in a very unladylike manner, and then tugged me to the far left corner of the room.
Dozens upon dozens of floral arrangements were placed numerically and dived up by colour into each vase. There couldn't possibly have been that many tables, but I wouldn't say a word to risk exposing myself. I needed to try to fit in here; I was used to field working, not maid work.
Alice left my side and walked up the grandiose staircase and into a large white door behind Rosalie. While following the line that Alice left on, I caught Rosalie's eye. They were a cold crystalline blue that burned with irritation. I'd seen that look many times before. Her upper lip pulled back and before she could yell at me. I stepped further back and picked up a large vase of flowers.
I could feel my lower back ache and scream at me. Gritting my teeth, I lifted the vase up. It could have weighed more than a small child! A light brunette directed me to the furthest table on the other side of the room. I pulled myself together and walked the large piece in my arms to the table.
Each step was measured carefully. 1—2—3——1—2—3——1—2—3. I slowly pushed my foot under the skirt before I took each step. When the vase was safely on the table I sighed and let a small smile grace my lips before I turned and headed back for the next one.
I did the same for three more vases before my back began to screech and burn. Sweat dewed on the back of my neck but I carried on. I became less aware of my surroundings, wanting more than anything to just deposit the heavy vase and take the short trip back to the other side.
A girl with curly brown hair walked beside me and accidentally kicked my dress up while she struggled with her vase. My rhythm was broken and my right foot came down suddenly on the hem of my dress.
It all happened slowly before my eyes. Rosalie was beside me, glaring furiously at the vase in my arms that tumbled down and made its way to the floor. I watched in horror as the vase came crashing down in front of me. I fell to my knees, and the wood hitting my legs sent a sudden pain through my sore body.
The vase smashed before me. Thousands of tiny pieces of china shattered and flew in every direction, sending a hideous tinkling noise around the room – which immediately went silent following the ear-piercing shatter.
The water rolled closer to me, seeping into the fabric of my dress. Every eye in the room was turned to me. My cheeks burned. I looked up to Rosalie, who was just as red and fuming. Her eyes were murderous and accusing.
"Wench!" She screamed, "That vase cost more than your worth!"
The room gasped and looked on with more concentration.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." I whispered. She laughed a little hysterically and grabbed my arm to pull me up.
"Oh, you'll be sorry." She pulled her hand back and I instinctively closed my eyes. It was best not to see it coming. The sting was what I hated more than anything. The initial hit was merely shock, but the afterward effects were painful.
"That's enough, Rosalie." A deep male's voice scolded close by. My eyes opened out of curiosity and I was immediately confused.
He much taller than I was - I would most likely fit under his chin - and he had a pale complexion. His eyes were like hard, frozen emeralds. His dark lashes framed his oval eyes perfectly, leading to defined and prominent cheekbones and a strong, clenched jaw.
His hand was wrapped tightly around Rosalie's wrist. She tried to throw it forward, but he held fast and kept her in place. His eyes turned to me, and the familiarity that swept over me was uncomforting.
He dropped her wrist and pushed her back a bit. She scowled at him and stood up to her full height, smoothing out her hair and tugging on her dress before addressing him.
"Well, it's nice to see you could finally make time to help." Rosalie's voice was sarcastic and sugar-coated. She waved a hand dramatically in front of the man's face. His eyes remained calm and furious all at the same time.
"This isn't my problem to deal with, Rosalie. This is your unnecessary party, and therefore your responsibility."
"I was taking responsibility for it! That is, until this wench threw the order of flow out into chaos!"
"Bite your tongue." He hissed. "You will treat what is mine with respect."
I froze and began to stare at him. Was he Alice's brother? He resembled her in neither looks nor countenance. He'd had the audacity to call me his, to call me a piece of property. I'd been traded and sold all my life, but I never wanted to hear that.
