Night of Eden 54

Chapter 54

***

Sigh and mop

Another sigh, another wipe, and another wipe...

What was wrong with Dana again?

Dorothy couldn't understand.

Despite being a handmaiden, Dana had never smiled widely. She looked so somber, like something she really disliked, not that she was being careful not to appear smug.

Even among the maids, word began to circulate that something was wrong.

Some said it was simply hard work, others blamed it on the grumpy Macmilan heir.

One day, Maggie's errand to the Shore fueled the second theory.

According to her, Dana had been subjected to all manner of scorn and bullying by Master Theodore. Verbal abuse and insults were the norm, and she was even left alone in a downpour.

The Duchess, instead of reprimanding her son, went one step further and kicked Dana out of the house altogether, telling her to go back and get an education, and if she did well, the Duchess would take her to the Macmilan home.

In Dorothy's opinion, the Macmilans were the kind of vicious, childish lords whose reputation was laughable.

...Bad people.

Gritting her teeth, she turned her head back to the kitchen and was startled.

"Huh?"

The kettle on the stove was boiling over precariously. "There!" Dorothy shouted, "Look!” Dana's pupils snapped back into focus.

"...!"

She gasped and quickly pulled the kettle away. The hot steam hissed and hit the ceiling.

Dana breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at Dorothy.

"Thank you, Dorothy, I could have been in trouble if it wasn't for you."

"Huh? Uh... No......."

Dorothy didn't know why she kept blushing whenever she was in front of Dana, or why she was so speechless. Dorothy scratched her neck awkwardly.

"Would you like a drink?"

Dorothy's eyes widened again. A sweet aroma wafted through her startled senses.

That milk tea, called "salt tea," was becoming all the rage among the maids these days. The maids followed Dana like baby birds following their mother, and Dorothy tried not to stare at them with envy.

Her mouth was watering again today, but Dorothy frowned unnecessarily.

"No, thank you. I don't want it."

"Okay."

Dana handed her the tea as if she hadn't heard a word she had spoken.

"Just taste it once. It's all practice and studying for me."

Blinking, Dorothy stared longingly into the clear liquid.

She could count on five fingers the number of times she had ever had tea in her life, so what good was she going to refuse.......

And yet, before she knew it, Dorothy was lifting the teacup to her mouth.

Hoo, hoo.

She carefully blew into it, and her eyes suddenly became hot. It was so strange that her heart kept thumping in her chest.

Dorothy shook her head as if the hot steam on her face was a nuisance. Then she took a quick sip.

The savory, sweet flavor slid over her tongue and down her throat. She felt the lump in her chest melt away and her eyes brighten.

"Delicious."

Dorothy whispered to herself.

"Really...."

She could see the corner of Dana's mouth curl up through the steam.

"Thank you."

Thank you, what a word.

Dorothy's brows drew together in the center again.

"Now that I have your approval, I think I can have some confidence."

Dana smiled again as she said it.

For a moment, Dorothy’s heart melted like wax on fire. And it was more of an unpleasant feeling. Something that had been built up so hard, something that Dorothy had fought so hard to keep from happening her entire life, was about to come crashing down.

Her tongue moved uncontrollably.

"Oh, is something wrong?"

Dana paused, blowing on the hot steam in her cup. And then,

"No."

And laughed.

Dorothy realized that Dana was saying the exact opposite of what was on her mind.

What else was she supposed to say? Should she just pretend she didn't know? Or should she be bold and tell her that there was nothing she could do to help?

Her mind was racing. Her heart was melting like snow under the sun. Something soft and warm landed heavily on her callused feet.

"Willow."

Dorothy couldn't believe it was the white, cute creature leaning against her right ankle.

"I think she likes you."

Willow's wobbly pupils slowly slid downward, confirming that Dana's words were not false comfort.

Thump! Willow barked for a hug.

Thump! She also barked for love.

Dana quickly scooped Willow up and handed her to Dorothy.

"...!"

Dorothy was stunned and took it in her arms.

The tiny, white creature had landed in her arms so suddenly, so hard. It was a strange sensation, so light and yet so heavy.

A wet, warm tongue licked from her lips to the tip of her nose.

How could she have avoided something so lovely, something she hated so much?

"....oh."

Her heart sank as she remembered how she'd said in front of Dana that she didn't like dogs.

"You know... I don't...."

Dorothy opened her mouth to excuse herself, but the next moment she was at a loss for words.

"Do you want me to make you another drink?"

Dana asked casually, and another realization hit her.

Alas, so...

Dorothy thought as she pulled Willow into a hug.

This was why she'd been following Dana around at every opportunity.

Dana never said, "Look at that," to the others. For Dorothy, that fact was an indescribable relief. She stuck by Dana's side because she liked the comforting warmth.

***

When the carriage that sent the Duchess off returned to Belvida, the sky was dark.

The carriage lamp bobbed to and fro on the cobblestones, waking Stan. He stopped what he was doing, sorting through the mail, and walked straight down the steps.

"Have you returned, Master?"

Theodore nodded his head in response.

"I'm afraid the madam won’t make it safely to Peron; I've heard that trains are worse than carriages if they're delayed......."

"Don't worry, Nordstrom is accompanying her."

Tilly interrupted in a solemn voice.

"I have seen the conductor and the stationmaster myself, and have firmly instructed them to take good care of the lady; and I have been in the cabin beforehand to see that it is safe and sanitary."

"Oh, really?"

"Please prepare bath water. Dinner for the master, and could you also check the condition of the bed one more time, because although the master didn't say anything, it seems a little off to me."

"...Uh... I see."

Tilly brushed past the bewildered Stan and entered the mansion. Jacob, the footman watching, shook his head.

"Did he eat something wrong? What the hell is wrong with him?"

Stan blinked, and a light chuckle escaped his lips.

"Looks like he's got one hell of an ambition."

"Ambition...?"

"Yes, the pathetic, desperate endeavors of a huntsman who dreams of becoming an attendant."

Jacob blinked in disbelief. Then he laughed along.

Stan's "pathetic, desperate endeavor" continued when they reached the Master's room.

Tilly ran his fingers over the dustless chest of drawers and poked at the fireplace with a poker.

"The maids here are so good at cleaning that I think it would be a good idea to tell Mr. Wimfred that we could learn from them... Ah!"

As he was talking eagerly, Tilly spotted the master taking off his jacket by himself and rushed over to take it.

After organizing his clothes, Tilly poured hot water into the tub and lined it with towels, soap, and scented oils.

When he was done, he hastily set up a chair and blankets. He didn't forget to leave the window slightly open.

He handpicked a few cigarettes and placed them within the Master's reach, just as Nordstrom or Wimfred would have done.

What else would he need?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Master reach for the 'note' again.

He had taken it out of the carriage twice before.

He wondered if there had been any contact between him and the young maid since the incident at Etia's hut?

Tilly studied the master's complexion again.

Was he angry, but holding it in? Or did he really not care?

As he shook his head, Theodore gave him instructions.

"Bring Dana in."

Tilly cringed to himself.

Surely he'd said 'Dana'.

How many times had the Master ever called anyone by their first name, especially the servants? Sometimes he wondered if the master even knew Nordstrom’s name…

Tilly was slowly being seized by a strange premonition.

"When will the meal be ready?"

He turned halfway to the door.

"Do you want it ready now?"

"Yes, for two. We'll eat here."

"Okay, I'll go to the kitchen and deliver it right away."

Tilly replied and quietly closed the door behind him. As he walked away, he suddenly had a strange realization.

...For two?

His pair of shiny shoes skidded to a halt.

****

*Thought: Is Theo trying to have a romantic dinner with Dana, lol?

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