Dainty heels tapped across the hard wood floor. I looked up from my scrub brush and soap bubbles and scrambled to my feet.
“Your majesty” I curtsied and bowed my head. It felt as if her eyes were scrutinized my damp outer apron and scuff marks on my shoes. I quickly tried to decide if a loose bun or wet hair was worse, but she interrupted my thoughts.
“What is your name dear?”
“Marisole your majesty” desperately trying to compile all the etiquette I had learned from a young age.
“Does my son know your name?” my brows furrowed. Had she forgotten the times her son and I had played together when we were small? I thought hard. I remembered I had never been addressed by name or introduced because of my station. I had been the right age and in the right place at the right time. He probably was well aware I was a child of the help, but we were about five and a companion was a companion when you were locked in gilded cage.
“I do not think so your majesty” a woman of my station must be inquired of her name before she can freely give it. It was improper otherwise. “Unless he asked me it would be too forward to introduce myself”
“Tell me of your family please” I knew royalty never had to use curtesy, but all I had heard this family, no matter your station, treated you as a human being.
“My mother proceeded me here and my father was a gentlemen’s tailor. I apologize if I speak out of turn, but they spoke highly of all the good your majesties have done for those of lower birth. Others have always praised the conditions you have put in place.”
“Did you say was?”
“Yes, your majesty. Both of my parents passed when I was young. Your staff loved my mother so well that they took me in. I work hard to show my gratitude”
“What was your mother’s name?”
“Robin your majesty”
“Ah yes I remember her. I see it now. You have inherited her subtle beauty” my eyes widened and my cheeks burned “I believe my head of staff told me you have never taken your day off. That you always take the shifts of those who are sick when you can”
“That is true your majesty. I enjoy my work”
“I sought you out to give you this” a white envelope was extended into my view. I gingerly took it “good day”
“Good day your majesty” I curtsied and tucked the soft paper into my uniform for safe keeping. I dared to look up and watch her glide out of the room. Her poise, her elegance, her grace was something I looked up to.
~Twenty years ago~
The head of staff, an older woman named Claire, was resting in an armchair, her feet soaking in a small basin. My mother had been ill, and Claire was teaching me how to wash china. My father had passed last year. “Mary dear come here to me” I put the dish I was drying in the pile and climbed down from the little stool I used. Her arms opened to me and I climbed into her lap. Smile lines branched from her eyes, sweat mixed with the soap she used comforted me. She was tired. She wrapped her arms around me “you work so hard child. Have you visited your mother today?”
“I saw her this morning. She seemed at little stronger today”
“For your sake I hope so” not a month later Claire was helping me put on a black dress ad held my hand while they buried my mother. I tried to stay strong, not to cry, my mother would not have wanted me to waste my tears. She was lying next to my father now. “We will try to bring you as often as we can” She kneeled in front of me “we are your family too and I have plenty of stories for you and plenty of room. It is okay to cry Marisole, I'll hold on to you for as long as I can”
~
I handed white linens to Emery, she hung them on the clothes lines
“Emery?! Emery are you out here?” someone was rushing around based on the labored way they spoke.
“Over here!”
“Is Mary with you?”
“She’s here” Heather appeared from under one of the sheets Emery had already hung. Heather kneeled before me fussing with my apron and my hair.
“The queen asked me who are youngest helper was. I told her the daughter of one of the chamber maids. She asked me how old you were. I it turns out you are around the same age as her son. The King and queen want a playmate for him from time to time. Do you remember what we’ve taught you dear?”
“Curtsey to those I serve, don’t speak until spoken to and don’t look royalty in the eye”
“Yes child. Your majesty to the king and queen, my lord or your highness to the prince”
“Yes ma’am”
“Good girl. Well, you are dirtier than I'd like, but there isn't time to do much else. You always go as quickly as possible to a royal summons.” She took my hand in her calloused one and lead me to the castle gardens where there was an unnaturally clean playhouse. “Here she is your majesties” I curtsied.
“What a well-behaved child. Thank you for bringing her over my son is excited to have a playmate and some fresh air. Come Charles it's alright you can go play now” soon his little hand was around mine and he was leading me to the little house.
“I have lots of games. You can pick one if you’d like. Pretend I am a normal boy please” I cautiously looked up into his eyes. They were a silver blue I had never seen before.
“Okay. Let's pick something together” The play stopped when he turned ten. He had to learn history, affairs of state and other lessons to prepare him to take over for his father one day. I was to take his wing of the castle where my mother had worked before me. At 11 or 12 he was sent to boarding school like his father before him and I worked. I was all of 18 when he returned. The same intelligent silver blue eyes, jet black hair but tall, muscular and handsome. I hoped he was as kind as his parents. I shook my head at went back to work. I had to remind myself he was the crowned prince and royalty had arranged marriages with other royalty.
~Two years ago~
Tabatha, who had taken over for Claire after she retired, was always trying to encourage me to use the day off every maid was given, but I couldn’t. I had been trained in every area of work and I enjoyed it.
“Marisole will you go pick some flowers for the queen? I think she could use some cheering”
“Yes ma’am” I grabbed the wicker basket we used for gathering plans from the garden. The royal garden was especially pretty in the late spring. The queen had lavender planted a few years ago, I knew those were her favorite. I would always dry them so they would last longer. I loved the smell myself and I hopped no one would mind if I straggled a bit today. I put the wicker basket on the ground by the bed. I wanted to choose the ones with the most buds. The queen loved to roll them between her fingers to get the smell on her skin. I picked one and brought it to my nose. I thought of the few times my mother or Claire had been asked to pick some. The smallest stem was sometimes given to me. The scent calmed me.
