Night of Eden 51

 Chapter 51

***

The carriage came to a stop. The servants clasped their hands in unison and straightened up.

White heels clicked on the macadamized pavement, revealing the duchess in her wine-colored tiered dress.

"Welcome, my lady."

At Stan's greeting, the servants bowed in unison.

Isabella greeted the butler, then the head maid, the head trainer, the gardener, and finally Dana, who stood before her in her proper 'maid' position.

"Good morning, my lady, how have you been, and it's good to see you again."

It must have taken all morning to compose herself. Dana was able to say her greetings naturally and without trepidation.

"...."

Isabella looked Dana up and down in her white silk dress without answering.

She looked at Dana like she was looking at a piece of meat on the butcher block, which didn't bother Dana in the least. The real problem was something else. That man, the shadowy figure that stood steadfastly by the Duchess's side.

"....."

Isabella suddenly squinted, looking up at the sky.

The raindrops that had been drifting invisibly had suddenly thickened and dripped onto the bridge of her nose.

"Come on in, ma'am."

Stan quickly unfurled his umbrella and stepped between Dana and Liana.

"Kenneth, go ahead and put the umbrella on the Master."

Just before heading inside, Isabella glanced back at Dana.

"Come with me, I want to taste your tea."

Dana's legs buckled and she shuddered.

***

The hall was filled with the fresh scent of orange. But Dana was feeling nothing.

He’s not here.

He's not here right now.

I just have to do my job.

Her parrot-like repetition had allowed her to avoid making eye contact with him all this time.

Before she knew it, the hourglass had reached the bottom.

Dana lifted the lid and surveyed her progress. She scooped up the strainer and tipped the teapot.

"It’s Hoya."

Isabella recognized the tea's name instantly, thanks to its deep orange aroma.

Dana took a deep breath and set the teacup down in front of her.

At any other time, her mouth would have gone dry, wondering how she would be judged, but not now.

The handmaiden hadn't even expected it. Right now, all she wanted was for that shadowy figure, peering out the window as if it were free, to disappear completely before her eyes.

Isabella drew her teacup closer and sniffed the incense.

"...Mmm, not bad."

"...Thank you."

Dana replied mechanically. Isabella's eyes flicked across her overly tense face, a hint of dissatisfaction in them.

"You certainly aren't the most outgoing and social person."

What if she messed up the tea even more and got out of her sight?

For the first time in her life, Dana had a negative thought.

"Still, there must be something in you, seeing as how Celeste asked for it."

Muttering coldly, Isabella took a sip of her tea. Dana waited patiently for the criticism.

In the dozens of cups of tea a day she'd taken during her training, Celeste had always said that she was 'a long way off', and Dana didn't expect to improve much in just a few months.

Besides, she was up against the Duchess of Macmilan, who was considered the 'master of tea and dessert' on the continent.

But the Duchess's expression when she put down her teacup was strange. She didn't frown, nor did she shake her head in disapproval.

"...."

After another wordless sip, she lowered the teacup and opened her mouth again.

"Have you learned the young master’s favorite tea?"

The hand wiping the teacup with a dishcloth paused.

"...I did learn it, but...."

"Then try it."

As soon as she finished, Isabella looked back at Theodore.

"Teddy, what shall I have her make? Give her a chance to practice."

The man's eyes, fixed on the window, slowly shifted to Dana. Dana's head dropped to the floor.

"Anything. Anything she’s good at."

He replied nonchalantly, resting his elbows on one armrest and pressing his fists into his temples.

Dana's trembling hands roamed frantically over the bowl of herbs.

Willow, who'd been sitting quietly on a cushion, stumbled toward them.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Isabella lifted the puppy to eye level. Dana quickly checked the time.

"It's outside... I think she wants to go outside. She goes for a walk and relieves herself at this time every day."

"Aww...."

"Please, I'll take her with me...."

Dana stretched her arms out in the hope that she could get out of this suffocating position. But it was no use.

"No, it's okay, you keep doing what you're doing."

Isabella pulled Willow tightly into her arms and walked to the door. Dana called after the Duchess in vain, unable to hide her frustration.

"You're so smart, not to go potty indoors!"

The Duchess’s cheerful voice faded into the distance and then disappeared completely out the door.

The silent parlor, the man, and her.

As she slowly froze, something was thrust in front of her. It was a small plate of chocolates.

Her dazed eyes traced the gilt pattern on the rim and stopped on the man's fingers holding the plate.

Her hand tightened on the teapot lid. Dana barely managed to open her mouth. 

"With all due respect... No, thank you...."

"I brought it for you, as an apology."

...An apology?

Her head snapped up in surprise.

The man who had been scratching his head in boredom had completely disappeared.

The calm stare of his eyes reflected the heat of the previous night.

The thought that he might have gotten drunk and forgotten was a vain hope.

He remembered everything.

"I was less than gentlemanly that day."

A languid gaze touched her lips. Over a raw scratch, to be precise.

