Never Not Married

The rules of being Mrs Pollock

Helena could only hear the faint sound of the breeze and the neigh of the horses.Even though Edward sat right opposite her,it didn’t feel like any other person was in the carriage with her though she is well aware of the awkward moment they are in.

It is the first time she would ever experience any of the things she had witnessed that day.It was the first time she got attracted to a man and the first time she was kissed on the lips and even the first time she would find herself with a man alone in a carriage.A lot of experience in a day.

After what seems like a thousand year of being in the carriage,it finally stops.She heaves a sigh of relief.She watches as Edward steps out of the carriage leaving her alone without inviting her out.’Such an impolite man he is’Helena thought.

Alice who had sat beside the carriage man comes down to welcome her mistress into her new home.

“My lady”she beams as she steps aside for Helena to come down.

The late evening sun is gradually coming down making way for the nighttime.

She felt the touch of the gentle breeze on her exposed skin as she comes out of the carriage.Her gaze moves around the surrounding.The house isn’t what she would imagined,it was surrounded with tall trees and it seems it’s in the middle of the forest.The house itself is dark,there is no sign of brightness in it.It speaks of its owner.

The door opens revealing a woman,maybe in her late sixties.She has a petite stature just like her but she’s a little taller.She was wearing black all through and there was no sign of warmness on her face.

She walks closer to Helena and bowed a little.

“Am Mrs Dougenis,the head Maid of this house,welcome my lady”she bowed once again and then motions for Helena to follow her inside.She stops suddenly and then looks back at Alice.

“My Lord didn’t speak to me of allowing your maid’s presence in this household,have her dismissed right away,I will tell Steven to take her back to your former house”Mrs Dougenis said with authority.

“No I cannot”Helena speaks out quickly.She glance at Alice who is already feigning to cry.

“They are basic rules you have to follow in this household my lady,first is to ‘never question the Lord’s command’,I would ignore this since you haven’t learn the rules and your duty in here”Mrs Dougenis said firmly.

“But..”Helena is shut up by Mrs Dougenis.

“Steven..might you take this young lady back to where she belongs,her lady had failed to train her properly”Mrs Dougenis said with disgust.

“I will not have you insult me in my presence Mrs Dougenis,and she is going no where until I hear from the Lord himself”Helena isn’t taught to be rude but she found the situation unpleasant to her.She wouldn’t stand to watch a maid insult her like that.

Mrs Dougenis watches her silently and then smile faintly.

“Very well my Lady”With that,she turns to face her destination.Helena and Alice trails behind her in silence.

Right then,everywhere was already in darkness until they stepped into the grand living room.It was lit all through with candlelight and there’s a faint scent of opopanax in the room.

Helena gaze up at the woman who stands beside a candlelight and then at a young girl who stands beside her.It seems the girl is the daughter of the woman who stood beside the candlelight.

“You are welcome My Lady,am Iris and this my daughter Agnes,We will serve you from now on”They both bowed leaving Helena speechless.She wouldn’t know Edward had planned everything well enough so she would have to dismiss Alice but never in her right mind would she.

“She will take you to your room”Mrs Dougenis said and turns to leave but Helena stops her.

“Where can I find his Lordship,I need to discuss with him something”Mrs Dougenis frowns and then gaze at Iris who moves away from where she was to Stand in front of Helena.

“Allow me to direct you Miss”Iris said and then begins to direct her towards the long staircase.Alice wants to follow her Lady but the cold gaze she received from Mrs Dougenis stopped her.

Iris led her to the front of a door.

“He will not respond to your knock so we only knock once and then we have gained his permission”Iris bowed and then leaves Helena alone to her dilemma.

Helena knocks once and she didn’t hear any response just like Iris had said.She heaves out and then cracks the door open.

She enters the room which seems like Edward’s room but she found no one inside. She looks around to find a skeleton stood staring at her.She was shocked at the moment but later realized it was just a dummy.She had heard Edward was a doctor so it explains the reason she would find a skeleton in his room.

She heard the door open.she turns back to be face to face with Edward who held a questionable look.

“What are you doing here”Edward questions her.

“I..Hmm..I wanted to talk with you about something”Helena is so nervous to be in the same space with him.She keeps on cutting her fingernails with another.Edward looks at her and then leaves to take a seat on the bed.

“It seems Mrs Dougenis hadn’t brief you on the rules”Edward said and then gaze up to meet Helena’s.

“I had told her to not allow anyone in here but it must have slipped her mind though she isn’t someone who forgets something easily”Edward said and then motions for Helena to seat on the bed.

Helena swallows hard from the thought of her sitting on the same bed with him.

“I would rather stand for I have little to say”Helena declined politely and she sees Edward nod.

With her situation,she regretted questioning Mrs Dougenis for the rules she had brief her on.For the first time,she misses the feeling of being at home and would rather die in the Bridges household than living the rest of her life being Mrs Pollock but Would that be possible anymore?