Chapter 14
***
Dana's heart had been beating frighteningly in her chest since before Noah, even though she'd been acting nonchalant in front of him. Her steps felt like she was being led to a slaughterhouse.
"Dana Bordon."
Maid Rosi was waiting for her at the roundabout by the fountain.
"...Hello, Maid."
Dana greeted her stiffly.
"Come on, let's go."
The two of them turned side by side toward the main entrance. The only good thing was that this time, the maid would accompany her. Of course, it was unlikely that the man would be so careful in her presence, but it was important that she would know. What a rude and obnoxious man Theodore Macmillan was.
"Again, you must always present yourself properly. Especially on the Shore. Master Theodore is to be the Lady’s husband."
Rosi reminded her of a fact she despised.
"One more thing, we are of the Hastings family. We are not to behave in a frivolous or undignified manner, even if we are only maids doing menial tasks."
The words were spoken, but there was an uncharacteristic air of excitement radiating from the leading maid. Few things excite a person more than the sight of clothes. Dana followed the maid's uncharacteristically brisk pace.
The carriage was already at the front door. She had already realized that the maid would be accompanying her, but instead of the two-seater she'd seen last time, it was a four-seater coach with a roof.
"Greetings," said the coachman, who, unlike the previous day, was very friendly. The head maid was the head of the maids, a high ranking position in which she discussed the affairs of the house with the mistress. It was customary for a noblewoman, even one of the highest ranking, to be treated with less respect than a butler or maid from another family. The coachman politely closed the door and started the carriage. The maid held up a small envelope to Dana.
"Do you know what this is? It's a letter from Master Edwin." Dana's eyes caught sight of the House of Hastings' seal on the crimson beeswax. "It's his thanks to Master Theodore for taking care of your clothes, and perhaps he sent me specifically to deliver it."
The maid said a few more words, all of which Dana missed, her consciousness clouded with worry about what would happen in the next few minutes. The carriage rolled on like a carefree stream, arriving at its destination.
"Welcome."
The footman greeted them politely and led them to the Tapestry Room. The door opened and a scene similar to the last one unfolded.
"There you are!" Rosaline walked over to Dana, who made her way to the dressing room curtain of her own accord. "There you are! I heard you were coming. I'm so glad to see you."
"Nice to meet you, too. Miss Rosaline. To meet the most famous person in Peron these days!"
Dana began to undress as she listened to the two women's cheerful voices. With a rustle, her exposed flesh felt chilled as each garment fell to the floor. A moment later, Dana stood on the podium in her chemise. Maids approached with bustles and garter belts. Dana's eyes caught a glimpse of a dress. Not one, but three dresses.
She stifled a groan that threatened to burst out. Here we go. Dana looked up at the ceiling, her hand on her anxiously beating heart. God, please. I'll wear one, three, a hundred, whatever you tell me to wear, but please grant me one wish. Please don't let the man come. May I never have to look into those arrogant, intense eyes again...
* * *
"Now, if you do this...." A choker in the shape of a white camellia flower was wrapped around Dana's neck.
"My goodness, it's perfect, it's wonderful!" swooned Maid Rosi. "You're going to be the best designer in Peron...no, in our entire Empire."
"You're flattering me." Rosaline placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly. She looked very much at ease, like an actress waiting for her curtain call. The maids rubbed their hands together and grinned at each other. It was obviously over. But there was one person who was still stiff with laughter, and that was Dana.
As expected, everything went smoothly. Despite wearing three sets of clothes, it took less than half the time of the first day, and the number of jewelry pieces on her body was significantly less. There was only one reason for this: Theodore MacMillan didn't show up. Did God answer her prayers this time? Dana's heart was already pounding, but she wasn't going to let her guard down. As her late grandfather had always told her, the moment you let your guard down and get cocky, a storm will blow in.
But not until Rosaline sat down and took a drink of water, not until the assistants organized her things, not until the door was firmly shut, would it remain closed. The anxiety that had been swirling in Dana's chest slowly began to dissipate, until finally, Rosaline stood up and told Dana that she could take off the dress now. Unable to shake off the last of her anxiety, Dana cautiously opened her mouth.
"Uh... today... the master... is...."
Rosaline smiled wryly and replied. "He's not coming. He said he'd leave all the work to me afterward."
Dana almost sank to the ground.
"That's why we're all alive and well today," the maids chuckled. Maid Rosi didn't know what that meant, but she was swept up in the mood and laughed along. Then Rosaline looked back at Dana with an "aha," as if suddenly remembering something. "Your clothes." The word 'your clothes' was enough to make Dana blush. "Smells like a maid" followed like a thread on a needle.
"I brought them all the way from the shop, and I want you to try them on here now... Here, here, Emily!"
Rosaline snapped her fingers and called for one of her assistant maids. The maid understood quickly and came over with a large box.
"Go put it on."
Dana was led back through the curtains by the hand of an assistant maid named Emily. With a snap, the thick fabric was pulled back and the layers of dress and jewelry fell away. Then the box opened, revealing the dress Rosaline had called "hers”. It had been a beautiful dress, one that had surely set her heart aflutter, but now it evoked no emotion.
"It was the first dress I ever made for Lady Liana... who knew it would be worn by a maid?"
"...Ah... yes...?"
Dana could almost see the look on maid Rosi’s face across the room. She must have been shocked to learn that the dress actually belonged to the lady of the house. A conversation ensued that made Dana feel even more embarrassed.
