Between the Pages and Lines

Chapter 4: A Maid for a Friend

 She had just finished pulling the dress up to her chest and was trying to figure out how to tie the corset behind her on her own. While part of her hoped it was only Travis again another was still embarrassed at the state of undress she found herself in. She opened her mouth to yell at him to not come in when a small woman peeked her head around the door and smiled timidly at Evelyn.

"Lord Williams sent me to help you with your clothes lady...er lady...." She whispered as she stepped through the door.

"Uh Darcy," Evelyn said quickly inwardly groaning at the first last name that came to mind. "But you can call me Evelyn. Yes I haven't figured out how to tie this just yet I am indeed in need of your help or assistance I mean."

The maid crossed into the room meeting Evelyn on the other side. Grabbing the ribbons she began to giggle.

"What?" Evelyn asked, trying to look around without moving too much as she was being held by her dress ribbons.

"I was told you spent much of your youth in America and would have strange customs and language. However I was unprepared for how much," she tried to contain her laughter by holding a hand to her mouth. "My dear lady excuse my abruptness but you seem to have your undergarments all askew and the front has found its way to adorning your back in the most interesting fashion I have seen in all my years as a maid."

"Well," Evelyn started to say but her face broke out in a grin. "That is because in America we wear some very different styles of clothing, outer and inner. I'm afraid I might need more assistance than you were told from the start."

"Oh my dear lady," The maid started pulling the dress down and helping Evelyn step out of it. "I was told you would need much assistance. Lord Williams assured me that you entertained a good sense of humor and was not one to lash a tongue. Promised I could insult you all I wanted. Which certainly I would never think of doing mind you. I find I am one of the maids that people seem to think has too much to say at times.

"I have tried to be the timid maid come to attend to their needs and fix up their hair. Quick to draw a bath or light a fire and just as quick to leave without another word. However, I find I cannot help but seem to find myself in the oddest of predicaments when it comes to my mouth seeing fit to express my opinion to others. Never seen and never heard unfortunately is not one of my qualities."

Evelyn nodded her head. Astounded that the maid that had just poked her head in quietly just moments before was now a rushing stream of unfiltered words. She wanted to interject but the word spew seemed to grow ever faster and steady as she was helped out of her bustle and back into it in the right way. Everything was being tied tight but not tight enough that Evelyn couldn't breath. Sucking in a breath she tried to enlarge her chest and stomach as much as she could as Mallorie tightened the ribbons.

Eveyln sighed in relief. She was worried that the corsets would be too uncomfortable and a great restriction. She was pleasantly surprised that while not as soft as her comfort clothes back home they didn't seem as sturdy or constrictive as she had seen or read about in movies and books. Though, Eveyln couldn't help but wonder if that was because instead of the real 1800's she was in an alternate book version and things ran a little differently. She shrugged her shoulders inwardly and tried to tune herself back into the one sided conversation that was going on.

"I assure you that when Lord Williams requested me to be your personal maid I was surprised but also quite delighted. I haven't been a personal maid in a while. I do however hold all the same skills that I had before they moved me to the kitchen of course. No need to worry about that you are in good hands.

"My name is Malorie if you are curious of it. I remember your cousin, Lord Williams, is the nice sort of man. He tells me that his cousin should get only the best of care and he knew I would be perfectly suited for the role of your personal maid. Why he should pick me I wouldn't know. I am excited about the prospects of perhaps getting back into the work and out of the kitchen. It tends to run at a temperature of a few infant suns at times."