Surviving Sixteen {On Hold}

Chapter Two

Surviving Sixteen

Chapter Two

Eleni yawned as brilliantly bright sunlight streamed through the windows. She groaned. Martha always left the windows open at night; the maid knew how she loved to see the stars before she fell asleep.

"Martha! Please close the curtains. You know, it's a wonder you haven't been relieved of your duties," the blond half of the princess twins groaned. She heard a giggle, and then a rustling of fabric, and the light disappeared.

"Thank you," she said, rolling over onto her stomach and pulling the thick, fluffy duvet covers and silken sheets up around her shoulders. As she drifted off into sleep, a thought jerked her back awake. Wasn't she meant to be in the summer palace? She opened her eyes and immediately regretted it, shutting them again. How could Martha be here, if she had already left the palace? Eleni turned back onto her back and sat up, squinting her eyes. 

"Martha?" she called.

"I'm sorry Miss, Martha is still serving in the other palace," a clear, bright voice said. Eleni opened her indigo eyes fully and grinned. 

"Why, hello Margery. Of course, I mistook you for your sister. I'm sorry for that. I always think I'm still at the palace my first week here. You know that," Eleni laughed, laying back into her down pillows. 

"Good morning to you, too, Miss Eleni. It's a pleasant surprise to see you here. I'm terribly sorry that you had to wait for your bed last night. We were not prepared for your arrival," Margery apologized. Eleni laughed again.

"No bother at all, Margery, none at all. Do you recall what time Juliana will be arriving? Oh! She was meant to arrive at the other palace! Could you have a messenger sent to her carriage immediately to direct her here? And, can you pull my morning dress?" Eleni sat back up and stretched her arms above her head. 

"Which one, Miss?" Margery asked, striding across the room to the large closet. The servant's mousy brown hair was tied in a bun at the nape of her neck, and stray tendrils hung around her face. Margery could have been pretty, had she allowed herself to accept the cast off dresses Eleni had attempted to give her. She was fair-skinned, and Eleni had always assured that she was well taken care of and dressed as though she were a lady. She did the same with Margery's sister, Martha, too. 

"Miss?" At Margery's voice, Eleni snapped herself out of her thoughts. 

"Hm? Oh, yes. Er... the blue one."

***

"Ambrosine! Get up immediately! We have guests coming in exactly six hours and you aren't even out of your bed!" Eleni yelled at her sister through the door. She'd come storming up the corridor when she'd heard her sister was not even awake yet. Her pale blue dress was much simpler than the one she had worn last night at the ball, and the skirt was no where near as large.

She pounded on the door once again.

"Ambrosine! Open this door at once!" Eleni half-screamed. The door opened in a rush.

"What in the bloody-"

"Amy! Watch your language! Get ready, we have guests coming in a few hours!"  she snapped, storming into the room.

"El, you can't just come in here like you own the place!" Ambrosine growled. Eleni rolled her eyes.

"Come, now, Amy. We both know I'm older, and as such, I have the responsibility of running the household- and that includes you. Now, get ready! Have Agnes retrieve your morning dress, and we can go supervise the readying of everything. Agnes! Please make sure Amy is ready to receive guests. Have her down within an hour fully prepared. Thank you!" Eleni stormed back out, huffing to herself. Honestly! Her sister could be completely irresponsible at times. She checked the pocket watch she had shoved in the pouch at her side. Fifty minutes. She sighed and hurried down to the kitchens.