Tea party with the Count (11)
I hesitated, wondering if I should pull away and look away.
"Paula, support me."
I remembered our conversation and plucked up courage.
“Violet said she understood everything.”
- Does he understand? What does understanding have to do with this? Are you saying that she feels sorry for her blind fiancé and wants to sympathize with him?
- Why do you say that?
– Because that’s exactly how I understand everything.
The spikes sticking out became even sharper. I saw that his mind was as tightly closed as the door. I licked my dry lips and stammered:
– You know Violet and you understand that this is not so...
“There’s one thing I’ve learned in life, and I’ll tell you this: the people we think we know everything about can actually turn out to be completely different.”
-...
“They can pretend to care about me, but if I show weakness, they are ready to tear me to pieces.” Those from whom I did not expect it at all have already done this to me. Coming to me and checking my condition was all just an excuse. Even when my parents died in an accident, they were only planning how to use the young heir.
I saw the pain he was going through in his dark smile.
“As you say, maybe Violet isn’t like that.” But a blind groom cannot stand next to her; her family will not accept me.
-...And you are afraid of this?
- No.
-...
I watched him shake his head and realized that he was not afraid to part with Violet - now he was afraid to see her. He didn't want to look into her eyes and not see her.
Courage was what he needed now.
Courage to accept your condition and move on.
I carefully let go of his hand, and he obediently let go of mine. I left the room, leaving him in this state, and went to my room next door. There I opened the box and returned to it with my hands full of what was inside it.
He was about to lie down on the bed when he looked back at me.
-Why did you come again?
- Mister.
I dumped everything I had in my hands on him. A stack of white letters spilled onto the bed. These were all of Violet's letters that I saved.
“It’s all from Violet,” I said. “I kept them on Isabella’s orders.”
-...
He slowly sorted through the stack of letters that had been dumped on him. There were enough of them to surround him on all sides. No wonder. She kept sending them without even waiting for a response.
“Violet writes to you every day,” I said, “even though she knows you won’t answer her.” But she writes to you again and again. I'm not very good with words, my lord, so I can't give you good advice right now. But at least I don't think her sincerity is false.
I was amazed by the sincerity with which she wrote every time, even when there was no answer. The thickness of her letters, even though she sent them every day, was puzzling, so I opened some of them.
“Today I walked in the garden. The flowers are so beautiful that I want to show them to you.”
“Today I bought a beautiful dress. I can’t wait to wear it to meet you.”
"I miss you, Vincent."
Neat handwriting filled every page of the letter. These letters did not describe anything special. After listing the day's activities, the letter ended with the words: "I will always miss you." Her longing for him could be felt in the smudged ink of the last line.
“As my master said, things won’t always go smoothly, but you have to accept it.” Be brave. I think the time has come.
At the very least, I hope that the person knocking on your door doesn't get tired and give up. And I hope you can recognize her sincerity. Even if time passes and she eventually leaves you, I hope that you will believe in her now. You should not lose touch with a person due to unfounded suspicions.
- I can read you a letter if you want.
-...Here, take it.
He held out the letter.
- I know what it says there. She writes that she is thinking about me and is worried. And what is missing. Because that's how they usually write. I thought that she would not come, because I ordered not to answer her. But you apparently looked at these letters and still responded.
- Yes. I don't think it's polite to ignore someone who cares about you so much!
I shouted this with some satisfaction, but he just grinned. I wondered why he was looking so strangely, but his next words left me speechless.
“You’re trying to make excuses because you did something wrong.” Violet said she'll stay because you said something stupid to her. That's why she's still here.
-...
He is so sensitive to such things.
I try to ignore the pain in my chest after this incident and shamelessly deny everything. I asked him if he understood how worried she was about the master, but he didn’t listen. Instead, he began to rummage through the letters on the bed. I felt his feelings in how carefully he touched them. Although, perhaps he was just exhausted.
- Maybe this happened because you lack the courage?
- Maybe so.
His voice was still cold.
“All I hear from you all the time is whining.”
“Just try harder and I’ll stop.”
- Shameless.
