Maid in a Strange Manor (2)
Audrey winked at us, as if demanding that we say hello.
- Nice to meet you.
I bowed. Fortunately, Alicia was tactful and followed my example in greeting the mistress. The guy behind me also hurriedly turned around and bowed, but still tried not to look at her.
Having finished with the greeting, the guy turned around again, and Joely turned her gaze to him. She narrowed her eyes mischievously.
- So what is the name of that shy guy?
“Lady Joely, you should wash and dress first,” Audrey said.
– Ох, Одри, какая же ты зануда.
“If you stay like this, you might catch a cold.”
“Okay, okay,” Joely waved it off and, getting out of bed, looked at Alicia and me.
– I like beautiful people.
- What?
Joely ran her fingertips over Alicia's shoulder with a smile. While I was confused, Audrey pushed Alicia towards Joely. My sister looked back at me, puzzled, but I myself didn’t understand anything and couldn’t do anything. Audrey walked me and the guy out the door.
When I left the room, I realized that Joely had chosen Alicia as her maid. There was nothing surprising in this, but at the same time it hurt me that here, too, my appearance became a problem. I sighed quietly, looking at the closed door.
“Wait outside a little longer,” Audrey said before leaving, citing that she had some business to attend to. Now it was just the two of us left in the corridor.
I stared at the door, then looked at the guy. He looked somewhat distant. Everything that had happened earlier had probably left him in shock.
“You must be very surprised.”
- Y-yes, slightly. Although, to be honest, it’s very e-even,” he stuttered and, apparently, was too embarrassed about what had happened. His face turned red as if it were on fire, so it was easy to understand how he felt at that moment.
“Your face,” I noted.
- Oh, no! I didn't think of anything strange.
What is it about? I just wanted to say that his face was very red, like it was about to explode. He got worried, so he began shaking his head intensely and waving his arms. His reaction was funny.
– Why are you addressing me so formally? – he asked.
- It's simple politeness.
– Нет, почему ты так себя ведешь? It's awkward.
-What are you talking about?
His embarrassed face now twisted questioningly.
- Don’t you recognize me?
-Who are you?
- Hey, it's me. Johnny!
- What? “I asked, stunned, “the same Johnny who asked to introduce him to Alicia?”
- Yes! It's me!
My jaw dropped. Johnny? That scruffy young man?
I looked him over appraisingly from head to toe. The neatly dressed man looked good. That is, he was completely different from the man with a dirty and soot-black face whom I knew.
- My God! Are you really Johnny?
- Certainly! It's me!
– The same Johnny who looked like a total slob?
- Yes, I’m that slob... wait, no. Wait a minute,” Johnny, who had answered so energetically before, now tensed. – Do you think I’m a slob?
-...
I fell silent and turned away, pretending as if nothing had happened, but what is said cannot be taken back.
- Don't exaggerate! What was wrong? Am I really that dirty?
- Well... maybe a little.
To be honest, not a little. Johnny's face became serious after my answer. But his reaction couldn't make me take it back because it was the truth.
-You're still the same.
- And you have changed a lot. I didn't even recognize you.
- Strongly?
- Yes. It's like a completely different person.
Johnny felt his face, asking about it again. I nodded decisively. I wouldn’t have thought about it before, but now that he had washed himself and combed his hair nicely, he looked quite presentable. He truly became a completely different person in my eyes.
I looked at his face again and mentally concluded that in this form, he could even overcome his unrequited love.
- How did you end up here? Invited?
- No, not me, but another person, but they said that I could go too. They promised decent earnings. Are you here by invitation?
“They called Alicia, not me.”
- Not surprising.
“Not surprising” mean? It's unpleasant, of course, but I'm used to it.
“They pay well here,” Johnny’s old cheerfulness returned, “don’t they?”
I shrugged and stared at the closed door.
-You cut your hair. It’s gotten shorter, right here,” he said, pointing to my bangs.
- How did you recognize me so immediately?
- A?
– My bangs always covered my face. Usually it's hard to recognize me without it.
– Don’t you remember how you worked as a laborer in the heat and sweated like crazy? At such moments, you pulled it back when it stuck to your face. I have seen your open face thousands of times already.
Right. Usually I tried to cover myself with my hair, but apparently, while working, I was more worried about the endless sweat. I smiled awkwardly and turned away. Johnny hit me on the back, saying he was glad to see me. My face contorted and I hit him in the leg. Johnny screamed and grabbed his calf.
- It hurts!
- Don’t I? Don't swing at me.
- It's not the same thing.
While we were exchanging pleasantries, the door opened. Alicia ran out of the room and fell to the floor. We quickly rushed to her.
Johnny helped her to her feet, and she angrily looked at where she had just run out. Joely, wearing only her underwear, stood in the doorway.
- You're not coming.
-...
Joely threw her golden locks back in one motion and expressed dissatisfaction with her entire appearance. Even the way she ran her hand through her hair showed extreme irritation.
