Chapter 53
****
"...at this time of day?"
"Yes. She would like a cup of hot tea."
Late in the evening, Dana received an unexpected summons from the Duchess. As she made her way to the east wing, she took a deep breath and prepared herself.
Surely the man would be there.
Theodore Macmilan was not a man to lose, and he would no doubt take the letter as some sort of provocation.
He'd be waiting, ready for retribution.
...Now what?
Dana clenched and unclenched her fists nervously. It was a curious thing to do, but it didn't seem to have a point.
I don't know.
Let's just go with it. The Duchess would be there, so he wouldn’t do anything too bad.
Dana stood in front of the room, arming herself with resignation. But when she opened the door and stepped inside.
"Welcome."
There was only one person waiting for her, the Duchess. As hard as she strained her eyes, she couldn't make out any sign of the insistent shadow.
"I'm not comfortable without Celeste. I don't want to leave my grooming in the hands of just anyone, and you know how to brush hair, right?"
"...yes."
Isabella untied her hair. Shiny reddish-gold hair spilled down to her waist. Dana began to carefully comb it down with a brush.
Isabella leaned back against the backrest. Peridot-colored eyes stared back at Dana in the mirror.
"How do you like horseback riding? Is it worth learning?"
"Yes, it's hard, but... But it's also fun."
"What about chess or cards, do you know how to play?"
"I don't know chess, but I know a few card games."
Isabella nodded slowly, then added.
"You should take this opportunity to learn chess."
"Okay, enough with the combing... I'd like a glass of Amaranth."
Dana nodded and started to make tea.
The Duchess watched as Dana mixed the leaves and steeped the tea. The piercing gaze that clung to her flesh was still there, but she didn't tremble as much as she had on the first day, perhaps because the man was gone.
"Amaranth has a subtle vanilla flavor. It's trickier to brew than any other tea. The water temperature is important.”
Dana focused her attention on testing the temperature of the teapot in her palm as she remembered Celeste's words.
"Here you go."
The duchess didn't look much different from the first day. Her expression remained unreadable, and she didn't comment on the taste of the tea.
She simply sipped the tea in silence, staring out the window at the night view until the minute hand on her watch had gone halfway around the circle.
Darkness fell over the courtyard. A tall male servant carried a bucket of oil and lit a bronze lamp. The marble statue of the fountain glowed in the light.
The Duchess's mouth opened suddenly as the sound of one or two grasshoppers began to chirp through the window.
"Celeste told me that young master Hastings seems to harbor more feelings for you than is necessary."
The words, thrown out of the blue, were enough to make Dana stiffen.
"I'd like to find out if that's true or not, but I can't pry, can I?"
A piercing gaze met Dana's. Her head dropped downward.
"Answer me this. What's your relationship with Master Hastings? Don't try to deceive me, just tell me the truth."
"I, I'm...."
Dana felt the blood in her body ebb and flow.
"Do you like your young master?”
The man's glowing face popped into her empty mind.
A few months ago, she would have said yes, that she could barely look at Master Edwin without blushing.
But the last few days, the extreme tension?
Dana found herself strangely somber.
"It's true that I was excited and happy to see him, I just... watched from afar... Alone... I liked him."
The Duchess's expressionless face motioned for her to continue.
"But that's all... I dare not... covet... or... I've never... ever... thought... of trying... Not once, not in the past, not now, not ever... I don't know about anything else, but... I can swear to that."
"Really? Well, what about the young master? Do you think Edwin feels the same way you do?"
Dana couldn't help but wince again.
"I'll be honest with you. At the Shore, I felt like I was losing you to Teddy.”
Edwin’s calm voice echoed in her ear.
“I'm still not sure what exactly this feeling is, whether it's just a sense of rivalry, or whether it's something that really makes me…”
At the time, her heart was beating so fast she could hardly breathe, but now that she thought about it, there was one thing that was really bothering her.
How could she have forgotten that already?
It was only a few days ago that she heard those words, but they seemed so distant, like something from the distant past.
"He... well...."
Dana muttered.
"I don't know... what the master thinks of me. I can't... ask him directly..."
The Duchess, who had been listening to her stuttering answer, chuckled.
"Well, I suppose... The question itself is stupid.”
Shaking her head to herself, she turned back to Dana.
"Then promise me one thing."
"...yes."
"What will you do if the young master shows any interest in you as a member of the opposite sex? Will you leave Belvida, no questions asked?"
“…yes.”
