“Right, well, there will be many more surprises for you while you’re here I’m afraid.”
She spoke very abruptly, as if I just needed to get on with it and suck it up. Which, I would eventually. My nerves were a
little shot due to the fact that I couldn’t get the sound of my mother’s voice screaming my name out of my head or the shock on
her face.
“Let’s get you out of this eh…dress then shall we?”
Though she asked the question, it was clear it was more of an order as she grabbed both my arms gently. Pulling me up to
stand straight again, she spun me around to find out how to remove the hideous garment.
“What do you wish to do with this dress after I get you out of it, mistress?”
“Burn it please,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
“Wonderful. We shall see to it tonight. I assume you would like to do the honours.”
The maid took hold of a small knife from her apron pocket and began to slice away at the corset ribbons at my back. My
chest opened with each rip of the seams holding the dress together. When the fabric fell to the floor, I felt the air return to my
lungs and comfort return to my body.
“Yes, thank you.”
It was strange having a maid speak to me in such an informal manner, but then again I wasn’t a princess here or heir to a
throne. If anything, I was most likely seen as a guest. Which made me rather happy.
“When will Nicholas be returning?” I asked as we reached my undergarments.
She rolled the wedding dress into a ball and threw it near the bedroom door in a heap. She then began to take out all the
remaining jewels within my hair and placed them neatly onto the vanity.
It was only then I noticed how feminine the room appeared. It was decorated beautifully in light shades of teal and marble.
The bed and other furniture were made of sapwood. Whereas the floor was not hard but soft with fur rugs covering most of the
stonework.
“My lordship will see you at the welcoming dinner.”
“Whose room is this?”
She lowered her eyes then, wishing not to make eye contact or to reply and a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach
appeared.
“Mistress, I’m sure his lordship will be ready to answer all your questions. Will you be alright for me to change your
chemise as it will not match the dress I have brought for you.”
Nodding permission, the maid removed the remainder of my clothes, aside from my lower undergarments and replaced it
with a more tighter fitting chemise. Then finally, she made me step into the black dress.