"Why aren't you back inside? I thought I told you to leave me alone!"
"It's so exhausting having to walk through everyone. I prefer to not be in parties."
"Then why be here?"
"Mr. Smith is my boss. I have to congratulate my friend's brother, Harold...
"Open up your eyes! The sun has shined the sky!" An elder servant carols. She's in a great mood this morning.
Faith and Arla hid under the blankets, avoiding the rays of the sun shimmering in the sky to get humans awake to start the day. "Why such weather on a dreadful day?" Arla groaned not satisfied with the day cooperating with them this morning. "Is that what all the stubbornness is about? I need a reason than just the weather!" She ordered. She would allow them to sleep in for a bigger claim than that!
Faith sat up from the bed and gave the servant a solemn response, "My engagement party is today." She answered honestly. The servant closed the curtains. "What a morning, it should've been pouring indeed! Lord Harold has been unfaithful to our dear madam." She admits. "Does he deserve to be addressed as a Lord? Why not a Flummox? That's surely a peek at his future." Arla joins the gossip with the servant. Faith slightly pinched his arm, signaling him to not spout venom.
"I appreciate and agree with the slander of Lord Harold, yet I wouldn't want to take it to heart and spread it down like blood in the river." Faith demands. The servant and Arla obeyed her wish and the elder woman left them to rest more if they desired to. Now awake, the companions set the schedule of the day.
Arla took a scan through the invitation to the party. "From 4 in the afternoon to 9 is how long you're required to stay?" He scoffed. "As the betrothed wife it's necessary. I'll have dinner with them for an hour to discuss the wedding." She added. Knowing the Smith family, they're likely to put her in such a spot to reveal how weak she is. "Is Mr. and Mrs. Lee accompanying us?" "Father is stuck home to keep my mother company. I presume you'll be the only one to be by my side."
As expected. The damned family knew what they were signing up for. It's not like they could do anything about Faith not taking action to make an appearance, but it would set wood to the fire for sure.
"Come, we better get breakfast out of our list! We can get the chores done before the lock chimes 12." Arla assured, crossing out the first thing on their schedule, and rushed out of the room giggling like a child. Faith didn't process what he had said but chased after him to make sure he didn't slip down the stairs like before.
"Good morning kids!" "Morning Mrs. Villin!" Arla greeted as he carefully went down the stairs. "Careful Arla, don't get your ankle twisted! Hello Mrs. Villin!" Faith shouted as she passed by the maid cleaning off the dust on the shelves. Arla took his sweet time on the stairs and allowed Faith to get a chance to get down too.
"Next time... I won't remind you." She says panting, catching her breath. Arla hummed in agreement and took her hand to make it to the dining room.
"I'll get the table set up, stay here to not make Mr. and Mrs. Lee concerned for where you could be," Arla assured as he went to help out in the kitchen. Faith patiently waited, distracting herself since the meal will be done a bit soon.
"Morning Freckle-Face, how was the news for you?" Inquired a man in mid 40's setting the pot to fire. "A nightmare! How will I survive in a dress and inside their home?" He grunted. "Mr. Churchill, what's for breakfast?" "Beefsteak with a great amount of seasoning, green peas on our smashed potatoes, and best of all, muffins for dessert." The chef of the house answered with confidence. Arla's stomach growled at the menu this morning.
"I'll bake the muffins! Are there any blueberries today?" "Certainly not, but there are strawberries in the garden that Ms. Piper is picking. Wait until she gets back." "No need for waiting! How many will you need, Mr. Quinn?" Ms. Piper questions the ginger-haired teen.
Arla beamed, "I'll wash them and get them prepared, I wouldn't want to interrupt your chores of the day." "It's no burden, River Boy. After all, the chores are limited today for preparing Faith's first banquet." She assured him. Arla kept his posture, he wouldn't want to disobey Faith's demand this morning!
"Let's move on, today's breakfast will taste better than what the Smiths will offer us in their kitchen!" The Irish boy exclaimed proudly as he prepared the began to bring ingredients to get the batter done as Ms. Piper helped clean the strawberries and chop them into small amounts of squares.
. ★ ° | . ★ ° |
"With the engagement party today, I'm sure the wedding will be held next month." Begins Mrs. Lee. "That fast?" Faith questions. "Well, compared to when you were born, the marriage was set fast too." Mr. Lee confirmed. Faith's heart thumped rapidly. "Have you two thought of what I wanted to do for my marriage?" "With the Smiths, we were put against a situation at that time! They wanted you, we didn't want them." Her mother said, trying to clarify the error.
"It's too late to back out. Whatever they plot, it isn't great since they work for sellers." Says the master. Arla was intrigued by the word. "What kind of Seller could they be?" He questions. "Ones that are interested in selling the focused human resources in an outsider," He pointed at Arla's chest, "Any organ or physical structure of your body is being sold by other secret groups that discriminate the Black, Indians, and Irish Scottish."
"Don't scare him with that nonsense! You'll pay for it if it's just a silly rumor." Faith says defensively as she wrapped her arms around Arla tightly. The ginger head accepted the embrace and too was uncertain of this information. "Rumor or not, he's a target for any man in the colonies who's against the picture of a white man." Mrs. Lee settled. " Besides that, why is everyone here?"
The servants and chef looked at Mrs. Lee who was staring back at them. "We enjoy your conversation! Even if it means I don't hear any praises about what I cooked for your family." Mr. Churchill says feeling doubtful of his skills in the kitchen. "No, don't feel that way! Look, we finished the plates!" Arla and Faith both reassure the chef who wiped away a single tear off his cheek. "You two never fail to disappoint my expectations of mine!" He beams with hope.
"With us being revealed, would the Madame like for me to take the plates away for washing?" Inquired a maid. "Thank you, and the rest continue with chores. If anyone is done early, help get Faith ready for the party." She ordered. Everyone in the room complied with her words and began to do their part.
"Any laundry needed to be washed?" Another maid questions. "With luck, there are no clothes in the basket yet. Move on to the next chore if my parents have nothing too!" Faith informed.
"Hey, let's get you washed early! That way your schedule could be short." Arla suggested. "I can't leave you with chores to do like the others. I want to help!" She says staying her ground. "Suite yourself, I wouldn't want to bathe late at night again with the creeps outside," Arla smirked, triggering Faith back to the time it happened. "I'll get my clothes, you get the water ready, please." "No need to tell me twice!"
Not as long as the last chapter, but I felt like I was getting too wordy so might as well give it a shot! 🤞🥲
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