As soon as she answered, a faint twinge of disillusionment twisted her stomach.
Yes, she could swear before God. She had never, not once, not even for a moment, coveted Master Edwin in real life.
So why did it have to be exposed like this?
Was it so wrong to like someone?
It felt like everything that had been glittering ecstatically in her heart had lost its shine and fallen to the ground.
"Okay, I don't think you're lying, but let's see, you did harbor inappropriate feelings for Edwin Hastings, only at this party, so it doesn't make sense that you can’t be Liana’s handmaiden."
"...."
"Don't worry, my dear. I'll keep our conversation a secret."
She set her teacup down with an intense stare.
Dana stared out into the darkening courtyard, her face calm. The lamps lining the driveway were all lit. The stars twinkled in the sky, slowly losing their luster.
****
"Oh my God, you got accepted!"
Rosi clapped her hands, and the maids around her squealed. Dana stood at a distance, not knowing what to say.
"I didn't expect her to decide so quickly, but she must have liked you quite a bit."
Rosi smiled broadly.
"Ah, now is not the time. I must tell the master and the lady the good news as soon as possible. And also to my master in Pemburg...."
"Excuse me, Maid."
Dana grabbed the maid's cuff.
"Eh?"
"Look...do you think... What if...I...."
Rosi stared down at Dana's face. Dana always got that look on her face whenever the subject of ‘handmaiden’ came up, and Rosi was getting a little frustrated.
"You...are...not...trying to say...that you can't...do it?"
Dana was taken aback by the tone of the woman's voice, but she found the courage to speak.
“... I... If I don't want to... Master Edwin….He said I didn't have to... just... as before... being the lady's companion... that it's enough...."
"Jesus, Dana, now?!"
Rosi exclaimed. Not just Dana, but the maids around her flinched.
"Didn't I tell you that all of Peron's finest are invited to this party, and they'll all have maids with them, and you're going to leave Miss Liana standing there all alone?"
Dana's mouth snapped shut as she prepared her next words. Rosi’s brow furrowed.
"Perhaps I have given you too much credit," she said, "but the truth is, compared to maids elsewhere, we Hastings maids are treated well. We've never been overworked, we've never been mistreated, and yet you're acting like you've had enough. I'm... disappointed."
Dana caught her lower lip and bit down hard.
"Anyway, no. It's an order, and I don't want you to think I'm being unreasonable, and I'm going to assume you've been through a lot and let it slide this time."
Rosi glared at Dana, who went white, and then turned away. A part of her wondered if she'd gone too far, but she shook her head to clear it.
"You should go and get some rest, and maybe you'll realize something when you're quiet and think about it."
"...yes."
Dana could only nod in a small reply.
****
The next day, the servants of Belvida were once again required to gather at the roundabout in full regalia. The Duchess had to return to Peron after a short visit.
"I'm sorry to see you go already, my lady."
Isabella shrugged at Rosi’s comment.
"What can I do, the Archduchess says she can't do anything without me by her side. I sent Celeste first, but she's not happy with that."
"It's not easy to find a substitute for your discernment."
Isabella didn't mind the comment, even if she knew it was just to sound nice.
"By the way, I'm a little disrespectful to Contess Hastings, since I host the party and leave it all to you."
"Don't say that. We are all grateful and honored; and have you not been looking after and guiding our young lady in the place of our mistress all this time?"
"Of course Countess Hastings has done her job well.
Anyway, take care of her, and don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Yes, thank you for your kind words."
As Isabella made her way to the carriage, she paused, as if remembering something. The hem of her coral dress whirled around and she stood in front of Dana.
"If you do well this time, I'll take you to the Macmilan home."
Would there be another offer so outrageous?
Everyone's eyes widened, from Stan to the maids.
"Of course, it's up to you. If I hear one bad word, you won't stand a chance. The Macmilans aren't exactly easy to please.”
Before Dana could reply, the Duchess turned and climbed into the carriage. She was followed by Theodore and Nodrstrom. The carriage wasted no time in leaving Belvida.
Even though the Shadow was gone, Dana couldn't relax a bit.
Butler Stan said that Theodore would return here after seeing off the Duchess.
'I suppose he'll stay in the east wing and wait for Lady Liana to return. I'll be stuck with him for the next few days.’
Dana lifted her bowed head and looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering beyond the ridge.
***
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Gardenia (Sunday, 03 November 2024)
I am crying a river. Dana, you did not stand a chance against Theodore, baby. Cannot wait to see how they are doing this time.