Fourteen

Mrs Baxter asked me to clean five guestrooms today. Apparently, I had a lot of free time yesterday, which was when I went for a nature stroll. I didn't oppose since I was in a happy mood.

It was a good thing Camilla hadn't crossed my path ever since Prince Henry's dinner party. Wonder what happened to her.

I was walking down the hallway when Alfred Walker — the guy who had delivered the summons from Mrs Baxter the day she found out I hadn't been the one she was expecting — came around the corner.

He gave me his usually cheeky smile that probably had girls drooling over him. Except this girl.

"Hey, Zia, what's up?" he flashed his dimples.

"The ceiling?"

"Ha ha! Very funny," he mocked.

"What is it?" He was really acting weird.

"Well... fine, you got me. We are all free this weekend, so I was hoping... no, I'm hoping we," he gestured between us, "would go to this carnival in town," he awkwardly rubbed the nape of his neck.

"We?" I asked.

"Yeah!"

"I'm sorry, are you asking me out on a date?" I had to clarify, and hopefully it wasn't that.

"Sort of." I started shaking my head trying to find a reason to say no.

He must have guessed what I was thinking because he added, "I won't take no for an answer or else I'll tell everyone who wishes to listen that I saw you coming back from the forest with the Prince in the middle of the night. I must say, you were all cuddly on that horse."

"Correction. It wasn't the middle of the night."

"Doesn't really make a difference. It was still night time."

"Is this how you snag yourself dates? Honestly, Alfred, if you continued like this you'd end up alone."

"Oh Zia, girls like me," he flashed another charming smile, "Sunday it is then." And he left.

I stood in the hallway with my mouth literally hanging wide open. The audacity of that guy. He actually thought he could charm me. And really, blackmailing me into a date with him?

***

The last room I cleaned for the day looked occupied. The closet was full of expensive garments and jewelry boxes filled with the finest type of ornaments.

I walked out of the closet to find Camilla checking through the drawers on the nightstand. I wondered what she was looking for. I hoped she's not thinking about causing trouble for me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

She turned around to face me, "Perhaps you should mind your own business."

"This is my business. I was assigned to clean this room."

She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the door opening. In entered a petite brunette whose appearance screamed wealth. I looked a little closer to realise she was the woman hanging onto Prince Alexander's arm at the dinner a few days ago.

My eyes trailed down to her left arm and right there sat the engagement ring, shining at different angles of reflection.

"Hurry up, Camilla. I need to have my tea immediately," she said to Camilla, her voice almost musical.

I could see why Prince Alexander would love her. She was pretty, wealthy, had a sweet voice and above all, she was from a noble family. Just the right woman for him.

Where exactly did I fit in the picture? I was the exact opposite of her. I most definitely was not the Prince's type.

"Very well, my lady," Camilla answered before turning to me, "Would you please be so kind as to pour the Lady a cup of tea?"

I could not exactly say no. Apparently, she was Lady Catherine's lady in waiting and so an order from her was like an order from the Lady Catherine herself.

I walked over to the small lounge area. There was small table in the centre. I waited as I watched Lady Catherine walk gracefully towards the chairs.

I noticed she had green eyes and was probably five foot seven when she got closer. Her eyes really shined like emeralds in the light. It made me wonder how I would look with green eyes.

I snapped out of my reverie when she cleared her throat. I immediately picked up the teapot and started pouring its contents. I was interrupted by Lady Catherine.

"That's not how you pour tea. Where on earth were you raised from? Camilla, is this the type of person you let pour me tea. It's almost like she's watering plants. Quick! Come and do it instead. And please, young lady, get out of my sight."

Oh wow!

I finally realised why Mrs Baxter would assign Camilla to this woman. They were both apparently snakes.

"Did you not hear what the Lady just said? Get out," Camilla said as she moved to take my place.

I left the room feeling extremely wasted. Just a few minutes in there and it was like I had spent a whole day. I really hoped I was the only one on that receiving end. If she was like that with everyone, then I really pitied the Prince. And the whole kingdom at large.

Or maybe I was just doing it wrong and she was right to get mad at me. I was not exactly trained in that field. I had picked up the teapot by the handle with one hand, and used the other to hold the tip of the cover.

I really had absolutely no idea what was wrong. But I knew I wouldn't let the incident give me a migraine.