Thank you to my reviewers: M. Cullen Higthopp, Halloween29, freakyfriday13 and Severen18 :)

Chapter Eight

I had forgotten how nice it was to have a hot bath.

The maids, Mildred and Anna, I believe, were the two loveliest women I had ever met.

Mildred was the older of the two, her thin grey hair tied back into a neat bun, each hair set into its proper place. She had a stern face, but her blue eyes twinkled mischievously.

Anna was no older than I, her red hair slowly escaping from its plaits she had tied them back in. Her pale complexion was dotted with millions of tiny freckles and her eyes were prominent, making her look permanently surprised.

To my surprise, Mildred and Anna were to help me bathe. I protested but Mildred explained in a calm tone that it was their job and, anyway, they had been doing exactly this since I was young.

So, of course, I gave in.

I sighed contently as the warm water surrounded me, leaning comfortably against the cold porcelain of the tub. Like my room, the bathroom was very fancy.

"Oh Johanna, what have you done?" Mildred tutted as she played around with my hair, first soaking it and then applying some nice spelling liquid on it.

"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously, playing with the scented bubbles that were floating in the water. For some reason, they made me giggle.

"Just look at yourself!" Mildred said. "You're all cuts and bruises!"

I glanced down at my body, my brow furrowing as I saw it was in fact decorated with bruises. I then glanced down at my wrists, my frown deepening.

"Mildred,"

"Yes?"

"What are these?" I asked, holding my wrists up. On both of them were odd marks…

"Oh Johanna, those are scars."

"I have scars?"

"Yes…"

"How did I get them?"

"I don't know, Johanna."

"Oh."

There was a brief pause as Mildred massaged the lovely scented liquid into my hair, her long fingers moving swiftly against my scalp.

"Mildred,"

"Yes, Johanna?"

"Never mind."

"You can trust me, Johanna."

I glanced up at Mildred, my eyes meeting hers. Sighing, I gave in.

"How old am I?"

Mildred sighed as she washed the liquid off her hands and then gazed at me, looking at me straight in the eye. I stared back anxiously.

"You don't know?" She asked softly. I shook my head.

"I barely remember my own name." I answered, grinning sheepishly.

"Johanna, dear, you are a grown woman," Mildred told me firmly. "You are a grown woman."

A grown woman.

I was a grown woman.

The words rolled around in my mind, and I couldn't decide whether I liked the meaning or not.

A grown woman…

I had responsibilities. I was independent. I could do what I wanted to.

But…I was a grown woman and…

And I couldn't even remember how I became one.

I understood the basic principles of puberty. Though I had forgotten most things, I could still remember that (as well as times tables…).

But I had no memories. I had no memories of making the transition from baby to toddler, from toddler to child, child to teenager, teenager to adult.

My life had just…gone.

Mildred, sensing my sadness, moved back around to begin rinsing my hair.

"You have lovely hair, Johanna. Such a pretty colour."

"Yes, it is," I agreed happily. I hadn't given much thought to my appearance until now. Suddenly self conscious, I couldn't stop the question escaping my lips. "Am I pretty, Mildred?"

"Johanna, you are beautiful."

"Am I?"

"Yes. Just look at yourself."

Mildred held out a mirror, allowing me to have a look at my reflection.

Now my hair was free of the liquid, it hung down in very loose curls, darkened by the water, and framed my high cheekbones. My eyes were quite nice. Blue.

"How about a smile?" Mildred suggested.

I lifted one corner of my mouth half heartedly.

"Oh Johanna, you can do better than that."

I lifted the other corner.

"Smile properly, Johanna. Focus on something that makes you really happy." Mildred urged from behind me.

So I thought.

I was safe. I had a home. I had a loving guardian that had taken me in even though I had been so cruel in the past.

"That's better." Mildred said, nodding in approval.

I kept smiling at my reflection, liking the way it made me look. I looked…pretty. I looked like someone that could easily find true love.

I looked…

I looked really pretty.

And I liked it.

"Now, let's get you dressed."

After getting dried, Mildred dressed me in a simple white petticoat before wrapping a soft robe around me.

"Just until you're in your room, Johanna." She explained, her hand on my elbow as she led me out of the room and along the corridor. I walked along, the floor cold against my bare feet.

Once in my room, Mildred made me stand completely straight and still while she helped me dress. I wasn't allowed to look in the mirror until she was finished, so all I knew of my dress was that it was blue.

After I was dressed, I was instructed to sit down while Mildred and Anna played with my hair. It was mainly Mildred, as Anna lurked behind her, handing the older woman the hairbrush and pins whenever ordered to.

After a while, I was finally allowed to look in the mirror.

And I couldn't look away.

I…there were no words to describe how I felt.

Beautiful.

I felt so beautiful.

"Johanna?"

I spun around, my mouth open as I realised Judge Turpin was standing in the doorway, eyeing me appreciatively.

Smiling, I hesitantly walked forwards to stand in front of him, looking up at him from under my eyelashes.

"Judge Turpin…" I said softly. "What do you think?"

I gave him a little twirl to allow him full view of my gorgeous dress and hair, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

"You look beautiful, Johanna."

To see what Amy, Nellie and Ben look like, just go here:

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