Addendum:

Chapter 9: a lady in waiting

Elesia shared an intimate lunch with Maya in the kitchens confiding all of her hearts sorrows. Maya seemed to know a thing or two about unfair heartache and the pair provided each other comfort. They had been chatting away for what felt like brief minutes when Carrie glided into the room humming a happy tune, stopping abruptly when she spied the two girls.
"What is this?" She queried.

Maya sprang to her feet, sending the stool clattering to the floor.  "I'm sorry miss, we were just having a bit of lunch and we lost track of the time. It won't happen again." She said, her bottom lip began to tremble.

Elesia opened her mouth to speak. Carrie spoke, cutting her off "It's quite alright dears. I think it's quite nice that you both found a friend in the castle. Ensure your work gets done and I won't say a peep" She said with a wink. With that she was gone again.

Both of the girls visibly relaxed. "We'll, I had better get back to my chores."

The look of disappointment was clear on Elesias face. She had rather enjoyed getting acquainted with her new friend.  "Maya?"

"Yes miss?"

"What if I helped you with your chores?" She asked hopefully.

"I'm not sure that would be proper miss..."

"Maya, do you wish to be rid of me?"

"What?! No! Of course not miss!"

"Then please let me help you. I'm so bored I'll practically become a statuette if I can't help you."

Maya stifled a giggle. "You're quite one for the theatrics aren't you?"

Elesia threw herself on the table draping an hand across her forehead, imitating the starlets in London. "The world is my stage!" She declared.

The two erupted into roaring laughter clutching their stomachs. "Well" Maya said wiping tears from her eyes, "come along distressed damsel, we have some antiquities that need our saving from the dust bunnies."

The two made speedy work of the remaining chores. Polishing the silver, beating the rugs, and replacing the candlesticks in the chandeliers in record time. The girls took themselves to Elesias chambers.
Elesia threw herself to the bed after kicking off her slippers when she noticed Maya still stood in the doorframe.

"Maya? Is everything alright?" She asked, her question laced with concern. Maya still wasn't moving.

Maya continued to stare around the room, dumbstruck at the luxuriousness of it all. Elesia hopped off the bed and bounded to Maya, taking her by the hand she pulled her into the room, shutting the door.

"Maya?"

"This is... I just don't know what to... I've never seen something so...." Her words came tumbling out, cutting each other off, not completing a single thought.

"You've never seen something so what?"

Maya searched for the words to describe the grandeur of the room . "Nice." Nice was the word she settled on but it didn't dare do it justice. Nice described the flowers in the springtime. Nice described Claire giving her the leftover tarts from the luncheons. Nice was having five minutes peace to herself after dealing with demanding guests. This... this was ... divine. She wouldn't dare admit that to her new acquaintance.

"It is nice isn't it?" Elesia said smiling. Her room was surprisingly cozy and quite welcoming but she still felt so alone having the big chamber to herself.

Maya followed Elesia towards the bed, staring at it. "Here sit." Elesia said, pulling down on her hand.

"I can't sit there."