Dana froze like a captured animal.

"You forgot this again."

He said casually, pulling something out of his jacket pocket. It was a fountain pen.

"They say an attractive man should be able to handle a woman's rejection gracefully, but I'm not sure I know how."

The slick nib slid into Dana's apron pocket.

"...It's been a while."

Theodore said abruptly. He brushed past a startled Dana and leisurely picked up the hourglass. The sand was almost all the way down.

"I don't like bitter things.”

He muttered nonchalantly and began pouring himself a cup of tea. As Dana listened to the cheerful sound of the water, she tried to formulate a thought in her head.

Her nerves picked up the distant knock at the door. As expected, the door swung open a few seconds later.

"I just left it with maid Rosi."

Isabella stepped forward, dispersing the tense air currents.

"It’s such a cute little pup, I wonder if I should get a dog?"

She said cheerfully and cleaned her hands with a wipe.

"Well, that's it, let's see."

Isabella hooked her fingers around the handle of her teacup and lifted it thoughtfully. She didn’t forget to check the color and aroma before she drank.

She took a sip, then another.

And then another sip.

After a long time, she set the teacup down, leaned back, and opened her mouth.

"Tomorrow you'll learn to ride, and I'll see what I can do with you."

****

"Learn to ride, doesn't that mean you’re almost accepted?"

"Does that mean you’ll be a real handmaiden now?"

"Oh, my God!"

She didn't have the energy to reply. Dana pushed past the gossiping maids and ducked into her room. As soon as she closed the door behind her, a cold sweat ran down her back.

Words mixed with envy, such as "I'd like it" and "That's great" echoed dizzily along the wall behind her.

...What am I going to do?

With trembling hands, Dana hugged her bent legs to her chest. It fell limply and clattered against her knees.

Something dull poked her somewhere in the thigh. It was the fountain pen Theodore had slipped into her pocket.

Dana stared at it as if it were the mark of Satan.

Thud.

The door vibrated against her back.

"Dana."

It was the head maid.

Dana let out a long breath and slowly rose to her feet. As soon as the door opened, Rosi dropped a pair of shoes in front of her. They were riding boots.

"Try them on. They were Lady Liana’s until last year, and I finally managed to find them and bring them here. They should fit."

Dana froze, staring down at the shoes.

"...What are you doing?"

At Rosi’s urge, Dana slowly shoved her foot into the shoe. The toes curled as the forefoot squeezed tight.

"How does it feel?"

"...It’s fine."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it."

The head maid smiled.

"Go to the stables first thing tomorrow morning. Tobias will be waiting for you."

***

That evening, Belvida's dining room was filled with warmth. The silver table was lit and the vases were filled with freshly picked flowers.

The Duchess and Master Theodore were the only diners, but the servants who came and went from the hall were all dressed in full regalia and proceeded a formal dinner course.

"I don't know if you'll like it, but our chef has put a lot of thought into this."

Stan said as he set down a plate with dessert.

"Very good. It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying meal. I don't know if I deserve this, coming to a house without a master."

"Please don't say that. It's all our shortcomings.”

After finishing their meal, they were led by Stan to the tea table set up on the balcony.

Normally, the hosts were supposed to serve tea, but Isabella insisted that they needed to talk in private and instructed Nordstrom to get the tea. Stan withdrew without a word.

"How was Dana Bordon?"

Nordstrom asked, laying a blanket down next to Isabella.

"...I expected the worst, but it wasn't too bad."

"I grabbed a few of the maids earlier and questioned them, as you instructed, and her reputation among the maids is pretty good."

"Well, that's good, I like that, but is she a leader among the maids or something?"

"No, I don't think so at all. From what I've been able to find out, that role belongs to a maid named Bessi."

A hint of disappointment crossed Isabella's face. For a moment, she wondered if she should bring Bessi in and try to educate her.

"No, no. I don't think Liana could handle a child that strong, and I wouldn't let a rat in to catch my daughter-in-law's sassy, rambunctious friends."

"You would be the best judge of that, my lady."

Nordstrom handed her a teacup.

"Do you think Theo will be any good with Liana? From what he's done so far, I don't have any hope."

Isabella pressed her lips to the rim of her teacup, her eyes dark.

"I'm a little worried. I've always trusted my judgment when it comes to men and women, but I don't know why I'm so unsure about my son's marriage."

"As I recall, the Duke was similarly unsure. And so was my lady, as I recall, but they are still in the early stages of their engagement, so perhaps you should wait and see."

Her lips pressed against the hard porcelain, and she traced an arc.

"Yes, and so did the Duke. How else would I have cried and begged my father to let me have a divorce, saying I would enter a convent and remain a celibate for the rest of my life, but never marry Anton?"

Nordstrom smiled and nodded.

"...I'm sure Liana will do fine... I told you I know what she's like... She'll be fine."

Isabella muttered and sipped her tea. A round moon shone pale against an indigo-tinted sky.

***

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