Chapter Text
A knock is heard on the door of the young lady's chambers. Three soft knocks, and then a maid, or more specifically, the maid in charge of the young lady's care, entered the room.
"Ms. DeRoss? Lady DeRoss and Count DeRoss request your presence in the drawing room. His lordship asks for you to be ready and downstairs by evening." Alice's maid, Marie, said softly
"Oh? Evening?" Alice repeated, looking up from the painting she was working on at Marie, who was still standing by the door, and found her holding a blue gown. "I presume we have an important guest coming over, if he went over the effort of getting a gown," she eyed the dress again, noting its shine and therefore deeming it silk.
"Not that I know of, my lady." Marie clasped her hands in front and slightly—only slightly—lowered her head, "But if there is, they must be an important guest, your mother, her ladyship, had this gown made with fine silk all the way from the East."
"I see."
Marie had been Alice's maid since she was 6 years old, until she went abroad to study—much to her parents' displeasure, as they were naturally protective over their only daughter—when she was 18, and returned when she was 21. Well, she was about to turn 22 now, as she liked to remind everyone. It was clear Marie had missed Alice, and so had she, but every now and then Marie treated her as if she were still in her adolescent years. She noticed this treatment not only from Marie, but also from many of the other household servants. Needless to say, she despised it.
Marie set the gown down on Alice's canopied bed and gently straightened it with her hands. "I already told the chambermaids to draw a bath, warm, just like how you like it, my lady."
"Thank you, Marie," she said as she rose from in front of her easel and stepped towards the woman standing by her bed, who led her to the washchambers.
Marie helped Alice out of her clothing. First her dress, then her petticoat, then chemisette, corset, chemise, and so on. Alice dipped her foot into the steaming water, then engulfed the whole of her leg and soon her entire body. The water was way too hot, but it made steam rise from the bathtub, which Alice enjoyed watching. Marie had disappeared for a moment, but she quickly came back with a linen cloth and a cake of milled soap her mother had had made especially for Alice. As Marie wet the linen cloth and began scrubbing her with the soapy cloth, the scent of milky almonds filled the room. She finished scrubbing her body and moved on to washing her hair. Marie worked her fingers through Alice's long blonde hair, occasionally massaging her scalp too. The blurred water eventually cooled, too, which seemed to please Alice.
After 20 minutes of pure bliss, Alice stepped out of the bath, and Marie quickly met her with a warm cotton robe, soaking up the water droplets left on her body. Marie dried her hair, section by section, combing it as she went. She removed her robe and put on her underpinnings. Starting with the white, cotton chemise, and then the stays, which Marie tightly laced from the back. Alice let out a sharp gasp in response. Then she put on the crimoline petticoat.
The gown was still at its previous location, still on her bed. The blue silk shimmered beautifully in the sunlight, adding to Alice's excitement to try on the gown. It truly had been quite some time since she had seen such an elegant gown; it was probably equally expensive as well. Marie snatched the gown, and some other housemaid entered her chambers to help her put on the dress. Marie slid it over her head while the other housemaid, whom Alice had never seen or noticed before, held the train of the skirt. Marie shifted her focus back to her hair and drew two curls which framed her face.
"Marie," the young lady asked, breaking the lengthy silence
"Yes, my lady?" the woman responded
"Is my aquamarine jewellery set still intact? It's been quite a few years since I last saw it."
"It must be, if I remember correctly,"
"Good. Then I'll wear them."
"Whatever you prefer, my lady,"
Marie opened the jewellery box and fastened the aquamarine earrings and necklace. She handed Alice a bottle of perfume, floral with notes of bergamot. Marie knew Alice loved to apply her own fragrance, so she let her. Marie applied some powder and subtle rouge to finish.
"You look stunning, my lady."
"Thank you, Marie."
Evening had already crept in by the time they finished preparing, and it was time for her to go downstairs.
Marie opened the door for Alice, and they both exited the room.
Let's see what this is all about.