Barely had Raiva finished splashing water on herself, before Shelly announced herself once again and entered her rooms, arms full of clothes made of varying fabrics.

Why is she carrying that?

Confused, as laundry day wasn’t for another week or so, Raiva gave her a puzzled look, awaiting the usual wordy explanation, which she of course received promptly.

“Oh, my lady!” she exclaimed in surprise at the already-up-and-about figure in front of her. “You are already awake? Excellent. I was just handed these this morning, oh let me just display them here for a moment-“

She laid out the clothes on the unmade bed, pausing for a moment at the sight, but deciding this took precedent for now.

“I asked Miss Octavia, a few days ago before she ran out after breakfast as per usual, though I did not expect so many in such a short time, to perhaps see if we could have some of the garments you ordered delivered early. And here they are, just look at this one! Beautiful is it not?”

She asked as she patted a pale sage-colored tea dress with countless white lace panels and a clearly coordinated bright white chemise and thin petticoat to go underneath.

Raiva’s eyes however, had fallen on a different piece, a sleek, creased and ironed to perfection, a-line skirt in a vivid cobalt blue with a bright white, short but puff sleeved, blouse and an accompanying cobalt hat, the kind that was worn towards the front of the head to accommodate an elaborate up-do at the back of the head.

I know it looks a little silly by itself, but it’s so pretty once it’s on. The white and gray silk flowers are a little much for my tastes, but proportionate and subtle at least. And would you look at that, it even comes with gloves. Perfect.

She let her hand glide across the almost shiny looking cotton that made up the skirt, following the near invisible stitching at the hem. Her mind wandered, imagining Octavia’s petite, skillful hands working needle and thread into it, firmly grasping the fabric as she lifted it to inspect her work.

“I think I’ll wear this today,” she muttered spontaneously, not entirely noticing what she was doing.

“Of course, my lady!”

Shelly jumped to work without another word, in case her mistress might change her mind and not dress up at all, humming to herself.

In minutes, Raiva was dressed, with Shelly inspecting every button, closure and ribbon to ensure everything looked right to her.

“I do wish you would let me do it for you,” she mumbled as she re-tied a ribbon on the petticoat to her satisfaction. “It would be much faster, my lady.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to form bad habits.”

“You keep acting as though I were going anywhere, and I am decidedly not,” Shelly chided her. “And if I were, I would ensure that someone else capable could take over my work here.”

She shook her head in discontent at the thought.

“I know,” Raiva quickly replied. “I’m sorry.

“Would you help me with the hat when I leave?”

She took a seat by the mirror, to let her get to work on her hair.

“Of course! In fact, I insist,” Shelly chuckled, well aware of the poor job she might do with pins and placement. “May I ask where you are headed, my lady?”

Raiva replied with an apologetic smile, “Gunther’s.”

Opting not to respond, her housekeeper simply frowned and mumbled something about sending Frederick out for more hangover medications later.

Despite this, Shelly’s hands moved quickly as always. She was more focused than usual though, since the accessory required a certain hairstyle to really work. It involved a series of braids and twists and coils, eventually resulting in a wonderfully voluminous, wide bun, high on the back of her head, with decorative thin braids circling it.

“I really don’t know how you do it,” Raiva marveled as Shelly held up a hand mirror to show her the back, nigh brimming with pride at the result.

“And now, my lady, for the last touch,” she smiled as she rummaged the drawer filled with the new hairpins, eventually landing on an ebony one, covered in a floral, swirly looking pattern.

Carefully guiding it through the up-do, and wiggling it just a little bit to ensure its proper placement and hold, she exhaled contentedly and stepped back.

“Thank you,” Raiva sighed as she stood up.

“If you are thankful, please consider letting me assist you in getting dressed, my lady.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Raiva giggled.

“The outer ones, then. I will be doing my own undergarments,” she conceded, having long since decided to go with the flow when it comes to Shelly.

“As you wish,” she smiled as she exited the rooms with her mistress to prepare and eat breakfast.

Another morning, another uneventful breakfast.

Octavia had already left for work, leaving Raiva to ponder if she could have stipulated something further in the contract regarding her order, since it turned out that she worked rather flexible hours, and as such couldn’t be held to the “no overtime” clause.

Sneaky, that one.

It was her first time seeing Griffin and Cassian interact as well, beyond that of a courteous greeting, and to her relief the two, as well as Victor, were conversing and getting along just fine.

I need to remember to tell Victor if and when the opportunity lends itself. I’ve barely even talked with him since our squabble though, so we’ll see if it’s even necessary.

Frederick was in a wonderful mood, with the grocery budget increase taking quite a burden off his shoulders.

“I do think there’ll be leftover, this month,” he told her between bites of some freshly baked spelt bread, from a bakery of course. “I’ll make sure to deposit it when I pick up the alloted amount next time.”

