Tea party with the Count (6)
“Violet, we’re not alone here.”
- Oh!
After Ethan's words, Violet quickly straightened up, covering her mouth with her hand. Her transformation from blushing to shyly smiling was amazing.
– Должно быть, это было неловко, хо-хо.
- …No.
- That’s good, but your bouquet is now ruined.
Violet, who had been fiddling with the bouquet, carefully put it aside and held out other flowers.
– I have a few cut flowers left, do you think I can make a new one from them?
- Of course, why not try?
Trying not to think about what had just happened, I looked at the flowers Violet held out to me. They were different, but all fresh and beautiful. I felt her care.
I laid them out on the floor, trying to figure out how best they would look together. Violet stood nearby, offering her options. Ethan also said something sometimes, but overall he was useless. I took the best of the flowers and began to collect a bouquet. The centerpiece was a purple flower reminiscent of Violet.
– How old are you, Paula? You look young.
- I'm eighteen.
- ABOUT!
She clapped her hands.
– You and I are the same age!
She smiled happily, as if this was a great reason for joy. I couldn't believe it.
– I have long wanted to communicate with someone my age. I'm so happy.
There must have been a lot of girls her age around her, right? Violet was clearly loved and cherished. She has a beautiful face, good manners and a wonderful character... And then I remembered how recently she crushed a bouquet.
I calmly concentrated on the bouquet.
- Oh, Violet. Why don't you move to a more comfortable place?
- A? Why?
She gave me a questioning look as she joined in collecting a small bouquet of white, pink, yellow flowers and baby's breath. Next to her, Ethan made a rather colorful composition.
– Paula, are you uncomfortable with me?
- No no. Everything is fine. I'm just worried about you having to sit on this dirty floor.
– I don’t mind, the flowers are so beautiful, I don’t think it’s so dirty here. Actually, I'm happy.
She smiles, looking genuinely happy, and continues to pick flowers to complete the bouquet. It has a mixture of pink, yellow, white flowers with violet in the center and baby's breath in between. If you trim the stems, the bouquet will look neater.
“I wonder if Vincent will like it?”
There was a lot of tenderness in the way she looked at the bouquet in her hands. I nodded as soon as her eyes fell on me. Vincent still won't know how beautiful these flowers were.
– Paula, can you carry this bouquet? I want you to put it next to the bed.
- Fine. I will do so.
I took the finished bouquet from her. It was quite big. I was afraid that it might fall apart, so I untied the lace in my hair and secured the bouquet with it.
- Oh, God. I should have brought something to tie it.
- Everything is fine.
I tied the bouquet tightly so that it would not spoil. Violet, looking at another smaller bouquet she had made, asked:
- Do you want me to give it to you?
- Oh, this...
She handed me a small bouquet.
- This is for Paula. This is not much, take it as a reward for helping me make such a beautiful bouquet.
My eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled and waved the bouquet in front of me, as if saying: “Come on, take it.” I opened my mouth, closed it again and stared at the small bouquet. For some reason I couldn't bring myself to accept it. Violet took my hand and held out the bouquet, repeating her words of gratitude over and over again.
I’m not used to seeing smiling faces, I’m not used to being treated like this. I've never been treated like this before. Never. That's why I frantically squeezed the bouquet.
- Thank you...
– I am even more grateful to you, thank you, Paula.
-...
I froze and looked at the small bouquet in my hand.
It was sloppily put together; Violet certainly didn't have the best skills. All the buds were large, and the colors were bright and did not match each other. He was more garish than handsome, and yet I couldn't take my eyes off him.
I didn't know what to do with him. It was unusual to accept someone else's sincerity. I hesitated, and then with great effort I tried to take it so that it would not break.
- Here you go, ma'am. A gift from me too.
- Ah, thank you.
Ethan thrust a large multi-colored bouquet of his own making into my hands. I formally thanked him. Then Ethan grumbled that I was too emotionless.
My hands were completely occupied with flowers. Ethan's bouquet was especially large. I tripped trying to hold it and dropped it. I glanced at Ethan, but to my relief, he didn't notice. I quickly picked it up.
– When will I see Vincent, I’m already tired of waiting.
