New meeting with the Count (2)
In the end I got a scolding from the nanny. She recalled that she asked not to go out with Robert, as it could be dangerous. It was impossible to make excuses. I tried to refer to Joely's permission, but it didn't help. Robert just laughed at me. What a scoundrel.
- Rest today. “You can go to your place,” said the nanny, “I’ll take care of everything.”
- But...
- And wash your face.
Face? I touched my face, wondering when I managed to get dirty, but I still didn’t understand. The nanny waved her hand, sending me away, and I had to go to my room.
As soon as I entered my room, I immediately went to the mirror. My eyes, the tip of my nose, and my cheeks were red and swollen, and anyone could have guessed that I had been crying. Oh my god.
Now I understand why Robert looked at me so strangely. I didn't think about it because I was used to having bangs covering my face. But now I had it cut and my ugly face was completely visible.
Did Vincent recognize me? I shook my head. This cannot be true - he has never seen my face. It is impossible to recognize a person if you have never seen him. Even if he had seen, he would hardly have remembered the maid who ran away five years ago. This was reassuring. I smiled bitterly at my own reasoning.
I rinsed my face with cold water, and when I returned, Alicia was already sitting on the bed, but her appearance raised questions. She looked detachedly at one point. What's wrong with her?
But today I was too tired to find out anything. I lay down, getting ready for sleep, when suddenly Alicia asked:
- Isn't he beautiful?
I opened my eyes. Alicia moved closer and sat next to her.
- Isn't he beautiful?
- Who?
- The man we saw this morning.
I frowned at her dreamy expression. If she's talking about "the man we saw this morning," it looks like she's talking about Vincent. Why did she start talking about him?
Come to think of it, Alicia hasn't been herself lately. She alternately stares into space, then giggles for no reason, and now, out of the blue, she asks about him.
This cannot be true.
I had a bad feeling. I took a sitting position, still frowning. Alicia's eyes sparkled.
- His name is Vincent. “Vincent Bellunita,” the sister continued.
-...
– Vincent... Even the name is great.
Alicia smiled as she thought about his name. Her cheeks were noticeably red. It was like she was in love. Everything turned out as bad as possible.
- That’s not possible.
-What are you talking about?
- Yes, about that. What about Johnny?
Why didn't Johnny please her? They seemed to have found a common language. I noticed that they have been communicating often lately. Of course, for the most part, Alicia was just pretending to be sweet and good-natured to win Johnny over, but still.
She brushed him off so quickly. What's wrong with him?
When I asked her about it, she crossed her legs and tossed her hair back in irritation.
- He's not the one I need. I can't live like this.
-What are you talking about? I don't understand you at all. Just recently you said that you wanted to run away, right? So...
- I changed my mind.
What?
-What are you getting at?
- I won't leave. I won't run away.
I stared at Alicia, not sure if she was serious. Her determined face showed that she was not lying. She looked at me calmly, which only made me more tense, because before she would have gotten angry and thrown a tantrum.
– Recently you said that you want to run away. Said you didn't like this place.
– Yes, but now I think differently.
- Why?
- Because of this man.
As she said this, she smiled and again plunged into memories of him. Twisting a lock of her long hair, Alicia assumed a shy look.
- That man.
I immediately understood who she was talking about.
-...Why do you need him?
- I'm going to seduce him.
Such a shameless statement made me doubt the correctness of what I had heard. Even my shocked look did not change her intentions, but only provoked her more. She was too self-confident.
- I'm not bad looking. We have different statuses, but my figure and beauty can overcome this.
– Are you okay with your head?
There was not a drop of sarcasm in this question. I seriously began to doubt its adequacy. Of course, she was always crazy, but not that crazy. I looked at her warily, but Alicia continued to sit as if nothing had happened.
– Our relationship has a chance.
– What other relationships do you have?
- I'm starting to like him.
-What the fuck are you talking about? – everything she said couldn’t fit into my head.
- Sister, can you help me?
-...
-Are you listening to me?
- I listen, but I don’t understand. You saw this gentleman, or rather man, for the first and only time this morning.
- So what? One glance was enough for me to understand that he was the one.
- Why on earth? Have you talked to him?
“No,” Alicia blurted out when I asked.
– Did you say hello to him?
- Not yet.
- You can't like him. This is complete nonsense.
- Why is this nonsense? You Belong With Me. This is fate.
- How can this be fate if only you have feelings? He doesn't even know you.
– He doesn’t know yet.
-...
I was speechless. This is all such nonsense. Become a couple on a whim? Vincent doesn't even know she exists. But Alicia seems intent on seducing him seriously.
- He is the owner of this place. All this time I thought that that woman was the owner here, so I treated her with contempt. My God, I couldn’t even think that I would meet such a handsome count. And with his wealth... He's perfect for me.
- Alicia.
– I’m so glad that I ended up here.