“Oh no, you-“

“No can do, dear,” he grinned, interrupting her usual suggestion of them keeping it as a bonus. “I don’t feel right keeping it, when it’s just because not all tenants have been here every meal. We shouldn’t adjust it down yet, in my opinion, since it might just have been an off schedule.”

She sighed. Frederick was just as stubborn as Shelly after all, so there was little chance of convincing him otherwise.

The rest of the morning proceeded quietly, with Raiva sorting through correspondence and invoices that had arrived, until Cassian arrived at her office, knocking on the door.

“You know, proper clothes really do look better on you than those old threads you’ve been wearing lately,” he grinned, nearly blinding her with his radiant smile and white teeth.

“That’s how you announce yourself?” she chuckled incredulously.

So different, in such short time.

“Why, did you want Lord Lorentz?”

“No,” she pushed her letters aside, placing her head in her hands. “Come on in, Cassian.”

He entered, closed the door behind him and took a seat by the window in the plush chair facing her.

“Long night?” he asked pointedly.

Her facial expression changed to one of amusement.

Keen eye, once again.

“No, long morning. How come?”

“You look exhausted. Have you considered a bit of rouge or powder to try and look more alive, if you’re going out?” Before Raiva could respond, he continued, “That, and the captain couldn’t look at you without doing what I assume is his way of shyly averting his eyes. I’ve never seen a man so focused on cheese before.

“That, and I saw him leave your rooms earlier, of course. Disheveled hair suits him.”

He laughed in a carefree manner, clearly enjoying himself.

She shook her head.

“How are you always in the right place at the right time?” she scratched her eyebrow reflexively.

“Intuition?” he tilted his head to the side. “I’m not sure actually. I have luck on my side, I suppose.”

Muttering as she tried to read the washed-out words on an envelope, she asked him “And you took time to come in here to…?”

To-..? …-sli? Why are these letters so blurry?

“To ask if you took my advice. Does he know?”

She halted a moment, then put down the envelope again.

“Yes,” she said, standing up to relocate to the seat across from him. “This morning.”

“What did you say exactly?”

“That I want him, but that I also want others, like you. In whatever shape it takes.”

“Hopefully not in those words,” he commented, his eyebrows raised.

“Obviously,” she giggled. “But the message was the same.”

“And he said?”

“That he has to think about it.”

“For how long?”

“Not sure. As long as he needs, I suppose.”

“Well then,” he smiled as he stood up, seemingly having concluded his business. “I’d better take my leave, seeing as you’re busy.”

I was busy earlier, too, you know.

“Yes,” she acquiesced, unconvinced. “Oh, right.”

She tugged down one of her gloves, revealing the bruising to him.

“You owe me for not removing them,” she smiled teasingly.

“Or a punishment for not removing them properly, when I was already going easy on you.”

He shrugged and sent her a grin, his eyes twinkling with something both intimidating and exciting, before leaving the office.

Can’t wait.

Raiva took lunch in her office, as she tried to decipher the blurry letter on her desk.

It looks like it’s been left out in the rain, but it’s been weeks since the last hard rain.

She had opened it and was now attempting to make out letters in between mouthfuls of soup, but it was all so washed out that only a few words were legible.

Away. Entire. You.

I hope it’s not from Jürgen? No, none of his name has ‘to’ or ‘sli’ in it.

She decided to give up the endeavor and tossed in it the bin by the door.

If it’s important they’ll write again. Not much I can do when even the sender’s name is obscured.

Exiting the room, she saw Griffin, waiting for her in the sitting room.

“Griffin!” she exclaimed, surprised. “I’m sorry, did I keep you waiting?”

Stupid letter.

“Not at all,” his lips turned upwards a little. “Are you ready to depart?”

“Almost. Have you seen Shelly, by any chance?”

“In your rooms, I believe.”

“Excellent,” she smiled softly. “I won’t be long.”

Walking through the door to her bedroom, she saw Shelly changing the bedding.

Please don’t say anything.

“My lady,” she greeted her, with her usual tone and smile. “Is it time?”

“Yes, please,” Raiva affirmed, trying not to stare at the sheet, which was right there, and definitely had a stain or two, right there.

Shelly dropped the covers back onto the bed and moved towards the dressing room to help her with the hat, as promised.

In only a minute, the hat was on, perfectly positioned, and firmly secured with the hatpins, which were cleverly disguised as the smallest silk flower decorations that adorned the hat already.

Raiva was about to get up and leave, when Shelly placed a careful hand on her shoulder.

“My lady,” she began, in a very quiet voice. “I know better than to meddle, but this comes from a place of care. Please be careful.”

Raiva froze.

Her mind raced, reflexively trying to make an excuse or come up with an explanation, even an instinct to simply tell her everything.

Instead, she took a deep breath and simply responded, “Thank you, Shelly. Don’t worry, I am. I’ll explain eventually, I promise.”

Shelly smiled a tentative smile and nodded her head.

“Of course, my lady.”

With that, Raiva left her rooms, needing to escape the mood, and left the house with Griffin at her side, making polite chit-chat about the weather.