The Knight's Mysterious Maid
Chapter 106: Blame (2)

Chapter 106: Blame (2)

Annalise was quick to open the carriage door the moment the carriage stopped at the steps of Rafael’s manor. She hopped outside and continued to hold it out for him.

Rafael got out not saying a word to Annalise as he went inside. He had already told her on their way home that she was free to do as she wanted until dinner because he had matters to take care of.

Annalise went back inside the carriage to get the fruits and vegetables Beatrice had given her along with the pastries she had packed up. She would share the treats after dinner and bring Cara to her room to enjoy a fruit or two.

"I am finished," Annalise said after she closed the carriage door so the coachman could take the carriage off to be parked and cleaned if needed.

"Welcome back," Edwin greeted her by the door. "I was informed that you are on break while the young master speaks to his knights. Be mindful to be at his door before and after dinner. You will need to prepare his hot water for his bath. You seem to have done well today, Annalise."

"Thank you," Annalise said. It felt good to have someone acknowledge she was doing a good job after the days of her being scolded. She planned to remain Rafael’s maid when this Delilah issue will be over with. "I am going to my room to put these down."

"These must be gifts from the lady Beatrice," Edwin said, looking down at the basket. "They are often good so enjoy all of them."

"Oh, you’ve been by her home to get-"

Edwin cleared his throat to interrupt Annalise. He did not want to speak about secretly meeting Beatrice. As her best spy, no one should know that he frequently visits her home. "I need to refill the water in the young master’s study. Excuse me."

Annalise was left confused by him leaving so quickly before she could even get her words out. Everyone in this manor was odd. "Wonderful. It will help hide how odd I am," she muttered.

"Annalise!" The sound of Heidi calling to her was heard.

"Are you crazy, Heidi? Do you want Mavis to have your head for calling someone so loudly?" Annalise softly spoke as she walked up to Heidi. "I have pastries for us to eat after dinner."

"What kind of pastry? Are they expensive and where did you get them from?" Heidi asked, looking around the basket. "Annalise, you’re getting paid more now, but that does not mean you should waste it. Jobs aren’t certain. You could be out of here by tomorrow, but I will enjoy your treats."

Annalise decided to keep that she has gotten this was Rafael’s parent’s home a secret. She trusted Heidi would not go around telling the other maids, but sometimes things slipped out of mouths and caused problems.

Not far behind Heidi, Aria walked with a feather duster in her hands.

’She is showing off,’ Aria thought as she walked by Annalise and Heidi, trying to get a glimpse of what Annalise had brought back. ’Did the young master buy her something? More dresses?’

"If you’re curious about what I have, just stop to look instead of walking and staring at the basket. You will fall," Annalise warned Aria. It was hard to ignore how Aria was inspecting the basket, looking for something to say that Rafael was favouring her again.

"I am not curious about what you have brought-"

"Yes you are," Heidi chuckled as the little feud between Annalise and Aria was entertaining. "You still have not looked away from the basket. It is only fruits and vegetables. It is all Annalise ever buys when she goes to the market. Many of the girls will be upset that you have not brought home something for them to gossip about."

"You should not be gossiping at all. Have all of you forgotten his orders? I don’t think you should piss him off more than someone already has," Annalise said.

"Just say my name. You must already know that it is me who went to him," said Aria.

"I had a feeling that it was him you went to with your nonsense instead of Mavis, but thank you for confirming it. I am going to my room Heidi. I will see you around dinner since you are working right now. If you go to the kitchen, tell Jonah that I have something for him. I might even cut fruit for you if you behave for the rest of the day," Annalise joked.

She could not eat all of the fruit by herself before it started to spoil and attract flies, so along with the pastries they should enjoy slices of fruit.

"Why are you acting like someone’s mother right now? Are you sick? Next thing I know you’ll be walking around saying you love dresses. Let me touch your head to see if you are sick. Don’t move," Heidi said after Annalise took a step back.

"How am I acting differently? I have always offered to cut fruits for you," Annalise replied, continuing to step back.

"What are the two of you doing? This is not some field for the two of you to play around like you are not at work," Aria said, annoyed by the sight of them having fun. It had been a few days since she got to laugh with friends and they had all been rubbing it in her face that they picked Annalise’s side.

Aria knew that Cara and Heidi only picked Annalise’s side because Rafael was treating Annalise well.

Heidi sighed, now more annoyed than she was entertained. "Aria, this is no different than how all three of us used to act before you decided to have it out for Annalise."

"I did nothing!" Aria retorted. All she did was call out the clear favouritism Rafael had for Annalise. It made no sense for Annalise to be picked to serve his mother and then become his personal maid. There were better maids who were here longer than Annalise and deserved those positions. Maids who could desperately use the extra money.

"It was you who started to act differently with Annalise after we have all been having fun with her since she arrived. It was you who went to the young master, as you just confirmed, to speak about him favouring her. It was you who went to Mavis to get us in trouble for being down by the river with the knights. Something you have done many times in the past. Let this mess go and apologise so we can be friends. Stop blaming Annalise for-"

"I have worked hard to be acknowledged for it. I wanted to be his maid!" Aria argued.

Annalise looked around, wanting to leave the two before Mavis could arrive. She touched Heidi’s hand to pull her away from this.

"You keep thinking that you were the only one working hard to become his maid or serve his mother. We all could use the money, but for people like us, life doesn’t go how we want it to. Suck up the fact you were not picked this time and move on. There are plenty more guests that visit the manor when Rafael is present. Be satisfied that one of your friends was the one to get the position over the other women we cannot stand," said Heidi.

She worked here longer than Aria and Annalise, but she was not bothered by the fact Annalise got too good jobs. Heidi instead looked forward to the king and more of Rafael’s friends visiting the town since they would stay here. His mother had to come again at some point and since Annalise was already Rafael’s maid, the position was open.

"Stop looking to criticise someone who was a good friend to you just because you were not picked. Don’t become so annoying that you cannot get your friend back." Heidi advised Aria.

You needed to have friends to have your back with some of the foul tricks the other maids would play and it made life easier as you worked to have someone to speak to.

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