Dear Elise

Chapter 6

Even when I get back to my room, I'm smiling.
My maids are confused at the grass stains on my knees and dress, and I try my best to explain them away.
Thankfully, they don't ask me anything more about it.
Before bed, Florence stands behind me, patiently picking grass and leaves out of my hair.
I feel a pang of guilt at making her do this for me, and I clear my throat before speaking quietly to her.
"I apologise for this, Florence..."
She looks surprised, and I suppose she has reason to. After all, I haven't spoken to my maids much at all.
But she smiles at me, after an awkward pause.
"It's no problem, Lady Elise."
Her voice is soft and calming.
"This is my job, after all."

We spend the rest of the evening in silence, but when one of my maids, Sara today, goes to stand in the corner of my room for the night, I speak up.
"Why does one of you always stay here at night?"
Beatrice is quick to respond, her usual bright smile gracing her cheerful features.
"Just in cae you need something of course, Lady Elise!"
I frown. I never need anything in the night.
"You can just go to bed, if you want."
They all look confused at this, and start to protest, but I try my best to reassure them.
"I'll be fine, and I won't tell anyone, so you won't get into trouble. I promise."
They still look doubtful, but my awkward smile seems to reassure them, and after some slight hesitation, they leave.

For the first time, I'm alone at night.
And my thoughts drift to my actions today.
What was I thinking? Breaking rules, sneaking around, running from guards... even sending my maids away was unlike me.
And acting so boisterous... I was practically rolling around in the grass like a child! My face flushes in embarrassment.
My parents would be so disappointed in me...
At least I've made a friend. That's the one good thing that's come out of the Selection so far.

I remember the pounding of my heart as we ran, the way we laughed ourselves breathless...
I find myself smiling again in the darkness, even though I am alone.

The next day, I don't want to leave my room.
What if that guard saw us? What if Sam gets us into trouble by coming up with another stupid plan?
My maids chat to me instead, and Florence shows me how to sew.
They bring my dress for the Report on Friday up to my room, and we work on it together, as Sara cleans my room and Beatrice picks out beads to sew onto my dress.
The design is lovely, a deep green dress with a sweetheart neckline and gentle pleats in the elbow length sleeves and skirt.
The bodice will be beaded in an intricate pattern of pale gold and pastel pink, something that Sara is insisting on doing by herself tomorrow.
"Ouch!" Florence looks over at me as I look at my finger. She holds out a tissue, and I press it to the bead of blood forming from the prick.
"Did you prick yourself again, Lady Elise?" Sara is looking at me with a slight smile on her face.
"I am trying. Don't laugh at me!"
I watch as she and Beatrice giggle quietly.
When I go back to my work, I am careful not to prick myself yet again - and I make sure to keep my stitches as small and neat as I can.
We fall into a comfortable silence for a while, but chatter obviously ensues soon afterwards.

This continues all day, and I find myself greatly enjoying it.
I feel strangely content around my maids. They're almost beginning to feel like my friends too.
They tell me about their families, most of which also work at the palace.
I find myself fascinated by the different rankings of servants in the palace, and they explain it to me in great detail - in return, I tell them about my family.
By the end of the day, my fingers ache and sting, but I feel like I'm finally beginning to settle in to life at the palace.