🌸The Promise 🌸[18+]

Chapter 25

Soon after Mr Laywood left, Angeles comes through the door with a girl behind her.
"Miss Nova I've brought Hannah with me she has your breakfast." Angeles says while carrying the tin wash bowl and a white towel over her shoulder like usual.
I look to see the timid looking girl holding the silver breakfast tray. She's pale and plain looking. But her eyes are a very pretty shade of Hazel.
"Hello Hannah, I'm Nova." I say with a warm smile.
"Good morning Miss, I'm the new kitchen maid." Hannah replies with a awkward curtsy.

"Oh I thought Mabel was the kitchen maid?" I ask in surprise.

"No Miss Nova, Mabel doesn't work here anymore. So we have hannah instead." Angeles turns to Hannah with a smile.
Hannah looks to be around my age or maybe a few years older.
She sets the tray down on the small table by the fireplace and Angeles brings the bowl to the dresser, for me to wash myself before she helps me dress.

"What dress would you like to wear today, for your date with Dr Laywood." Angeles muses while opening the wardrobe.

Clink!

We both turn to see an embarrassed Hannah quickly bending down to pick up the cutlery she had dropped onto the floor.
"I'm.. I'm.. Sorry Miss." Hannah says with a stammer. Her voice seems close to tears.
"I will go back and get a clean set." As she almost runs out of the room.

My mouth is wide open at what just happened.
Is she okay? Why was she upset?

"Ahh here, definitely the Rose pink one." Angeles says while holding up the dress. Not noticing or caring that Hannah had fled seconds earlier close to tears.

"Angeles is she okay?" I ask with concern.

"She will be just fine Miss, Now let's get you ready."

Soon I am washed, dressed and Angeles had styled my hair the way I like it.
Hannah came in sheepishly and placed the new set of cutlery and quickly left before I could speak to her. I will try and find her later and ask if I can do anything to help. She seems rather sad and it doesn't sit well with me.

My breakfast is eaten and Angeles walks down with me to meet Xavier.
"I hope you have a lovely day Miss Nova, but please be careful." She gives me a knowing look. I forgot to tell her that I didn't give my virtue away to Xavier last night. Not that it's her concern. But Angeles is more like a friend than a maid and I feel I owe her an explanation.

"Careful of what?" I hear Xavier say as we turn the corner to the Cherry wood staircase.

"Oh.. Oh, there's a storm brewing in the air." Angeles says, but I can't help but notice that wasn't what she was warning me about.

With a smile and a curtsy she leaves and I face Xavier who has a lustful look on his face.

"You really are so very beautiful Nova." He says and I blush.

"So where are you taking me?" I ask in excitement. I'm not going to let what Mr Laywood reveled to me or Angeles warning bring me down today. I'm going on a date with Xavier and I will be happy. I owe it to my mother.

"Well do you remember when I said it was a surprise?" Xavier says with a glint in his brown eyes.

"Yes." I say smiling at him.

"Well it's still a surprise." He laughs and I stick my tongue out at him.

"Ooh very ladylike." He winks.

We say goodbye to Isaac and get into the carriage. We don't travel for long till I can see lots of people around stalls. They are laughing and holding sticks of pink fluff, music dances in the distance and I can see children playing and dashing in and out of white tents. I see women wearing extraordinary outfits with feathers in their hair and a man that looks like he's on stilts.
I can't help my excitement when I realise, Xavier has brought me to a carnival.