***

The bob-cut brunette was utterly hopeless. Sandra worked double-time to cover up Myrtle’s mistakes. Master Featherstone was in a good mood. Sandra’s body had not ached from this level of exhaustion since her first week as Master Featherstone’s maid.

“Who did you work for? If I may ask.”

Myrtle did not hear Sandra over the volume of her own “Oh!”s and “Ah!”s as she marvelled at the size of the manor.

“Wow! You clean ALL of this? How long does it take?”

“From ceiling to floor? A couple of days. I seldomly work alone.”

Sandra pursed her lips impatiently. Placing her hands on her hips. Myrtle closed her gaping mouth.

“Sorry. What were you saying?”

Sandra’s eyes rolled so quickly that the brunette expected her eyes to bounce to the floor.

“Nothing important. What are you REALLY doing here? Master does not take in strays and you have obviously never worked a day in your life.”

“Oops! It was supposed to be a secret. My bad. Actually…I’m on the run.”

Sandra shifted her stance, cocking out one hip. Folding her arms. Her slender brows furrowed.

“God bless my Master’s kind heart. With an excuse this poor, I would tell you to return home at once.”

“No. I’m being serious! He found me in the garden, your Master. Forget I told you this. Please?”

“What are you running from?”

“Not what. Who.”

“Who?”

Sandra felt a surge of curiosity.

“I’m supposed to marry a rich sailor- Lieutenant Jordan Lewis.”

“I have never heard of him.”

“I’m not lying! I’ve never met him before.”

“That’s not so bad.”

“Don’t you think it’s…Ew!” The fourteen-year-old grimaced.

“Unorthodox? No.” Sandra shook her head. “It happens all the time.”

“But he’s…really old.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Sandra’s nose wrinkled.

“Everyone is old compared to us. I’m sixteen you know.”

“Wait. What?! You’re…so mature. How?”

Sandra shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to dust the picture frames as she walked down the hallway.

“Well, that is a lie. I have met him. Once. I don’t like him at all! He invited me on a date. At first, he was nice…enough. We took a coach ride to the harbour. He showed me his BIG ship.”

“It’s not the size that matters. It’s what you do with it.”

Myrtle laughed before continuing her recollection.

“While some of the sailors discussed business, Mister Lewis pulled me aside…As soon as we were alone, he…he tried to touch me. I refused. We had a picnic lunch. It was the most awkward thing I have ever done. I was afraid that he would try something again that the moment he wasn’t looking, I ran and I ran and I ran. Until I crashed into your Master in the garden.”

The fourteen year old covered her face, on the verge of tears.

“No. Don’t cry. I will sort this out. In the meantime, you can stay here.”

“You mean it?”

“Yes. For now, we should rest. It’s been a long day. For BOTH of us.”

Myrtle perked up instantly. Skipping behind Sandra. Sandra kept her gaze focused forward; inspecting the manor for imperfections. Her brain gradually registered squish-ing behind her. Sandra whipped around and stared at the clumsy brunette, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

“What is it, miss? Why did you stop?”

“Nothing that concerns you. I thought I heard- My apologies. I am not myself today. I must be hearing things.”

Sandra’s train of thought was interrupted in her very next step. The clumsy maid tripped on her hem.

“AHHHHHH!”

This time she crashed down onto her hands and knees.

“Oops! Sorry.”

“If your hem is too long, I can take it up for you.”

Sandra palmed her face. There was no way this imbecile dressed herself.

“N-no! Thank you kindly, but I-i-I must decline. I shouldn’t…um…This was…a gift?”

“I will explain the situation in a letter.”

“I HAVE to return it. You wouldn’t understand.”

“No, you don’t understand. I cannot, and will not, allow you to endanger yourself or the others in my employ because of YOUR bull-headed wardrobe. Either I take up your hem or you will have to disrobe immediately. Appropriate attire will be provided.”

“Thank you so much!”

Myrtle smothered the maid in a hug.

“Oh, my goodness. That is enough. If you are going to stay here, I will teach you to earn your keep. I will NOT tolerate you besmirching everything I have strived for.”

The squelching noises resumed as Myrtle did her best to catch up with Sandra. As Sandra suspected. To avoid another collision or delay, the maid spun around. Grabbing Myrtle’s upper arms. Myrtle glanced away as if she had caught the eye of a man that she found attractive.

“Lesson number one. If you want to pick up your pace at any time, gather the fabric in your hands like this. Then…hoist.”

Sandra let go and explained, guiding Myrtle’s hands. The cotton spooled through the clumsy girl’s fingers as if it were silk.

“I’m not very good at this.”

“It takes practice. Practice takes time. Do you require another demonstration?”

“Yes please.”

The clumsy maid watched intently as Sandra gathered her own skirt, briefly revealing her ankles.

“Wow! You make this look simple.”

“Next, let’s get you changed into…something else. I will start you off on the simple tasks. I’ll be out of town for a while. I need to know that I can trust you not to let this manor fall to ruin in my absence.”

“Thank you.”

“Pardon?”

“You could have turned me away the moment you laid eyes on me, but you didn’t. You don’t HAVE to be nice to me. I’m not like you.”

“That is not true. I am a fast learner. When I first came here, I was like you.”

“Haha! Like me? You’re funny.”

Sandra shoved Myrtle into the next unlocked room- infuriated by her questioning.

“You can see through my Glamour. I never thought I would see another Atlan on the surface. Is that why you wear a bonnet all the time?”

Sandra put her foot in the door as Myrtle pulled it shut.