maid chapter 11

Daniel adjusted his askew ribbon. “I have permission because of my scar. The others are just copying me.”

“Oh… I see.” Ellie accepted his explanation with surprising ease. Her ready belief made Daniel uneasy. He hadn’t bothered with the scar lately. Perhaps he should be more thorough with his disguise for a while.

They reached the basement, and Daniel led Ellie to the servants’ hall, a spacious, well-maintained area. Most of the female staff, except for the kitchen staff, were already gathered.

A maid in a bright violet dress waved. “Diana, good morning!”

Daniel offered a curt nod in response to her cheerful greeting. Like the kitchen maids, she seemed unfazed by his brusqueness. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah.” Daniel stood beside her. Ellie hovered awkwardly a step away.

Daniel tugged on Ellie’s sleeve, a subtle pull, but enough to draw her closer. She stood beside him, looking up expectantly.

Daniel sighed, his voice heavy with exasperation. “Say hello. This is Amanda.”

“He… llo…” Ellie’s greeting was hesitant. He had meant it when he said he’d help her adjust.

Daniel clicked his tongue. He wanted Ellie to befriend the other maids quickly so they would occupy her time, and leave him alone. “This is Ellie.”

“Ah, the new girl from yesterday!” Amanda clapped her hands, drawing the attention of the maids clustered near the table. Ellie recognized a face from the drawing-room and lowered her gaze, a mix of curiosity and dread swirling within her about the conversation they’d had.

Oblivious, Amanda tilted her head. Having arrived at the manor a few months before Daniel, she was still relatively naive, cheerful, and generally agreeable. Ellie had heard, however, that she and her roommate didn’t get along very well.

In many ways, she was the perfect companion for Ellie. Amanda rocked back and forth on her heels. “You two are sharing a room, right, Diana? Good for you, making a friend.”

Daniel’s lips curved into a wry smile. Good for him? He’d barely slept thanks to her, and now had a pounding headache.

Ellie managed a strained smile, recalling how Amanda had declared they weren’t friends just yesterday.

“Hey, uh!” Amanda started to speak again, but Mrs. Wise, the housekeeper, entered the hall. The room fell silent, and the maids quickly formed a neat line.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes,” Sarah, the head maid, responded.

Mrs. Wise glanced at Ellie. She’s probably watching me closely since I’m temporary, Ellie thought, quickly clasping her hands in front of her. The housekeeper’s gaze moved on.

Mrs. Wise surveyed the line of maids. “As you all know, we’ve had many guests lately. Pay extra attention to the central staircase, the drawing-room, and the dining room.”

“Yes.”

After the brief announcement, weekly schedules were distributed.

Aspiring housemaids often imagined their duties consisted solely of cleaning. Ellie had, too. The reality, however, was far more complex. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the manor couldn’t function without them. Even a simple task like lighting the fireplace required someone to clear the ashes, wipe away the soot, and replenish the coal.

Ellie compared her schedule, densely packed with morning, afternoon, and evening tasks, to Daniel’s. Some tasks were shared, while others rotated.

Daniel crumpled his schedule. “What are you looking at?”

Amanda giggled. Ellie’s face flushed crimson. Stifled laughter rippled through the room. Daniel felt a pang of discomfort.