"You terrible, wicked girl!" Chloe turned her head, seeing an older woman scold a young girl that had dropped some packages. Chloe scowled, she hated people who disregarded their servants, her family being one of the few that treated their servants well, next to the royal family. The woman raised her hand, preparing to strike the young girl, when Chloe couldn't stand it anymore. With purpose in her stride, she marched over, barely stopping the woman's hand.
"How dare you!" The woman turned to Chloe, who kept a firm grip on her arm.
"How dare you! Whether your own child or servant, accidentally dropping packages does not warrant such treatment."
"Laziness does. My servant girl constantly fumbles my shopping." Chloe looked over at the girl, who was practically skin and bones underneath the poor excuse of a dress.
"Maybe if you treated her better, and feed her well she wouldn't."
"You impudent girl. Know your station."
"I know it very well, Madame."
The Madame scowled, analyzing Chloe. Her clothes were of fine quality, and standing behind her a ways was a young man with the Bourgeois family crest on his uniform while holding packages.
"How much for her?" Chloe asked.
"Pardon?"
"How much for your serving girl? It's clear that she is far too weak to serve your needs. I'll pay you for her." The woman eyes Chloe skeptically.
"546 francs." Chloe gestured to her servant who produced a purse upon her request. She opened the purse and presented the amount. The woman took the money and counted the cost.
"What's your name?" Chloe asked the girl.
"S-sabrina."
"You can drop those packages Sabrina, you don't belong to her." Chloe smiled and winked.
With a small smile, Sabrina dropped the packages, leaving the woman in a new panic.
Chloe left to resume her shopping, only to find Sabrina following her.
"You don't have to follow me."
"But you bought me. I'm at your service miss." The girl curtsied.
"You're no one's servant. I'm giving you your freedom."
"But what if I want to? My family, they need my help to make ends meet. Me being a servant at least made it so I was less of a burden to them."
Chloe sighed. Obviously this girl wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Alright, Pierre, go fetch the carriage. We need to head back home to my father to discuss new clothes for Sabrina and a good income for her work."
"Of course your ladyship," Pierre led the way with packages in hand, while Chloe took Sabrina's hand in her arm and leg her to the carriage, passing by a woman shopping for flowers in a blue cloak.
"Your grace, there's something that would benefit from your attention," a servant approached the woman.
"Of course," the woman paid for the flowers and then followed her servant.