He continued to bicker with Rosalie, his mouth set in a hard line while she yelled at him. "Keep what is yours in order and we shouldn't be having this problem. I have this party in less than a few hours, so get her out of my sight!"
"Have you forgotten whose house this is, Ms. Hale? I assure you, if you have, I'd have no problem in showing you." Rosalie blanched and scowled before turning and heading toward the stairs again.
"Everyone stop standing around and work!" she shrieked. On her command the room scattered and the maids returned to their former positions. It was as if her words were a whip cracking to get everyone in motion.
"Come with me, woman." Edward grabbed my elbow and dragged me the way I'd come with Alice. I tugged against him the whole way, but he only pulled me closer and dragged me along.
Once up the stairs, he practically threw me into a large room on the very top floor. The floor was covered in royal navy blue carpeting, soft enough to sleep on. The walls were tinted white on the colour of crème and gold. The four poster canopy bed reminded me of my former mistress's stead and I cringed.
"Tell me what is wrong with you." He ordered, suddenly in front of me. His dark green eyes flashed and I didn't dare to defy him.
"I have none." I answered him truthfully. I had many problems, but his reference was vague, and therefore, had no correct answer.
"Do not play with me Ms. Swan." The way he hissed my name sent a shiver down my spine. My hatred for him grew.
"I am not playing with you." My eyes narrowed, and when his did the same, I shrank back a little. I couldn't be stubborn with him, he was much too intimidating.
"Then tell me why you dropped the vase. Do you wish to be beaten? Rosalie has no patience, and I advise you to take heed of that."
"I could figure that out for myself." I mumbled and pulled my head up. "I tripped. I was careless and fell."
He pursed his lips and walked to a large double joined door before opening it and throwing them wide. He walked into a closet which was as big as a normal sized room. He came back just as quickly with a dress over his arm.
"You listen to me, and listen well." He ordered, handing me the dress. "You take orders from no one but myself. Not Rosalie, not my brother Emmett, or my sister Alice. You listen to only me."
"But why not Miss Alice?" I asked.
"I paid a pretty penny to keep you from factory work with greasy men breathing down your neck. You will be my personal maid, not like the other maids. I expect you to be dressed accordingly at all times and to learn what is proper and what is not."
"I can do work just fine! Why must I—"
"I just explained – very clearly – why you must. I paid a fine price for you, and so you will do as I say. If you don't, I won't stop Rosalie from unleashing her wrath on you next time. Now get dressed and I'll retrieve Alice." He turned and walked toward the door that led into the hallway. "Lord knows you'll need etiquette training for tonight."
He walked out into the hall, his voice searching for Alice as he went. He hadn't even noticed the malice in my voice when I spoke, nor the constant glare. How dare he? I stomped angrily to the side of the large room and opened a door. It wasn't a bathroom, but rather a separate room. It was a light red and gold, smaller than the room it was adjoined to. Surely this was his mistress's dwelling.
I turned and opened the opposite door to a large bathroom and stripped my soaked dress and then my petticoat. I hated him. I wanted to rip the untidy bronze crop from his head and then mine it with a pickaxe. I knew I'd be more than capable with my years of field work. An impish grin came over my face at the brutal and completely unladylike thoughts. If this would be my only time for thinking about brutally mauling him, I'd take it.
The dress was long and midnight blue with a fitted bodice that accentuated my cleavage. I puffed my cheeks out indignantly. Just like a man! He picked the most scandalous piece and forced me to wear it. I pulled at the bodice and made sure that I was securely covered. What a pig! Indeed, the lowest of the upper class, a true Blood Pig.
A knock on the door to the other room pulled me from my thoughts. I lifted the skirt of the dress and opened it to find Alice with books in one hand, and a tray of tea in the other. I sighed and let her in. Surely this would be the worst day of my existence.
A/N: I know Edward seems like a huge jerkface, but he will redeem himself later on. We modeled him after the character Edward Rochester from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre. If you've read it, you'll understand.
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