I turned my head towards the sound of a melancholy voice. Violet sat on her haunches, staring at the sky. Hands on your knees, chin on them, heart broken, a dark shadow falls on your back.
“I wonder if Vincent hated me?”
- This is impossible.
“Even so... he just keeps avoiding me... and...”
- If this were true, then Vincent would not have avoided you, but would have abandoned you immediately.
- I know.
Her slumped shoulders caught my attention, but soon her sadness quickly turned to anger. She plucked and crushed buds in the flower garden.
- Just try to force me to get a divorce. I won't let you.
-...
I heard the eerie sound of teeth grinding. I was speechless for a moment, but quickly regained my composure.
“He would never do that.”
Her murderous gaze pierced me. I swallowed convulsively.
- Is it true?
- Yes. He said he was sorry for making you worry.
Her violet eyes narrowed in anger. I looked away. Of course he never said that. But for the safety of my master, I could lie, it was better than spitting out the truth.
Besides, now was the perfect time for peace.
- Why don't you try to be a little selfish?
- Selfish?
- Yes. I think sometimes you need to ignore the other person's feelings, at least a little.
“Can I... do this?”
- Certainly. You are his fiancee, you will become husband and wife, so you can be capricious sometimes.
Since this whole story started with Vincent ignoring her letters, I think the least he can do is write her a reply. Of course, he cannot do this himself.
I'll write a letter for him. It's a little troublesome, but it's in return for the bouquet she gave me. Violet said it was in gratitude for my help, but I am even more grateful for her praise and kindness to me.
I was about to talk about different ways to be capricious, in particular, asking her to demand an answer to a letter, when suddenly Violet jumped to her feet, clenching her fists tightly, as if she had decided something for herself.
– Paula, you're right. – she said – I made a decision!
- What?
She flashed her eyes. The expression on her face was ominous. It can't be...
– I won’t return until I see Vincent!
Ah, I made a mistake.
Violet said she writes letters every time she comes here and handed me one. She wrote that if Vincent did not meet her, she would wait here forever.
“Paula, I need you to support me.”
I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders and felt dizzy at the thought of what was about to happen. I glanced at Ethan for help, but he shook his head nervously.
I'm completely screwed.
***
Despondently, I returned to Vincent's room. He was sitting on the bed - a rare sight. He turned towards the sound of my steps, as if he had been waiting for me.
- How did it go? Is she going to come back?
– Oh, this... First of all, Violet asked me to give you a letter.
I held out the thick letter, handwritten as always. His eyes flickered for a moment, then calmed down. He extended one hand. I placed her letter in his hand. And then she carefully placed the vase of flowers on the nightstand.
But this time he did not open the letter.
– Maybe I should read it to you?
- No. I know what it says there.
“Miss Violet seems to like you very much.”
“I told you these are not the same feelings.” We grew up like brother and sister.
– How long have you known each other?
- Since birth.
Oh, he said that the three of them were friends. This means that they have known each other for a long time, this explains such cordiality. But doubts were brewing. Even though Vincent and Violet are childhood friends, Violet's feelings are not the same as loving a sibling. It was a more passionate love, like the one you feel for a person of the opposite sex.
– I think that Miss Violet is a very good and kind person. She is kind even to such an insignificant person like me. You should be very happy, my lord.
-What are you talking about?
“I just think you two look good together.”
-...
He fell silent. His narrowed eyes took on a sharp edge. He seemed to be trying to figure out my intentions. I swallowed dryly.
- So, sir.
I was so nervous that I stuttered. My clasped hands tensed. I didn't know how to tell him about this. Vincent shook his head, feeling something was wrong.
- Why did you stop talking?
“You know... I mean... Miss Violet said...
- What did you say?
- Miss Violet said...
I licked my lips. My mouth moved to say the words I never wanted to say. But the door opened, and the voice of the person entering was faster.
“Violet said she won’t come back until she sees you.”
- What?
Vincent jerked his head towards Ethan in surprise. I also looked back at Ethan. Seeing my shocked expression, he smirked.
– The maid found herself in a hopeless situation.
Vincent's face returned to mine. I closed my eyes. A moment of silence. Soon, faster than expected, the bouquet filled with sincerity was overturned. BANG!
I heard him clearly. The sound of all my efforts being shattered.