The Second Swann ---///--------

Chapter 11

After her bath, Charlotte had dressed into her attire and tied back her hair into a knotted french braid. It was the one thing she always felt proud of doing on her own, given that she and Elizabeth always had things done for them. 

She looked at herself in the mirror, frowning, then noticed the medallion hanging in plain sight over her chest. She made a quick reminder to herself to return the medallion back to the drawer before she'd leave. 

Her chamber room door was closed and she made an attempt to push it open when she heard muffled voices. 

She leaned in. 

"How could you have been so stupid?!" 

"I'm sorry, Miss, really, I am!" 

"You could have killed her!" 

"I know, I know! I'm sorry!" 

Charlotte gasped, pulling back abruptly. She recognized the voices as the maids that tended her and Elizabeth. Estrella and Esther. 

"I've already been questioned, and I did nothing! You are ruining everything for me!" 

Charlotte immediately burst open the door. Both maids turned their heads abruptly. Both wide eyed. 

An uneasy pause settled in the room. 

Esther smiled and bowed her head as she curtsied, "My apologies my lady, I-" she stopped when she saw what she was wearing.

"A-Are you leaving somewhere, Miss?" Estrella asked with a stutter. 

"I'm going for a ride to clear my mind. I thought my room would be empty but I see it's not," Charlotte replied, studying the two carefully, "is there something wrong?" 

"Of course not, my lady..." Esther said with another smile, turning to give Estrella a look, "we were just...talking." 

"Y-Yes Miss, my apologies. I-I didn't mean for it to happen!" 

Charlotte shook her head, "no need for an apology. I can come back later."

"Oh we are very much finished our discussion, my Lady. You are free to use the room now." 

The older maid walked by her with another curtsey and a bow of a head before turning into the corridor and disappearing into a separate room. 

Charlotte turned to see Estrella, "Estrella...May I ask you something?" 

Estrella blanched, "y-yes Miss, you may..."

"I don't mean to concern myself with anyone's business, but, I heard...angry voices. Are you alright?" 

Estrella nodded without a beat, "yes, Miss, I-I mean...No, Miss. I..." she swallowed, "I...just want to apologize for everything I done."

This made Charlotte's eyebrows raise. "What you've done?" 

"You dress, Miss...I...I did it improperly and it lead to...to..."

"Ah."

Charlotte understood now, then sighed with a shake of a head and a smile, "it was a mistake."

"A terrible one, I-I didn't mean...I didn't think....I thought it was fine but-" 

Estrella seemed to be close to tears and Charlotte strode towards her with fierce compassion, "don't you dare blame yourself. Yes, you made a mistake, but it wasn't on purpose. You weren't trying to kill me." 

"But..." 

"Listen," Charlotte said, now taking her shoulders, "I will go to everyone and tell them how I feel about the situation. You do not deserve to be treated the way you were just now. I presume it wasn't the first time and I couldn't bare it to know you're being punished for something I'm not upset about. Understand?" 

Silently, the maid nodded, her eyes shone gratefully. "Th-Thank you, Miss...I shan't forget this. I am in your debt."