Your mother, what did she do wrong? Having asked this question, I looked at Alicia, who was ready to incinerate Joeli with her furious gaze. Sparks flew between these two individuals. I looked worriedly at Johnny, who was flushed again. He turned around, feeling like the most pathetic victim of today's events.
A snow-white hand reached out from behind Johnny. Joely hugged him and buried her face in his back.
- So we meet again, huh? – cooed the golden-haired lady.
- Oh.
Johnny's face showed universal sadness. Joely was amused by his reaction. Grinning, she raised one hand and gently ran through his hair.
- What is your name?
- Uh-uh.
- Is that really their name?
- Oh, no, no, of course not.
Johnny hurriedly mumbled something incomprehensible.
- Then how?
- Jojo... Johnny, Johnny.
- Well, Johnny. I'm glad to meet you. Would you like to come to my room tonight?
- What?
- Wow. Your surprised face is also very cute.
Joely tapped Johnny's embarrassed face with her finger, which made him tense even more. The girl blew into his ear, causing him to instantly gather his thoughts and jump in the other direction with a cry.
He ran away so fast that no one could stop him. I watched with longing as my back gradually moved away.
“He’s really my type,” Joely said dreamily.
In front of this wayward aristocrat, I felt like a completely innocent hillbilly. I mentally consoled myself, mentally preparing myself for the unenviable future that could happen very soon.
Joely, who had been watching the retreating figure for a long time, now turned her head towards me.
- You. Follow me,” she pointed a finger at me and turned around.
The sudden order made me gather my thoughts. I followed her.
The lady walking in front stopped abruptly and glanced at Alicia.
- Get out of here.
Then she entered the room.
I helped Alicia up and smoothed out her rumpled clothes. And she looked at her face, which was still turned towards Joely. Her eyes almost rolled out of their sockets. Since she still doesn’t say anything, it means something like that happened.
I sighed and headed into the room. Alicia disappeared behind the closing door. How does she have the nerve to stare at her mistress like that? Next time I should warn her to mind her manners.
When I looked back, Joely had already put on a robe. Tying the belt around her waist, she walked to the closet. I watched her warily.
Who is she - the mistress of the mansion or the countess? I was leaning towards the latter option. Her gait and every movement were filled with grace. I thought she might be a well-trained noblewoman.
She stopped in front of the closet and looked at me. I reacted quickly and went up to her to open the closet doors.
– Choose something.
- I?
- Yes. Something bright.
Bright means... The strange order put me into a stupor. There were many dresses hanging in the closet, in a variety of colors and designs. It seemed that outfits from all over the world were collected here.
I examined them carefully, wondering which choice would be right.
“When she said bright, did she mean color?” – I thought.
My choice was a blue dress, but I wasn't sure about it. I glanced at Joely, who chuckled and shook her head. Not that.
I put the chosen dress back in the closet and took out the red one that was hanging next to it. But Joely shook her head again.
I tried several more times, but was rejected each time. When Joely rejected the pink dress, and then the yellow one, she waved her hand wearily and sat down on the chair behind her.
I looked around the contents of the closet, puzzled. It was unclear what to choose this time if everything I got still didn’t meet her requirements.
- What is your name?
- Pa... Ann.
“I see, Anne,” there was a chuckle in her voice.
I felt her gaze, but tried not to pay attention to it, continuing to study the outfits from the closet.
-Where did you come from?
– I’m from a very small village. It doesn't even have a name.
– Were you born there?
- No. My home village is not there.
- Filton?
Joely's question made me stop rummaging through my closet. I turned around.
- How do you know?
“The girl who was here recently told me.” According to her, you are sisters.
A. I nodded and continued my search. I think she bombarded Alicia with similar questions. Having made this conclusion, I carefully examined the dresses. Since I had already made mistakes many times, I needed to be more careful in my choice. Joely continued to ask questions, thereby brightening up her boredom.
– Is this your first time working in a place like this?
- No, not for the first time.
- Hmm. So you've already worked somewhere before?
- Yes.
- Where?
“In a place I can’t tell you about.”
I was too focused on choosing an outfit, so I answered clearly without thinking. And yet, questions like these made me answer with caution. I quickly ran through the dresses. Is this or is this better? After much thought and searching, I finally chose one.
It was a white, tight-fitting dress with a floral pattern at the hem. It looked neat and at the same time elegant.
Okay, it's decided!
- How about this?
I turned around with a big smile, directing Joely's attention to the dress I had picked out. If she doesn’t like it again, I’ll ask her to choose herself. With this thought, I looked straight at her, but her eyes were focused not on the dress, but on me.
Her piercing gaze made the smile disappear from my face. Strange. I was sure that this amused her, but why was she watching me so studyingly?
- Why are you looking at me like that?
– Anne, you are so small and fragile.
- What? Well, yes. I'm quite short.
- Yes. “You are the smallest among all the servants,” she said, looking me up and down.