Page 9 of The Time Of Queens

Washis heart doing the same?

4

THIS ROOM IS CURSED

Idon’t know how long I sat in this room, doing nothing, but it was long enough for Pip to have her tea or spiked coffee, as the next thing I knew someone was knocking on my door.

“Hurry, your mistress calls for you, for they will be dining soon. Make haste.”

I didn’t recognise the voice, so it was most likely one of the other servants, and not one that sounded all too friendly at that. I released a sigh and stood, straightening out someone else’s dress before walking from the room. Thankfully the snippy maid was long gone, no doubt far too busy to have to deal with the likes of me in the first place.

I hurried into Pip’s room to find her jumping out of her gown to get it off.

“Here, let me help you,” I said, rushing over to her before she fell on her face. She looked like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

“It’s alright, I’ve got it. Just a bit more twisting,” she said, huffing and puffing.

“You look like you’re trying to ride a pogo stick,” I told her, making her head pop up out of the masses of fabric and say,

“Oooh, what is one of those? They sound fun?” I grinned up at her from where I was on my knees trying to free the dress from her ankles and told her,

“You already have Adam, and from what you have been telling me for the last thirty years, trust me when I say, he’s more than enough.”

She smirked, released a heavenly sigh, and said,

“Oh boy, isn’t he just.”

I chuckled at that, shaking my head as I slid the dress from beneath her feet.

“But then I am not the only one smitten, for it would seem you made quite the impression,” she told me as I pulled up the dress and rehung it in the wardrobe… I figured I should make myself useful, even if I wasn’t a real lady’s maid.

“Which time?” I asked, closing the large door.

“Both, I imagine,” she replied, making me sigh.

“I saw him in the hallway after you left with Sophia.” At this Pip’s lush green eyes went wide.

“And what did he say?” she asked, as if this was some love story, period drama she needed the next episode of. I shook my head and told her dejectedly,

“Nothing of consequence.”

“Well that may be so, but he had much to say of you downstairs in the drawing room.” At this my head snapped up, making her smirk when my eager tone was obvious.

“What did he say?”

“He asked a lot of questions, wanted to know more about you, tried not to be obvious, and failed I might add. He also seemed most disappointed when Adam told him that you had been under our employment for over a month and that we only arrived today and did not stop in the village,” she said, making me nod.

“Good… that’s good.”

“He then told Adam about last night, how he had found his Electus and lost her. How Adam would be needed to aid them in the continued search.”

“Okay, so that’s bad,” I corrected, making her shrug.

“Perhaps, although what it certainly is, is exciting,” she added with glee, making her eyes glow a brighter green.

“Pip, that’s not helping,” I scolded, and she giggled.

“He is not going to give up,” I added with a sigh.

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