Tea & Biscuits (V.2)

Relatives

The day was just as dull as it usually was, the same routine as always. My dance with Rolland ended up not being that bad, once I got into the swing of it I remembered practically all of the techniques he taught me. After many hours of endless torture, it had reached 12pm, right as the clock chimed we heard a knock at the door. "Perhaps the Earl is early..." Alfred mutters as he raises an eyebrow and answers the door. "Mis-Mistress Matilda! You've returned... without your butler?"

"I must speak with Abigail! It's an emergency!" Her tone spoke less of an emergency and more of a mistake she made, which was always the case.
"Of course Mistress, but please keep it brief. We're expecting visitors soon." He sounded shocked, as he should be. Matilda had done it once again.

Matilda pushes Alfred out of the way of the door. "Bring me a glass of milk" her voice was faint, but the echo of her ordering around my butler infuriated me.
"Right away, Mistress." Alfred complied, he sounded as if he feared that if he didn't something bad would happen. To him or me, I wasn't sure. But I knew he was probably right. She can become a petty and obsessive woman when provoked.

"Abigail! My beautiful and amazing cousin." She danced into the room, not at all in grace.
I groaned. "I can see you are without your butler. why is that?" I already knew why, I just needed to hear her admit it.
Alfred passes her the glass of milk, she practically snatched it from his hands. "I'm afraid to tell you cousin, but, I'm going broke..." she held the back of her hand on her forehead as she arched her back.

"What a tragedy" I roll my eyes "Let me guess, you want to 'borrow' some from me?" This was a monthly occurrence, she doesn't have any actual income as her family refuses to pass down the inheritance of their wealth since they don't trust her with it, I wouldn't either.

"Please! Only another 45,000! I won't pester you anymore after that!" After hearing that, would you trust her with large summits of money? Of course not. You'd need to be absolutely mental to trust that with a powerful image and name.
The idea of a Matilda-free life sounded appealing, however, I knew she meant she wouldn't pester me about money (she still would've though, so truly I would've gotten nothing from this transaction)

"Matilda, if anything you owe me money, for all the times I didn't report your trespassing." I chuckled sinisterly, I decided to put an end to all of this, finally. "I suppose there's nothing stopping me from removing you from the premises and blacklisting you from my events. In fact, I think that's what I'll do." I smiled at her as the color drained from her face, her eyes shrinking to the size of her responsibility and control. Very, very, itty bitty.

"No... please! This was my home too you know!" She pleaded, begging on her knees. She crawled to my feet, the glass of milk had been placed on the table.

"Alfred!" I called mercilessly, the quicker I get her out of my life the better.
"Your parents were practically mine as well! Abigail, listen!" Alfred grips onto her shoulders and attempts to lift her from the ground. "Bitch! You should have never been born into our family!" Matilda quickly grabs the glass of milk launchers the cup at me, shattering the glass and spilling milk all over my dress. "... I'll pay for that" she gasped softly as Alfred lifted her off the ground with one swift tug and carried her off of the premises, her body sat still in awe.

I was infuriated! I wanted to scream! I quickly composed myself and repeated the breathing exercises me and Alfred created. "Mistress Abigail! Your dress!" my maid Maria runs into the room after hearing the crash. "Quick darling, I'll help you change! Quickly!" Her eyes, practically popping out of their sockets. She spoke quickly as she gently tugged on my arm.
"Maria it's quite alright-" I smiled kindly.
"Mistress, are you aware of the time?" Maria raised an eyebrow. "It's 12:24!"

I gasped. "thank you, Maria!" I smile as we run up the stairs.
"Milady?" Maria awaited anxiously "We do not have much time to spare!"
I search through my closet. Perfect. A simple red dress with a pale pink ribbon around it, the skirt ending just under my knees, it would look adorable with a petticoat. "Maria, can you get me my knee-length petticoat?"
"Milady, that's so simple!" She gasped softly, scanning over the outfit hundreds of times.
"Maria, we don't have much time!" I called back, wishing not to cause more stress for either of us.
Maria nods and rushes to collect my petticoat and returns with my knee-high petticoat, a red hat and knee high red boots. by the time she was back I already had the dress on, I only needed help with the ribbon. Maria tied the bow on the back of the dress and tightly ties the laces on the boots, straightening the hat on my head. She took a quick moment to look me over, which she always did when she helped me get ready. I didn't let her finish, though.

I quickly raced down the stairs "Alfred!" I called whilst practically gliding down the expensive oak stairs.
"Mistress, Miss Matilda has been removed from the premises, I am yet to blacklist her." He stood at the end of the staircase, leaning forward and smiling at me.

"Have it done immediately." My voice was stern, at this point I was considering bringing legal action into my situation.
"Yes, milady." Alfred runs into the study swiftly, his tailcoat flapping behind him.

There's a knock at the door, I put it upon myself to answer it alone, as everyone else was already busy. I slide down the handrails gracefully as I pat down my skirt, anxiously and hesitantly turning the door knob.