New meeting with the Count (5)
Fortunately, after that day, Vincent and I never crossed paths again. He visited this place only occasionally and did not stay long. Even on his rare visits, he only called some servant to him, so I didn’t have a chance to run into him. The most I was able to do was see it from afar or quickly pass by. He didn’t remember me, and I didn’t do anything rash that could give me away.
The probationary period lasts three months. As soon as it expires, I should quit. It will be better this way. I can no longer stay in the estate, which does not belong to Count Stella, but to Count Bellunita. Of course, this is not the stately mansion or annex where I worked earlier, and the butler who wanted to get rid of me is not here. Now staying on the estate does not pose any danger, so I was surprisingly quickly able to adapt to life in the new conditions.
I constantly reminded myself of why I ran away from the mansion in the past. I don't know how things are now, but things seem to be getting better. You shouldn't get attached to this place. The time will come when I will leave him. Perhaps everything is fine now, but I cannot predict when and where the butler will find me, or if I will even stumble upon him.
Less than two months left. Alicia will do anything to stay here, and I will have to leave alone. I can't afford to stay here for long, but Alicia will have a good future if she stays. My plan was to leave on the pretext that I did not want to be a maid and was not suitable for the job even if I was hired.
Whether I like it or not, everything will come to an end.
While you have the opportunity, you need to earn more money.
He doesn't need me anymore anyway.
Now I really have no place in this mansion anymore. I shook off the obsessive thoughts with a bitter smile. What did I even expect? It will be better this way.
But life sometimes brings surprises, and a chance meeting with Vincent was one of them.
***
- Young master?
I, as always, opened the door to Robert’s room, but it was empty. The nanny left early in the morning, so I was left alone and, among other things, was responsible for the master's breakfast and lunch. While I went to the kitchen, Robert managed to sneak away.
But it wasn't difficult to find him.
I quickly found him struggling to climb onto the iron horse statue. While I was wondering how he was going to carry out his plan, even if I managed it with difficulty, Robert pushed off from the square support at the base of the statue with his small legs and climbed onto his horse. It looks like this trick required a lot of practice.
- Master!
Robert turned around at my scream. When his eyes found me, the boy's face showed an unusual panic. His position was unstable, and the child's body slid down. I rushed to him. A little more and he would have fallen.
“Please don’t swear,” Robert begged.
- I won’t.
He sighed with relief and straightened his back. Securely seated in the saddle, Robert wrapped his arms around the horse's neck and looked at me. He was well aware of the prohibitions. This is not surprising, considering how many times he frightened the nanny with his actions and how many times she reproached him. But all the notations went past his ears.
Robert was one of those children who listened to moral teachings, remembering what you should never do, but the stronger the prohibition, the more you want to break it. Added to all this was the fact that I recently found out the reason why Robert climbed into the saddle from time to time. This place had a view of the vast forest, and he hoped that he could see someone from here.
It would be better to calmly indulge his whims.
– If you want to come here next time, please invite me with you.
-You won't scold me?
- I won’t. Let's climb together.
I gathered my courage and sat down behind Robert. Round violet eyes turned to me. With one hand I clasped the horse’s neck, and with the other I supported the small child’s body. As expected, from this height there was a beautiful view of the landscape outside the window.
Robert's eyes were drawn to the sight. His gaze tried to find something.
-What do you see? – I asked.
- Tree. Grass.
- And the flowers?
- And flowers.
-What color are they?
- Yellow.
– What about red or white?
“They exist too,” Robert nodded his head.
I kept asking little questions about the beauty of the sky, the appearance of the trees and the land. Robert answered them one by one. I hope that he was able to distract himself from the melancholy tormenting him.
- Ugly, what do you think...
-...
- Ugly.
- Yes?
- Is mom coming?
I instantly frowned, but quickly regained my composure and looked at him. Robert didn't take his eyes off the window. His big eyes were full of doubts.
- Yes. I think she will come.
- Wow, really?
– Do you want to see her that badly?
- Yes. I miss. I miss you so much,” Robert spread his arms, as if trying to express the size of his immense love. He was ready to wait, and I was sad at the smile with which he expressed his longing. I hugged the small body, stroking it in a soothing gesture.
– You don’t give up and wait patiently no matter what. You are very good.
- Am I good?
- Yes. You are a good boy.
“So I don’t need to go down?” – Robert interrupted the lyrical moment.
I was amazed at how quickly this child stopped my attempt to talk him down from the statue. I could only answer the question with a silent smile. Robert perked up again and looked out the window.
“Robert,” someone’s voice was suddenly heard.
