Unmasked

Chapter 17

Chapter 17:

"Did you hear?" The two maids in the lily white smocks whisper to each other mischievously in the laundry room, "The lady of the house is getting remarried!"

"Remarried!" The second, rather slender one, exclaims in a whispers, "my, it seems to be happening so quickly! Who's the poor man?"

The first one, not as slender as the second one replies with, "Another seemingly wealthy Lord. Who's to say that won't draw up questions..."

"I highly doubt that even matters," the second maid begins to tease, "what if the lady has truly found

true love this time about!"

They giggle to each other.

"Say, if that were true, then why ain't it snowin' outside, eh?" The first one manages between laughs.

I bite my tongue and blink back the tears. All the memories of my mother and father together, happy, flood my sight. Her grief, her sorrow when he died; Did it all mean nothing?

The last of the clothes I go hang outside, then I run into my room. I don't care anymore about the punishment. She can torture me all she likes, nothing will hurt as much as I'm feeling right now. Not even the thousands of seconds that she has spent neglected me, denying me as her daughter can even compare to the thought of my mother never loving my father.

There's a knock at my door. I automatically wipe the tears I didn't notice running down my cheeks and let Harriet in.

She says something to me but it's all a mumble. I only nod and avoid her gaze as much as possible. Her expression reads concern, she knows that I was crying and most likely she knows why. She only gives me a knowing nod and walks out, I follow her but she stops me. She gives me a sealed envelope and leaves, shutting my door behind her so I'm alone again.

I recognize the symbol the the seal as the royal engravement. My heart pounds, I'm almost afraid to read this letter, but... I shouldn't be.

Slowly, I tear the envelope open and brace myself when I begin to unfold the paper.

~*~

I sit still.

He wrote back to me.

Taking in what I've just read.

He wrote back to me.

He knows who I am.

Never have I ever been more relieved before in my life. Should I be crying for this? Or is it selfish if me?

I shake my head.

I can be selfish, for just a moment.

~*~

I step out of my room and hand Harriet my letter. My eyes set forward and my mind determined, I suddenly feel I can take on anything.

My mother and her fiancé sit together on the same red, heart shaped couch my father and her use to sit in together when they had their moments. Seeing her sit there with someone else makes me sick.

She sends me for tea I make some for her and for him. Then I make my way up satires to hers and my sisters rooms, where I know hell awaits me.

I visit Alexandra's room first to avoid Elisabeth, the encounter turned out to be more aggressive than I hoped.

"I'm here for anything dirty," I announced as I entered the room which was strangely only lit my candles.

She sits on her bed, brown hair like drapes on her face. She slowly looks up to me, giving me a cold glare as she does so, I carry on with my chores.

"Elisabeth shared her theory with me," Alex announces, "it's quite interesting."

Oh not again.

I ignore her and continue picking up the scattered amount of dresses she has thrown across the carpeted floor.

"Too bad she didn't connect the pieces," Alex's tone grows darker. She gets up off her bed to stand next me and speak in a hushed tone, "I know it's you the Prince is looking for."

I look at her but try my best to give any expression.

"I don't know what you mean,"

"Don't give me that," she snaps, "you went to that ball and for some strange reason the Prince has fallen in love with you."

I shake my head, "Impossible,"

It is.

Out of the corner of my eye I see her shrug, "Perhaps, but think about this. Would he still love you if you were hideous?"

I look at her again, "what-?"

"If mother were to find out about your little afair, you'd be covered in bruises and cuts," she comes closer to me and trails her finger down the line of my cheek, "Who's to say she doesn't already know?"

I jerk away from her touch, "You're lying!"

She only gives a devilish smirk and walks away.

She's lying, she's lying.

"Mary," my mother suddenly appears in the doorway of the bedroom, her voice is dark, "I'd like to have a word with you."

I can practically feel the mask of terror I wear on my face, "M-Miss?"

She turns her back coldly as she leaves, "I haven't got all day."

My heart races and I look down first, then over to Alexandra who grins. Slowly, I make my way toward the door and follow my mother.

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I feel that I should explain what's taking me so long but I don't know what to say, I have no idea what to write anymore. I mean I know what's going to happen next but I just don't know how to put it into words. Sorry, but I hope you liked this one!

have a nice day!