A Victorian Secret

After the announcement, Elizabeth called Constance into the drawing room. The other girls went upstairs to wash up and go to bed.

Constance angrily stomped into the drawing room, and plopped on an armchair, before pulling a rope, and having tea called in. "Constance, I know you don't want to be on this mission with me, as I don't want to be on this with you," Elizabeth stated, sitting on a sofa, "But, I need to at least tell you the details." The maid entered and set tea down and poured the cream.

Constance picked up her tea cup, and Elizabeth hers. "I'm listening, Elizabeth."

"Well, I told you the main story. And for both of us, we're going to have to go undercover. A man, by the name of...James, James Mags? He is a well known chemist, and is well known for not liking the Queen. Though I don't believe he's stupid enough to send her a sweet and not have somebody try it, but Abigail insists. You will be going undercover as his house keeper. You may keep your first name, but not your last, according to Abigail. As for me? Henrietta had a rich brother, whom she did not like, and would not borrow his money no matter what. I must go undercover as his daughters' paid companion." Constance frowned.

"Why do YOU get to become a paid companion while I'm a housekeeper?"

"One, Abigail said so, and two, I heard the girl, Jane is a real nuisance, and is very bad. Plus she's 16 and much more rich than she should be. I am going to learn all I can about Henrietta and her background, and you're going to learn about James Mags." Elizabeth stopped to sip her tea. She glanced over at Constance's overwrought face.

"You should trade my place with Bess."

"But Abigail-

"I don't care what bloody Abigail has to say! Abigail is not here!" Constance stood, and accidentally dropped tea on her creme colored dress. "Oh no! Look what you've done!" Constance screamed. "I'm to sophisticated to be with children!"

"You're not with children you're with investigators!"

"Ha!" Constance stalked over to Elizabeth, and grabbed her wrist. "You may think you're an investigator, or detective, but you're nothing, nothing at all, except the SCUM on the bottom of my shoe. I don't think you understand, just because Abigail, you're bloody hero, named you the head, and gave you this job and all does not make you anything more! I might as well reveal us to the government!"

"Constance you can't! You'd ruin everything, we won't be able to investigate!"

"That's the point!" Constance sighed. Then without warning she grabbed Elizabeth's tea and poured it on her chest. "I can't stand you vulgar child!" She stalked out.

Elizabeth squealed as she looked at her chest, with red blotches from where she got burnt. A maid came in, saw the blotches, and gave her some ointment, which didn't do much, for Elizabeth still had pain. How was she supposed to go and become a companion with ugly red spots all over her! She hated Constance, like nobody could believe.

Constance stalked up the steps, ignoring the racket she must be making to the sleeping girls and to the maids and servants below. "Let them suffer, like I am!" she cursed silently.

She walked into her dorm room, and changed into her night gown before going to sleep, angrily. Elizabeth soon followed upstairs, but instead of going to bed, she went into Abigail's room. She felt so stupid doing this, but Abigail was an amazing being, and she was glad to be chosen by her. She sat in her chair, and imagined herself as Abigail, coming up with the idea of female investigators. Abigail was at least fifty three, but she acted as if she was twenty, good attitude, and cheery mood.

Elizabeth did her best to do so with Constance. She prayed for Constance at night, and at Church on Sunday she prayed that they'd become friends one day, but now that she thought about it...lord forbid that happening.

Elizabeth finally went to her own room, changed into her nightgown, blew out the last candle, and got into bed, yawning.