“I hear they hang for that now” a jovial voice spoke behind me. I jumped and clutched he flower to my chest. I had been ready to chew out one of the gardening assistants for sneaking up on me when I locked eyes with that familiar silver blue. My eyes widened and immediately started to right my apron and brush the dirt off my hands.
“Your highness” my voice sounded soft and meek. I was taken off guard, my mind and heart running so quickly I could not think what to do. I could not even seem to stand.
“I am sorry I did not mean to frighten you, please forgive my jest” he gave a deep bow.
“I-”
“Let me earn your forgiveness. Please what can I do?” the fog started to clear, and I was slowly able to piece together my thoughts. The crowned prince was speaking to me, asking for my forgiveness.
“My lord please accept my apology for my improper behavior-”
“You may call me Charles. You are an employee of my family are you not?”
“Yes sire” I hopped he could not hear my heart beating
“Then you have nothing to apologize for. Will you forgive me for startling you?”
“Of - of course,” I bowed my head “I was sent to pick some flowers for her majesty, and I have dallied too long’
“Oh please” he waved my words away with his hand “I would like to take a walk with you and catch up. If you will let me, I will keep you company while you pick the lavender.”
“Sire I am sure you are quite busy”
“We used to be great friends” I smiled at that. I assumed he had forgotten we played together as children. He knelt beside me. “I did not recognize you at first, but you are the only one with that color hair and those lovely green eyes.” his hand cupped my chin “I jest quite often with the employees in the garden I did not think twice about it.” In the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains in the drawing room move. I quickly turned away from him and busied myself with gathering some of the plant. Heat snuck to my cheeks. I was flustered and did not know how to calm myself so I could think.
“I should get to my other work” stars flooded my vision when I stood and abruptly turned to the kitchen. I could not think clearly around him.
“Hi love...where are the flowers...where are you going? What in the world has gotten into child?” I took rest on the wall where she could not see me. I tried to catch my breath.
“It was my fault I startled her.”
“Your highness I have warned you about sneaking up on people”
“Please accept my apology Tabatha and here is the basket of lavender for my mother” I heard the door close and I peered into the kitchen
“Good gracious what is going on? I know you are there Mary come and explain it to me. Child your pale, sit down before you faint.” she led me to a chair in the kitchen
“Forgive me ma’am”
“Pish posh I won't hear of it. Here drink some tea and you will be right as rain in no time” Tabatha poured tea from the kettle over the kitchen fire. she went back to chopping vegetables for supper. “Handsome one, isn't he?”
“Tabatha” I warned, I saw a sly grin creep onto her face
“I am allowed at my age to point out the facts. You would be good for each other”
“He is the crowned prince. I would never dare to hope such things and neither should you”
“Dare to dream Marisole. You are too young not to” I rolled my eyes. The royal family treated us well, but I did not want to take that for granted. I gathered a bunch and hung them upside down in the darkest part of the pantry. I saved a small bunch for a vase for her room and would dry when the rest were ready. Lavendar takes knowledge to preserve. Fresh cut lavender must be trimmed under cool running water before setting them in a vase. The water must be changed every day until you are ready to dry them. “I wonder if he likes lavender” I eyed her
“I would not know” I rolled some onto the skin of my neck and the undersides of my wrists. I carried the vase up the steps out of the staff kitchen, the second landing always creaked even after replacing the wood. We did not mind though it told you when someone was coming or going. The final accent and I entered a long hallway that went to staff quarters, toilet and the laundry room. The direction I needed to go lead to the main hall of the palace where grand balls were held. The first floor where the balls happened, the king and queen took audience, the grand dining room, the library, the drawing room and the parlor were easy enough to find the rest of the castle was labyrinthian. The master suite was on the fourth floor with a ready room for the king and queen, another library, the vault where I heard the most valuable assets of the kingdom were kept. The third held but another library, the ‘children's’ wing here is where the rooms of the royal children were, only one was being occupied. The second held sculptures, paintings, lounge chairs, a balcony the overlooked the ballroom, and several offices. There were a few rooms I had never seen or did not know the use. A butler had told me once some of the rooms would rotate depending on what kind of space was needed. The stairs to the third and fourth floor were always an adventure to find. It was purposely done so a house guest would not wounder where they were not supposed to. Sometimes the queen took tea and read in the drawing room because it had an enclosed patio that looked onto the garden. When the weather was nice the patio widows were opened to let fresh air in. I tried there first. I found her in at rocking chair on the patio watching birds in the garden. I tried to step quietly to the coffee table. As I got closer I saw her tea and her book on the side table. She turned when I placed the vase on the table.
“Thank you dear. Those are lovely” I curtsied
“I did not mean to disturb your majesty. I heard you wanted some flowers, so I brought your favorite” she picked up the vase and brought the buds to her nose
“These really have the most delicate smell. They always bring me cheer” her voice did not sound very cheerful. I debated internally
“I do not mean to pry, but are you alright your majesty”
“Yes, dear I am just tired today. I will take a turn around the garden later and listen to the fountain.”
“That sounds like a lovely idea. You will let us know if you are needing of anything else?” The birds chirped, the fountain bubbled, and I could hear the gardener whistle to the birds.
“Unfortunately, nothing you can do for me at this time. Actually, could you bring that blanket over there” she pointed to a blue gray blanket. I curtsied and went to grab it for her. This particular blanket has some weight to it. I can imagine it might be like a giant hug.
“Here you are your majesty”
“Thank you dear. I hope you have a good rest of your day”
“Thank you, your majesty. You as well.” I curtsied again and left the room.
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