I looked down. When did he appear? It was Vincent. I looked at him in surprise, and Robert exclaimed: “Vincent!” and smiled widely.
Vincent did not share his amusement.
“I told you it was dangerous,” Vincent muttered angrily.
From these words Robert became gloomier than a cloud. He buried his face in my chest and tried to pretend he didn't hear anything. The unfolding picture only increased the count's dissatisfaction. His piercing gaze darted towards me, causing me to quickly turn away, focusing on the horse’s head. I felt embarrassed that I was a child with a baby, but it was difficult to imagine what Robert was experiencing.
Soon a sigh was heard near me.
- Come down. This is dangerous,” Vincent held out his hands.
I grabbed Robert, trying to pull him away from the statue, but he continued to resist. However, I managed to carefully pull him down. Vincent scooped Robert into his arms, holding him close.
– Don’t climb into dangerous places. If this happens again, I will kick you out of the estate.
- You're cheating!
- This is not cheating, this is my right.
- Your right?
- Yes. I'm the boss here, so I can do whatever I want.
Vincent continued his teachings. I watched with bitterness as he threatened a small child. Vincent pacified the boy, saying that everything here belongs to him, and made Robert look like the most pathetic person in the world.
I fidgeted, preparing to go down, when suddenly a strange hand reached out to me. Vincent had already lowered Robert to the floor and now focused his attention on me.
– Держись.
- Sorry?
“It’s too high up here to get down on your own.”
I looked dumbfounded between his face and his hand. He waved his palm, urging me, and I, gathering my courage, slowly grabbed the offered hand.
The feeling of human warmth enveloped my clenched palm. It doesn't mean anything. It’s difficult for the girl to go down on her own, so he offered to help. This is simple politeness that any self-respecting gentleman would show. With these thoughts I jumped down.
Indeed, it was quite high. It was like I was jumping into a bottomless cliff. As soon as I lost my balance, my eyes closed tightly in fear.
But the landing turned out to be very soft. I unconsciously grabbed this “something soft”. When I opened my eyes, I saw golden hair softly swaying near my chest. My legs were dangling in the air.
I hugged his head.
- Oh!
I threw up my hands in fear and leaned back. He quickly put his hand behind my back and pulled me towards him. I grabbed his head again in an attempt to maintain my balance. Because of this sudden action, I almost pulled out his hair. A painful groan was heard from below, and I shyly recoiled from it.
- Sorry!
- Okay, don't move.
His face was right below me. My vision became blurred.
- Let me go!
- Wait. Now I'll put you down.
- Let me go, please! Quick, bring me back down!
I begged him to take me down to the floor. In panic, I resisted Vincent’s movements, and the more I jerked, the more noticeable the contact of our bodies was. I realized I couldn't stand it anymore when I felt his breath on my neck. My heart was pounding like crazy, my eyes were darting chaotically, and it seemed like I was going to throw up.
In all this fuss, Vincent leaned down. My feet almost reached the floor, but I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I tried to jump. His hand almost let go of me, but the sudden jump came as a surprise to him, so he staggered, and I lost my balance again.
I was falling down, and when Vincent tried to grab me again, I jerked my leg up in a panic and fired it right between his legs.
Terrible sound of impact.
His body folded in half, leaning forward. I fell and hit the back of my head on an iron statue.
This time it was I who howled painfully. My vision darkened.
About twenty stars flashed by, and I came to my senses. Stroking the back of my head, which was burning with pain, I rose to my feet, remembering the beneficial feeling of a solid surface under my feet. Vincent crouched on the floor, down on one knee. Robert, who became a living witness to all this carnage, squatted down next to Vincent and pitifully asked:
-Vincent, are you in pain?
-...
Vincent didn't react at all. His rumpled appearance spoke for him. My heart began to pound, but now in a completely different way.
- Mister? Sir, how are you?
-...
-Are you okay?
-...
There was no answer, and I came closer. The situation was dire. Stop, something irreparable may have happened! Now the interrupted line of the Bellunita family could be on my conscience! At that moment, when I was consumed by despair, loud laughter rang out.
- Aha-ha-ha-ha!
Joely was standing right behind me. Alicia, with wide eyes, and Johnny, in whose gaze compassion was visible, sat nearby. Of all of us, only Joely was clutching her stomach and choking with laughter.
- You! – Vincent returned to reality and slowly raised his head. His pale face and burning eyes pierced me.
- What did you say your name was? – he asked, gritting his teeth in pain.
Hearing the question, I swallowed dryly. This was not the kind of reunion I had imagined.
Not at all like that.