maid chapter 12

He wasn’t intentionally trying to single Ellie out. He’d accepted her presence; there was no reason to be unkind. He simply wasn’t naturally friendly to anyone. Yet, the maids were consistently amiable towards him.

He wasn’t sure why, and he’d never bothered to ask, but he had a suspicion. It was likely due to his impressive letter of introduction and the rumors it had spawned.

Regardless, he didn’t enjoy being complicit in ostracizing someone. He smoothed out the crumpled paper and thrust it at Ellie. “Here.”

Ellie shook her head, lips pressed together as if holding back tears. Daniel’s guilt deepened. He forcefully flattened the paper and placed it in her hand.

Ellie accepted the schedule with a sideways glance. Her eyes, the clear green of new spring leaves, showed no sign of tears.

Daniel let out a short laugh, feeling unexpectedly blindsided. Who was naive here?

Ellie pouted as she examined the schedule. Most of their tasks aligned. Don’t show how happy you are, she reminded herself, folding the paper neatly and handing it back to Daniel.

Daniel began to wonder if Ellie was a lamb or a fox. He realized he’d been thoroughly used—fetching water, retrieving clothes.

He wasn’t going to let her get away with it. He decided to use Ellie Brewer to his advantage. The possibilities seemed endless. He could have her make friends and gather information, or train her quickly and use her as a shield.

Satisfied with his plan, he pocketed the schedule. “Got it? Come on.”

“Okay.” Ellie nodded briskly. Her cheerful demeanor exasperated him further, but there was no time to argue. The housemaids streamed out of the hall, gathering their supplies and hurrying to their assigned areas.

The higher the employer’s status, the less they tolerated servants underfoot. Yet, they expected every corner of the manor to gleam. The housemaids had to be efficient, scurrying around according to their schedules, working around the family’s routines.

Before the family awoke, the entrance hall, the drawing-room, and the dining room—the face of the manor—had to be spotless. Then, they had to erase all traces of the previous night from the study, their assigned area for the week, where the Count had worked late.

“This way.” Daniel led Ellie down the hallway opposite the kitchen. At the end of the hall stood a grand door. Inside, the other maids were already at work.

As they entered the study, a red-haired maid emptying the fireplace turned sharply. She spotted the newcomers and raised her voice. “You two!”

Ellie jumped, but Daniel remained unfazed. The red-haired maid lifted her chin. “Go fetch coal.”

Ellie was bewildered. Their assigned task was “study cleaning.” Surely, someone else was responsible for the fireplace, probably the maid currently emptying it.

Before Ellie could protest, Daniel grabbed her wrist. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Huh?” Daniel practically dragged Ellie out of the study. Still gripping her wrist, he explained as they walked. “Avoid the veterans.”

“Was her name Betty?”

Daniel stopped abruptly, releasing Ellie’s wrist and wiping his hand on his apron.

She grabbed me, and now she’s acting like this? Ellie was dumbfounded, but this wasn’t the time to argue. She hurried after him. “But why?”

“If you’re curious, go ahead and challenge her.” Daniel didn’t want to bother explaining.