Find me a Love so Sweet

Her Chambermaids

"Derrida caught a glimpse of her yesterday," Arietta said, walking swiftly down Gold Tower's main corridor, as Callis hurried to keep up with her. Arietta was 16 and hadn't been a maid nearly as long as Callis had and she was still always keen to meet new patronesses. But Callis wasn't, she knew that any women staying in this castle is arrogant and will order them to do the most ridiculous things. Once the Countess of Ooty had stayed in the castle, and sent her all the way to the west end of the market to buy her the same grapes they had in the kitchen, then told her that she didn't like that colour grape.

"Arietta, do slow down," Callis puffed. "You know that I can't keep up with you these days!"

Arietta kept going. "The prince hasn't had a girl friend in some time now- apart from Lilith, but from what I heard they weren't even a couple blah blah blah."

Maybe Arietta didn't quite say "blah blah blah" but, Callis could barely understand the things that come out of Arietta's mouth.

"Oh, come on, Cal! Aren't you excited?" Arietta said.

Callis nodded. Sometimes she had to pretend to care about what Arietta was saying, to get Arietta to stop talking.

"I bet she's gorgeous!" Arietta gushed.

Callis nodded. "They always are," all though they have no brains.

"Woah, this is the door," Callis said, stopping Arietta from rushing straight past their new patroness' room.

"Oh, right," Arietta said, stopped next to her. "Ready?"

Callis nodded, and opened the door.

~

Agatha wasn't what she'd expected.

She had short dark hair with shells woven into a half up, and large brown eyes.

She had dark circles under her eyes. Nightmare scars.

Arietta and Callis filled up the bath with hot and fresh water.

Arietta looked over her shoulder at Agatha, sitting on the marble windowsill. "What do you think of her?"

Callis didn't reply.

Arietta huffed. Arietta was the castles main source of gossip, and the last few weeks their hadn't been a single rumour spiral, or even a little whisper of judgement about one of the Lord's and Lady's. At this point she'd look for anyone's opinion on anybody. Even a nobody like Callis.

Callis could sense Arietta's annoyance. She sighed and looked up. "Why don't you go pick the lady a dress."

Arietta did a little excited dance. The dresses were her favourite part.

She swept into Agatha's walk-in closet.

"Remember, we're dressing the lady for an audience with the king," Callis called behind her.

Arietta stuck her head out. "I always dress like I'm having an audience with the king."

"The bath is ready, My Lady," Callis said.

Agatha slipped off the ledge. "Just call me Agatha."

Callis didn't know what to say. A patroness had never told Callis to address them with their first name.