I'm all hers

Chapter Four

'In love with my mother, who else?'

I suck in a deep breath, about to deny the statement when Irene enters, giving me a soft smile as she does so.

'Miss Beneviento has arrived,' she announces to us.

Daniela rushes off to her mother, she and her sisters stand proudly behind the tall woman as I step back against the wall, a good distance from the dining table in case Lady Dimitrescu were to need me.

I look towards her just before Irene opens to the door for Donna to enter, Alcina looks back at me and smiles, a wave of warmth coursing through my body as she faces forward again.

As the door opens, a small figure impatiently hurries through, bouncing from one foot to the other with glee. 'Hello,' they hum. The tiny figure, who I assume is Angie, begins to run around the room, running right past me as if Lady Dimitrescu, her daughters and I didn't exist.

Prying my eyes away from the dashing figure, I look up to see who I suspect is Lady Beneviento - whose face is covered by a black veil. Her black dress floats behind her as she enters the main hall.

'Hello, sister.' Lady Dimitrescu raises her hand, Donna does the same and they shake hands.

'Hello, aunt Donna,' the daughters speak, bowing their heads in respect, Donna doing the same.

'Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,' Angie squeals, running in circles around the veiled woman before she bends down, allowing the doll to jump into her arms.

'Hyper today, isn't she?' Lady Dimitrescu comments, nodding her head towards the now silent doll. The daughters cringing behind their mother at the sound of Angie's voice.

'She won't be a problem, sister,' Donna mumbles, walking around the four women to place Angie on a chair by the table.

'Well then,' Lady Dimitrescu sighs, 'I will have the chef be informed that we may eat now.'

She turns and nods at me. Catching on, I rush off into the kitchen, my dress floating due to the severity of my footsteps.

'Merva,' I start, smiling as I enter the heat filled kitchen, the scent of freshly cooked meat filling the room with overwhelming sensations on my sinuses. 'They are ready to eat.'

'Hi dear and of course, can you help me and Irene bring out the food?'

I nod happily, Irene coming up behind me to balance two plates on each arm. I mimic her and do the same, following her out the door and back into the main hall where everyone is now sitting in their seat.

Irene mumbles an 'enjoy' to eat person she sets a place next to.

Following her lead, I place a plate of vegetables and meat in front of Donna, careful not to screw anything up as I do so. 'Enjoy,' I mutter, hoping she hears me.

Just as I pull away, she turns her head, face still masked by the veil. 'Thank you,' she whispers. I nod my head and pull away. Not knowing whether to place a plate by Angie, Irene spots my hesitation and does it for me, winking in my direction as she does so.

With the utmost of care, I place a plate in front of Alcina, my face a couple inches from hers as I do so. Her eyes lock with mine. Secretly, she gives me a small wink as I pull away and follow Irene back into the kitchen.

'Here's the wine,' Merva announces just as I enter the door.

Irene nods in my direction as if she's wishing me luck. Just now I realise that I'm about to pour for each of them on my own - likely the most awkward thing I will do as everyone sits in silence, waiting for me to pour them wine so they can begin eating.