- Alicia.
“Why do you keep calling me in that tone?” – Alicia’s smile gave way to irritation. But who should be angry here is me.
- I need to tell you something. Before we left, you said we were going to Stella County. But it turned out that this was not the case.
- And what?
- How is that?
- Maybe not to them. Why are you so worried about this?
– Worried is not the right word! What if it's dangerous here?
- Everything is fine, because there is no danger.
- Alicia!
“You yourself decided to follow me.” Don't freak out.
– I thought it was the Stella family!
– Why can’t it be any other family? You said it could be dangerous here, but right now we're not in any danger. So what's the problem?
- Well...
The problem is that this is the Bellunita estate. The problem is that Vincent is here. But I couldn't tell it. I don’t know how Alicia will react if she finds out that I already served this man, and it was from here that I once escaped.
My confusion made Alicia suspicious.
– Is this the place you ran away from?
- …No.
- No? Sure?
- Don't know. I just want to convey to you that I already worked for the count, and then I got into trouble. The threat has still not disappeared. They are still pursuing me, and maybe they will find me and kill me. You just wanted to move to a place where you could meet nobles, but you hid the true name of the count's family from me. Understand?
- Oh, that's it. Stop talking, I don't want to hear anything.
Alicia waved her hand and moved onto her bed. I didn’t stop putting pressure on her until she finally came up with a convincing excuse, saying that she didn’t know whether it was the Stella family or another, and the truth had only recently been revealed to her, and also added that it didn’t matter.
I sighed heavily.
- Throw away empty dreams and let's escape. We were only hired temporarily anyway. Unsavory characters like us won't stick around for long anyway. It would be better to find a normal job.
- Don't want.
– Through “I don’t want”!
“I’ve already said that I don’t really care what kind of situation you got yourself into in the past.” I have already decided that I will stay here. If I seduce the Count, it doesn’t matter whether the job is temporary or not.
I took another deep breath and felt my head hurt. I rubbed my forehead and cleared my throat. How did we get to this point? The reason I came here was because of Alicia's stubbornness.
Everything that begins spontaneously is destined to disappear just as quickly - so I thought. But I never could have foreseen that Vincent would show up here and that Alicia would fall in love with him. It was impossible to even imagine such a result.
- If you want to leave, go alone. I won't hold it.
“You don’t know what’s on the minds of aristocrats.” For them, servants like you and me are like insignificant insects. Besides, what do you know about this Count? His personality... might be unpleasant.
- How do you know?
I speak from experience.
“It’s just that all aristocrats are like that.”
– If something comes easily, then there is nothing wrong with it.
- They could kill you.
– Life is a risk.
Eventually, Alicia became quiet.
Alicia's words were so outrageous that they gave me no peace. We didn’t say another word, but our heads still hurt. She is one of those who brings her plans to completion. It became clear to me that she took this matter seriously.
Alicia grew up poor. However, she did not have to fold her hands in a gesture of prayer, nor did she have to bow her head and beg.
She acted as if everyone owed her money. Everyone loved her and admired her beautiful face, even her father never touched her. Alicia is used to special treatment. That's why she was never afraid.
I couldn't understand this confidence because I grew up in a different environment, but Alicia didn't see the world outside of Filton. Perhaps, by accepting the feelings of the lord's son, Alicia would most quickly achieve the life she so desired. She missed this chance, but even so her ambitions did not go away.
While I was thinking about how to pacify her stubbornness, Alicia became gloomy.
- Don't look at me like that.
- How?
- With contempt. You ignore me, consider my words to be nonsense. You always do this. You don't care about my opinion, and you look at me with mockery.
-...
– I don’t care how you feel about it. Just don't get in my way.
Alicia gave a stern warning and turned away. The conversation is over. I couldn't stop sighing. Who else is ignoring whom? She despises me much more and constantly makes me feel guilty.
So she won't back down. This makes me feel uneasy. Vincent and Alicia? I can't even imagine this. No, I don’t even want to imagine. I know it’s impossible... but... what if it works...
She's beautiful.
***
“Yes, she’s beautiful,” I muttered, and then quickly walked forward. Another sigh escaped from his mouth. Then someone tapped me on the shoulder, and when I turned around, I met Johnny's gaze.
– Why are you sighing so heavily?
“Nothing,” I took a breath and looked ahead.
Joely looked at herself in the mirror, examining her blue fluffy dress. Alicia stood behind her. She, surprisingly, smiled, periodically complimenting Joely.
This evening the lady had to attend an evening reception, so preparations had been made since the morning. Robert was also dressed up and will apparently be attending the event as well. Robert's preparations did not take long, so now he waited until Gioeli got ready.
Alicia and Johnny, as her personal servants, had also been in Joely's room since the morning. Johnny just stood behind me while Alicia helped Joely with the preparations. The nanny also joined Alicia while I quietly stood next to Robert.