Myra and the Arcadian Lord

23. Mannequin - part 3

The mannequin was preventing her from walking away. The wooden hand was holding her shoulders tightly, making shivers run down her spine. Myra started creeping out.

The headless doll moved it's arms as if it had life. "Amyra.." it called out.

what the hell?!

Myra didn't know what to do or how to react. There was not a single soul around her to give her an assurance that she was day dreaming. She cursed herself for following the voice and leaving Lady Florence downstairs. She slowly turned around to face the Mannequin and the wooden hand left her shoulders and the doll froze back.

'did I just imagine things?' she questioned herself. 'Or did this mannequin really move?' looking at it suspiciously.

Just then she heard Florence's voice from behind her. "There you are", that had Myra turn around once again and this time the headless doll didn't move. "I have been searching for you everywhere".

Florence and another sales assistant who seemed to be a ori-blooded vampiress came towards her. "I am sorry, I was just looking around", apologized Myra .

Florence chuckled, "That's alright". Then her eyes landed on the dress the headless mannequin was wearing. Moving forward she touched the fabric and a sweet smile formed on her face.

Turning to look at Myra, Florence asked, "Do you like it?".

Myra's stared at the floor, not meeting the Lady's eye. "I-I, umm.." she sputtered unable to say that she liked it.

"You are buying this" said Florence with finality, that had Myra look up with astonishment. "I didn't know that you had this good taste, when it comes to selecting dresses".

Myra opened her mouth to protest, "Lady Flo-", but Florence cut her out by saying the sales assistant that they will be buying it.

The sales woman nodded saying, "Great choice, Miss" she then continued, "This is a limited edition ball gown designed by the renowned dressmaker Laure Sheldon herself. In fact this particular gown is her last masterpiece. Unfortunately it is said that Laure died a week after she completed working on this dress ".

Florence looked at the dress in awe, while Amyra's was standing there uncomfortably. Mentally trying to think of a reason to get out of this store without buying anything, but it seemed like lady florence was determined to make her buy a dress.

"But, Are you sure that you want to buy this gown?" asked the sales woman with a doubtful expression.

"YES"

"NO!" said Myra.

And that had the sales woman look at both Florence and Amyra with confusion as the two of them gave contrasting replies at the same time.

Florence inhaled sharply and mock glared at Myra, before saying "Yes, we are buying it" firmly.

"But--" started Myra.

"No buts Amyra. I insist that you have to buy it" stated the Lady, "besides, it will look soo good on you".

Then turning to the assistant girl, "pack this too along with the other dresses".

The sales woman bowed and called out for another sales boy and told him to set the dress aside, then led both of them towards the cash counter.

Florence had chosen four dresses for herself from the store and she paid for it. After her billing process, she informed the casher to bill Amyra's gown too.

"It costs eight hundred gold coins, Ma'am" said the casher blankly, "do you still want to buy it?".

Not everyone will be willing to waste soo much money for a single dress, even if they are from a rich elite family. Many customers had previously wished to buy that particular dress, but after hearing the price they hesitated to buy it and ended up choosing some other gown instead, for a lesser amount.

The cashier was looking forward to the same kind of reaction from these two ladies as well, and it did happen as he had expected..well atleast partially.

One lady seemed as if she would literally faint after hearing the price while the other looked calm and poised, without showing any reaction on her face.

Myra, was dumbstruck after hearing the price. She never in her life had ever possessed a single gold coin, and the idea of people spending hundreds of gold coins just for a piece of clothing was something she could never picture.

"Go ahead, bill it" said Florence nonchalantly and Myra shook her head, grabbing the lady's arm.

"No, Lady Florence. I don't want that gown".

But Florence ignored her words. "Amyra, give me Theo's card" she demanded. Myra turned to look away, refusing to give the card. She had already made up her mind not to use the Lord's money.

Florence sighed, "Amyra, do you have to be this stubborn?"

"I will feel bad, if you don't buy it" she added. "and besides if we don't buy anything for you now, then I'm sure theo will end up buying something far more costlier for you later, anyways".

"He won't", Myra said shaking her head. Why would the lord waste his precious money buying stuff for a no-one like her?

"Trust me he will", Florence said. "Now give me that card".

After a lot of convincing Myra gave up and handed the card over to Lady Florence, who gave it to the casher

His eyes widened when he saw the name on the card and stared at Amyra with a strange expression that she could not decipher. Then with shaking hands he noted down the number on the card along with the name on it and nervously returned the card back to Myra.

He neatly packed Lady Florence's gowns in a bag and handed it to her, and turned towards Amyra, "Miss" he said giving her a smile, "We will deliver your gown directly to your place, if you could tell us your address".

"Send it over to the Warburton Mansion" Florence replied instead.

He looked surprised momentarily before he fixed the expression on his face to look professional. "Thank you for shopping at sheldon's", he said giving both the ladies a respectful bow.

After wandering around the horlicks street for a little more time, both the ladies headed back home. Florence first dropped Myra at the Lord's house, and then continued her journey in the same carriage towards the swanson's household.

The butler greeted her at the courtyard. "I hope you had a good time shopping, My Lady?" he asked as she entered inside. Myra nodded grimly.

"Alvin, is the Lord home?" she asked.

"No, My Lady" he said, "I think he will be home soon" .

She hadn't seen the lord since yesterday morning. He had left home right after the morning breakfast and she didn't see him around after that.

Myra didn't want to stay in this mansion leeching around the Lord's money. She didn't want any of these special treatment, that the butler and the maids in the mansion was giving her at the moment.

Last night while reading the book in the library, she had decided to leave the Lord's Mansion and try finding an employment. She couldn't depend on the Lord forever, could she?. And wanted to talk to the lord regarding this matter.

Myra nodded absently. "Would you like to have something to eat?" she heard the Butler ask a second later.

Myra shook her head, "No, thank you Alvin. I will be in the room. Please let me know when the Lord returns back home. I need to talk to him", on seeing the butler nod. She headed towards the guest room.