"Well, it's too much for a mere maid to wear... but if you're the personal maid of the next Duchess of Macmillan, that's a different story."
"Personal...maid...you don't mean Dana, do you?" Maid Rosi’s voice pierced Dana's ear.
Rosaline was a little surprised by the cold question. After an awkward silence, Rosaline repeated cautiously, "...are you sure she is not?"
"Not at all." Maid Rosi replied bluntly, and then, as if she thought her tone was too blunt, she added in a softer tone. "Of course, I have thought about it. I was thinking of asking my lady, since she's remembered and cared for her for over a year, if we could keep an eye on her this time and then, if it's okay, send her to Peron's home."
The mention of 'Peron's home' made Dana's heart sink.
"But a personal maid? She's just a plaything, not much of a personal maid, no, I don't think she even knows what a personal maid is."
"But Ms. Celeste said something completely different."
"What? Who?" Maid Rosi repeated, and Rosaline could sense her panic.
"...Haven't you heard yet?"
"No, I'm afraid I haven’t heard anything."
"Belle Celeste, the Duchess of Macmillan's maid, I thought you knew all about her."
This time it was Maid Rosi’s turn to be puzzled. "I don't understand why she's suddenly...here...talking about her...."
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Dana, with her arms in her sleeves, flinched like a rabbit caught by the ears.
"Is it all done?" it was Nordstrom. "Where is she?"
Nordstrom looked past Rosaline and jerked his head up and down, just in time to see the maid behind the curtain pull her dress up to her shoulders and tighten the straps.
"It's ready," maid Emily said, and Dana took a deep breath before carefully pulling back the curtain.
"Ah." Nordstrom recognized her and strode over. He looked strangely urgent.
"Let's go."
"...What?"
"The Master is waiting for you."
Dana's heart plummeted. She swallowed hard and tried to control her dizzying, ragged breathing.
"Uh, why would...."
Maid Rosi jumped to her feet, instantly recognizing Dana's fleeing backward steps.
"What are you doing? You've been given such an undeserved gift... and you're just going to leave without saying goodbye to Master Theodore?"
"Not really...."
"Come on, let's go. I also have a letter to deliver to Master Theodore, so you can come with me...."
"Oh, wait... wait."
Nordstrom stopped in front of the door and called Rosaline. The two women's eyes widened, but then they stood side by side in front of him. Nordstrom whispered something to them.
"...Yes?" the maid leaned back in disbelief. "Master... ordered more clothes? Why would he... go so far as to...."
"That was not Master Theodore's order. It is the Lady of the House." By 'Lady of the House' he meant the hostess of House Macmillan, the Duchess. The name was enough to make not only Dana but the maidservants tense up.
"Sooner or later your lordship will be coming to Belvida, and the place will be full of guests again, and the Duchess will want her daughter-in-law-to-be to look her best."
"That, that... of course... we will... do our best for the lady."
"Yes, I understand. I mean no disrespect to the people of Hastings family, but as you know, Peron's social circles are quite different from Belvida's. It is the ladies there who compete for the best dress of their maids, and yet you have not even a maid yet, and do you think the Duchess does not know why?"
Strangely enough, Maid Rosi was dumbfounded at this point.
"A manager like us is an indicator of a family's wealth and status, even more so than a maid's attire." Little did Dana realize that Nordstrom's words had something to do with the financial status of House Hastings.
"Yes, you are quite right." Maid Rosi nodded slowly.
Rosaline cut through the silence that had fallen heavily. "The days of paying top dollar for a guest of honor are coming to an end."
She waved her fan lazily and glanced at maid Rosi, who was dressed head to toe in black, with a hint of pity. There was no scorn or sneer in her tone, but it was enough to make the maid's heart sink.
"The Hastings are to be admired for their austerity and frugality," she said, "but in this day and age, there's nothing to be blamed for the pursuit of aesthetic pleasures, and, as I understand it, madam Macmillan of Macmillan House is a woman who values such things very highly."
"......."
"Which is why she sent her personal maid, Miss Celeste, down here in such a hurry."
Rosi still looked like she was in shock.
"But... I don't see how... you can... do this... without my master's permission......."
It was Nordstrom's next words that made Rosi’s nearly gibbering mouth drop open.
"Madam Hastings has given her consent. The Duchess of Macmillan must have discussed it with her beforehand."
The fact that the Lady of the Manor had given her permission was enough to make maid Rosi’s stomach turn.
Nordstrom pushed past the dazed maid and turned back to Dana.
Dana bowed her head deeply to hide her heavy eyes. She had realized from the previous conversation that something was about to happen against her will.
"Follow me."
Dana's eyes flicked to maid Rosi with a last glimmer of hope. Surely she’d come with her. She said she had to deliver Master Edwin's letter...
But despite his best wishes, the letter was already in Nordstrom's hand.
"...Dana."
Maid Rosi’s eyes as she approached Dana were complicated. It was a mixture of surprise, apprehension, and a bit of excitement.
"First of all... you should go. As you may have heard, the Duchess of Macmillan is bringing you a gift of clothes, and she wants to assign you some special work...."
"Uh-oh, Maid." Rosaline interrupted. "Come this way, please. We don't have much time, and Master Theodore has ordered more clothes than we thought he would, so we're a bit... busy."
"Oh, I see. I see...."
Whether she realized the desperate look in Dana's eyes or not, maid Rosi followed Rosaline through the curtains. It was a desperate moment for Dana.
***
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