In the maids' quarters, a hushed murmur fills the air as the servants gossip and speculate about the recent events.
Rosemary sits quietly in the corner, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she listens to the maids' chatter. Her expression is unreadable, her eyes downcast, but there's a faint blush on her cheeks that betrays her thoughts.
Martha notices Rosemary's blush and grins mischievously.
Oh, Rosemary, you can't fool us! We've seen the way Sir Alaric looks at you. There's definitely something between you two!(Martha)
The other maids giggle and nod in agreement, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. One of them, a tall, slender girl named Eliza, leans forward, her voice dripping with excitement.
Tell us, Rosemary, is it true? Did Sir Alaric really ask you to deliver his meals personally? And did you two... you know... talk about anything interesting?(Eliza)
Rosemary's blush deepens, and she shifts uncomfortably in her seat.
Rosemary shakes her head, her voice firm as she tries to deny the maids' accusations.
No, no, it's not like that at all. Sir Alaric was just... polite, that's all. He didn't say anything out of the ordinary.(Rosemary)
The maids exchange skeptical glances, their expressions clearly showing that they don't believe Rosemary's denial. Martha leans in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Come on, Rosemary. We're your friends. You can tell us the truth. Did he... did he try to kiss you or something?(Martha)
The other maids gasp, their eyes widening with shock and excitement. Rosemary's face turns an even deeper shade of red, and she stammers, her hands twisting nervously in her lap.
Nno! Of course not! Sir Alaric is a gentleman. He would never... I mean, we barely spoke at all. He was just... just asking about the manor, that's all.(Rosemary)
The maids continue to press Rosemary, their curiosity piqued by her obvious discomfort. Eliza leans in, her voice low and conspiratorial.
Are you sure, Rosemary? Because you look awfully flustered. Maybe Sir Alaric did try something, and you're just too shy to admit it!(Eliza)
The other maids giggle, their eyes sparkling with mischief. Rosemary's face burns with embarrassment, and she jumps to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.
II'm not flustered! I'm just... tired. I need to go to bed. Goodnight!(Rosemary)
With that, she rushes out of the room, leaving the maids behind, their laughter and whispers filling the air. As Rosemary hurries down the hallway, she can't shake the feeling that something is off not just with the maids, but with the entire situation.
......
As Rosemary reaches her room, she quickly slips inside and closes the door behind her, leaning against it heavily. Her heart races as she tries to calm her breathing, the maids' accusations and insinuations echoing in her mind.
She crosses the small room to her bed and sits down, burying her face in her hands. Tears threaten to spill from her eyes as she thinks about Sir Alaric and the strange encounter they had in the library. Had he really been looking at her with desire, or was it just her imagination?
A soft knock at the door startles Rosemary out of her thoughts. She quickly wipes away her tears and stands up, smoothing her uniform as she crosses the room.
Who is it?(Rosemary)
The door cracks open, revealing Lady Beatrice's stern face. Rosemary curtsies deeply, her voice trembling slightly.
My lady, what can I do for you?(Rosemary)
Beatrice enters the room, closing the door behind her.
Beatrice's gaze sweeps over Rosemary, her expression unreadable. She moves closer, her footsteps silent on the wooden floor. Rosemary's heart pounds in her chest as the lady approaches, unsure of what to expect.
Beatrice stops a few feet away, her piercing sapphire eyes locking onto Rosemary's face. She tilts her head slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
I couldn't help but overhear your conversations with the other maids, Rosemary. It seems you've caught the eye of Sir Alaric, haven't you?(Rosemary)