“I just serve my master.”
Then he smiled softly.
- Thank you.
What did he just say?
I squinted, wondering if I had heard wrong, but he took my hand again. His grip wasn't as strong as before. He took my hand gently, and I felt a tickle as his fingers carefully intertwined with mine.
– I thank you for the rehearsal before meeting Violet. It was funny hearing how hard it was for you to tell me you missed me.
He laughed briefly again as soon as he remembered it. The laughter was strange. Strange, but familiar. I again saw a gentle, caring face, the same as then at the rehearsal. It was addressed to me again.
- Thank you. I'm really grateful.
It was actually directed at me.
“I didn’t want to keep turning my back on Violet.” I really didn’t want to, but it happened so, and I have to atone for my guilt. But, like you said, I lacked the courage. Thank you for encouraging me.
He raised his head hesitantly. His dull emerald eyes pierced me. After a little training, he could already follow the voice and so he met my gaze. In response, I only hesitantly opened my mouth and immediately closed it.
Our intertwined hands were too hot, and his voice tickled my ear. I looked at him, unable to think. It was as if a warning was ringing in my head.
* * *
Another day passed before the tightly locked door opened. Vincent met Violet, who burst into tears as soon as she saw him. She wanted to say so much, but instead she punched him in the chest. Vincent hugged her and stroked her back. She melted in his arms. Ethan came over too and patted her on the back.
“I’m not going to break up with you and I won’t tell anyone about your condition.” I promise.
- Thank you.
Her silence will not allow him to hide his condition forever, but she will keep her promise. Knowing this, Vincent smiled back.
The three of them chatted for the rest of the day. For the first time in a long time, cheerful laughter echoed throughout the mansion. I rubbed my chest as I watched these beautiful lovers.
The next day we drank tea.
Vincent, Violet, Ethan and I were present. I felt out of place, but Violet took the initiative and invited me to join them. She even got Isabella's permission when I protested that I could not join the gentlemen. But in the end, I, a simple servant, had the honor of attending a tea party with a nobleman.
The tea party took place in the garden behind the outbuilding. That's where I had tea with Vincent last time. We drank tea and had an unremarkable conversation, and this was enough to make the atmosphere quite pleasant.
Then we started talking about Violet's letters.
- Dear maid. Have some of your letters arrived crumpled?
- What? Oh, come to think of it, yes.
“Violet has a short temper, and when she writes a letter and doesn’t get an answer, she gets so angry that she crumples it up, and then straightens it out and writes again.” I can see it in my head.
Ethan chuckled. Violet punched him in the side in embarrassment. Ethan groaned and Vincent sipped his tea gracefully and grinned. At this time, I shifted uncomfortably on the seat.
I felt uncomfortable. I didn't feel like I was in the right place. They talked to me, cared for me, but ultimately I was a stranger. I had nothing to share with them, so I looked around and stood up from my seat with an empty teapot. I tried to leave, saying I was going to fill it, but Vincent quickly grabbed me.
-Where are you going?
– Oh, the kettle is already empty, I’ll go fill it.
“You don’t have to bring more tea.” Stay here.
- What? Oh, but...
The conversation stopped there. Violet and Ethan's eyes turned to me. I start to panic, thinking I've interrupted a good time, but Ethan intervenes.
- Hey, Vincent. You might think she's breaking up with you forever. Don't be so sad. As much as you want her to stay, let her go so she can have some time to herself. Maid, go get some tea. You must feel uncomfortable being here.
- Oh God. Is it true? – Violet asked.
Vincent was waiting for my answer. The question took me by surprise, and I didn’t immediately come up with an answer. Vincent then carefully let go of the hem of my dress. I didn't know whether to thank him or not, so I just nodded my head and left from there.
Finding myself at some distance from these three, I breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, I felt uneasy. I scratched my head and hurried to the kitchen to make fresh tea.
I asked the cook to bring me some sweets and deliberately took the long road. I wanted to get some fresh air. I haven't had much free time lately. Therefore, this short time seemed sweet like honey to me.
When I returned to the tea party, I discovered a new guest.