The Apple of My Eye

Chapter 8

Once again Charlotte began her chores with a smile on her face and a melody being hummed from her lips but this time she also had the magnolia Alastor gave her pinned in her hair. Between doing her work she would take a moment to pull that flower from her hair and inhale it's sweet perfume, thus bringing back the wonderful memories of when she was with the gentleman who have given it to her.

"Good morning Niffty." She said to the maid who entered the kitchen to prepare mid-morning tea.

"Good morning to you Apple Cheek." The maid replied.

"Isn't it the most lovely day?" Charlotte sighed while admiring the magnolia in her hand. "The sun is so bright and the birds are singing. Everything is so green and flourishing, it's almost like the entire outside is a beautiful painting."

"Goodness, you seem to getting happier and happier lately. Another good dream?"

"You could say that."

Her cheeks were rosier than they had ever been in all her life and she suddenly found herself dancing with the broom and imagining that it was the charming young man who was now constantly on her mind.

"Ahem!" Niffty coughed which snapped her out of her daydream. "I wouldn't drift off like that during the day if I were you. If Katie catches you like that she'll have you thrown out."

"Oh! Sorry!" She blushed in embarrassment. "Honestly I don't know where my head is today."

"It would seem that your heart has replaced it as the organ that controls you." Niffty giggled.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh I don't think it's any dream that's made you this happy and absent minded Apple Cheek. I think you've met someone. Someone who you fancy very much so."

"No. Not at all." She quickly hid the magnolia.

"You can deny it all you wish but I know when a girl is lovesick. It's happened to me plenty of times although it's never worked out in my favor."

"Lovesick?"

"You're showing all the symptoms. You're blushing and giggling and singing to yourself. You're day dreaming and having a most difficult time focusing on your work. That can only mean one thing. You're in love."

"Don't be silly Niffty." Charlotte said before getting back to sweeping the floor. "How could I be in love? I haven't even had the opportunity to meet a young man. I spend all my days working in the kitchen and all my nights sleeping in the cellar."

"Very well, keep your secrets if you must. But you can't fool me. You're head over heels for someone. I won't make you tell me anything if you don't want to Apple Cheek but I do hope all goes well with you and your paramour."

Charlotte's blush deepened. Love? Is that what she was feeling? Is that what was sparked inside of her the night she met that wonderful man? She never thought that she would ever fall in love. Not even when she was still living with her father. Despite having many suitors interested in her, Charlotte had no intention of ever marrying. Her plan was to stay with her father and take care of him for the rest of her life. The reason for this plan was because number one most potential suitors were only interested in her for her great beauty or to gain control of her father's land. And number two it was because that her father had become so lonely and grieved by her mother's death that she felt he would just die without her. But things were different now weren't they?

Her father had discarded her, deciding that he would be much better off without her. He no longer wanted her comfort or her love. He chased her away from her own home and declared that she would never again be seen as his daughter. It broke her heart and ever since then it had made her feel completely alone and worthless. However she was starting to not feel that way anymore.