maid chapter 6

After several attempts, they finally found the right combination of cleaning agents. But the stain had already spread. All the maids were now on their hands and knees, scrubbing furiously. Ellie couldn’t decide whether to help or remain inconspicuous.

One of the maids glanced at Ellie, then whispered to the maid beside her. They both giggled. Ellie, bewildered, shifted her eyes from one to the other.

The whispers continued, spreading like wildfire from maid to maid, finally reaching Diana. Diana listened, then glanced at Ellie.

Ellie’s face flushed crimson. They were definitely talking about her, and it definitely wasn’t anything good.

Meanwhile, the carpet cleaning continued. Finally, the floor returned to its original, uniform color. The maid who had caused the mess exclaimed,

“We’re done!”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

“Be more careful next time.”

“Thank you, everyone.”

The maids, patting each other on the back and shoulders, got up. Diana, who had been cleaning with them, tossed her brush into the bucket and was the first to leave the drawing-room.

Ellie hurried after her and called out.

“Wait…!”

Diana turned, looking at her with an exasperated expression. Ellie, without hesitation, went straight to the point.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“About what?”

“About yelling at you.”

Diana frowned, as if to say she didn’t deserve an apology. Ellie, however, took it to mean the opposite. Fidgeting with her fingers, she stammered,

“I know it’s strange to say this after just meeting you, but…”

Diana’s frown deepened. Ellie suddenly thrust her hand out in front of Diana’s face.

“I have three younger siblings. Three! Can you believe it?”

Three fingers spread wide. Diana brushed her hand aside.

“I can believe it.”

“So I really need this job. Please, help me fit in. Please?”

Ellie clasped her hands together, putting on her most pathetic expression. A calf being led to market couldn’t have looked more pitiful.

Diana sighed deeply. She habitually reached up to smooth back her hair, then remembered her cap and lowered her hand.

The maids who had been in the drawing-room filed past them, heading down the stairs. Diana glanced at them, then said,

“It’s almost dinner time. We’ll talk later.”

Did my groveling not work? Ellie drooped her head dejectedly. Diana let out an exasperated sigh.

“Just follow me. Do you want to get fired on your first day?”

She turned and quickly descended the stairs.

“Huh?”

Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise. I thought she wanted me gone.

Diana glanced back and gestured for her to hurry up. Ellie scurried after her.

“Oh, thank you!”

Diana grimaced at the thanks. But Ellie, humming to herself, hurried down the stairs.

She’s got a sharp tongue, but maybe she’s not so bad after all. Ellie drew her own conclusions about her new roommate.

***

A secluded attic room. A single candle dimly lit the space. Two maids, their workday done, sat facing each other on their beds.

Diana glanced at Ellie’s open bag. Crumpled clothes and a single spare pair of shoes were all she had brought. Just that much showed that her desperation for work was genuine. She sighed.

“So, you really need this job, huh?”

“Yes, yes.”

Ellie nodded vigorously. The other maids had completely ignored her at dinner. Without Diana’s help, she wouldn’t survive here.

Ellie Brewer seemed harmless enough to Diana. Naive and awkward, not likely to cause any trouble.

But sharing a room was a different matter entirely. She raised an eyebrow.

“What about going down to the kitchens?”

Ellie struggled to find an answer to Diana’s question.

She knew why Diana was so insistent on sending her to the kitchens. The kitchen maids, like the cooks, usually had separate quarters near the kitchen.

If Ellie went to the kitchens, Diana would have the room to herself again. But could she really just make that happen?