Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 7

[ Taiya ]

I jerked awake to a foul smell. A stern looking woman hovered over me with smelling salts.

“Ah, there we are Lady Esther. I was starting to get worried.” The woman stepped back, pocketing the smelling salts as she went.

“Excuse me, but where am I?” My mouth was dry and my whole body ached.

“Polite one, aren't you Lady Esther. This is the Turquoise Suite and I am the Head Housekeeper. You can call me Grace or Ms Doran, I don’t even mind just Housekeeper but never Gracie.” There was a little twinkle in her eye despite the seriousness of her tone.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Head Housekeeper Grace Doran.” I put on my most polite voice whilst trying to sit up. My head swam. Recent events were catching up to me. The back of my legs were itching and the King’s cloak was still covering my modesty.

“Right then Lady Esther let’s get you bathed and ready for your appointment with the seamstress and hairdresser.” Grace leant forward to help me up. “King's cape, aren’t you a special little lady.” She remarked. I really wasn’t sure about her tone but I didn’t have much choice. I couldn't remember how I’d ended up in King Leoré’s castle, let alone in his dungeon and I didn’t want to risk being returned there for upsetting His Majesty's Housekeeper; regardless of her unseemly manner.

While Grace looked like a frail woman it was not the case. Her arm around me was strong and steady. She was also patient as she walked with me and righted me when I swayed too much.

“Han?! Is the bath ready?” Grace yelled. I was a little shocked, yelling in front of a Lady certainly wasn’t the kind of behaviour I was accustomed to.

A woman stepped out of a door on the right hand side in front of us and nodded. She was tall and slender with a soft oval face and violet eyes. A rare Fae trait to inherit. If I were more sure of myself I might have been offended by her nod. Such an impolite action would not be tolerated in my own household but there I was not, so I kept the peace.

“Lady Esther, this is Han. The King has requested that she be your Chambermaid.” Grace was all business and Han gave me a little curtsy. Her outfit was very traditional for a maid, as was Ms Doran’s; long black dress with a scooped neck and ¾ length sleeves. A smart white apron over the front, tied around the middle to a bow on the back. Her hair was covered. It was not unusual but it tended to mean that someone was hiding their magic.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Han.” I was forcibly polite again, despite the circumstance. My mouth was still incredibly dry, and despite the pressing need to bathe, it was surprising that I had not yet been offered any refreshment. Han said nothing in return but gave me a courteous smile and a little nod before disappearing back into the bathroom. How infuriating.

“I assure you, Lady Esther, Han will serve you exceptionally well but she cannot speak. Her mother slit her throat cutting her vocal cords when she was but a small child. If I find that you treat her ill in any way… well let’s just say her mother isn’t the only one who knows how to use a knife, My Lady.” Grace was blunt with her words, not even beating around the bush with her intentions. I was shocked by the information and ashamed of my earlier thoughts. I had been brought up better than to be so judgemental, certainly I wasn’t so easily aggravated normally. I blamed it on the absolutely horrendous day I was having.

The bath at least lived up to my expectations. A large bathing pool was set into the floor of the room. I could smell the rich perfume of rose oil and petals rising from the hot water long before I even dipped my toes. Luxurious was hardly sufficient in describing the decadence of such a bath. The whole room was in fact opulent.

Extravagant mosaic tiles cover the entire floor; swirling turquoise like the ocean spray caught in the breeze. Tapestries adorned every wall depicting ocean scapes and underwater flora and fauna.

I hissed as Han and Grace helped me lower myself into the water and bit my lip to refrain from any unlady-like vocalisations. The water was almost unbearably hot but only, I would think, because I was so unreasonably cold. Being entirely undressed in a dungeon was not beneficial to one's constitution.

Neither the Housekeeper or my Chambermaid hurried me. The bath was leisurely and relaxing once the heat had seeped deep into my bones. Together they worked to wash me and clean my hair. Massaging my pained and knotted muscles as they went. I, however, focused mainly on not falling asleep. I was intensely tired, but from what I couldn't remember.

Dried, wrapped in a superbly soft bathrobe and settled in front of the raging hearth in the sitting room I had nothing to show for my efforts at trying to recall how I had come to be in this place other than a headache and so, for now, I gave up.

There was a small ruckus at the door to the quarters, a ruckus that was strongly punctuated by Grace's cutting tone. She was not pleased about something. That much was clear. When she was done admonishing whomsoever had gravely offended her she bellowed for Han. The maid scurried to Grace's side and they returned only a moment later with a teapot and dainty tea cups with matching saucers.

Unorthodox though it was to be bustling about with a steaming teapot and no tray or trolley it was almost impossible for me to refrain from weeping when Han poured me the most wonderfully scented cup of camomile tea. After giving my warmest thanks I took a tentative sip of the hot pale gold liquid. At this moment in time I couldn't remember having ever tasted something so delicious.

Between the heat of the fire, the warmth of the tea inside me and the comforting quiet presence of Ms Doran and Han it was easy to succumb to the heaviness of sleep.

When I woke it was to Han’s gentle tapping of my shoulder before I was presented with a small bowl of what appeared to be chicken broth and a meagre lump of bread. Quite unaccustomed to what was essentially a peasants meal I could not help but give a small look of disdain. Of course this did not pass unnoticed by Housekeeper Grace.

"It is not the usual fare that would be provided for a guest such as yourself but it is the Head Healers orders your Ladyship." Grace said with sour words and I could have sworn she muttered 'or so I was told' under her breath. Ms Doran might not be the traditional demeanour of the typical Housekeeper but I found myself coming to rather like her.

Despite the petit nature of the portion I found myself struggling to finish. I was exhausted by the entire affair and my stomach had swollen both considerably and most uncomfortably. Even in spite of such discomfort, the moment the silver spoon and gilded china bowl were removed from my lap, I was once again fast asleep.