Gina's POV.
“Were you able to get the book?” I asked Diane. She was seated in my room and it looked like she had been waiting for my return.
“It was not easy, I should get paid for this,” she humpled as she presented me with the novel.
“You're amazing, Diane. Do not worry, I made sure I took my time cleaning your room and your bedding in particular. My goodness, how do you manage to sleep in such filth?” In a way I was pleased I had the chance to do what I had done today. The servants deserved better here. I do not remember the servants’ quarters in my father's palace being that bad.
“You must be tired, my lady. Don't tell me you're planning on reading that novel tonight?” she asked me and I smiled at her. What Diane did not know was that it would be even more exhausting to think about the book when I could just read it.
“I am very tired, Diane but more than that, I am really hungry. Where's my food?” I asked her, sniffing the room for my meal but I smelt nothing.
“Ruth will be here soon to run your bath, you must have your bath before eating,” she told me and I rolled my eyes. She reminded me sometimes of Camille who always nagged me about grooming myself.
“By the way, I met Lord Tyler at the library. I told him you will not be out for a while,” Diane explained.
“Really? How about Lord Edvin? I have to tell him I cannot make it to this week's competition,” I was a little disappointed that my horse riding days had come to an end.
“I believe Lord Tyler would let him know. That reminds me, he slipped a note into the novel,” she told me and my eyes brightened at once as I shook the book.
The note fell on the floor.
Before I could pick it up, Diane pushed my hands away and stepped on the note. I looked up in annoyance but when I saw Ruth standing in front of us, I understood.
“Oh! Ruth, my bath, please make it fast,” I said with a forced smile.
When she had disappeared into the bath area, Diane raised her foot from the note and I picked it up to read. The note had the following words,
_See you tomorrow._
“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked out loud. Diane had no answer for me but seeing that I had read the content of the note, she swiftly took the paper from my fingers and threw it into the fire. A look of confusion gathered on my face but it soon disappeared when I noticed that Ruth stood still in the corner.
“My bath must be ready, then, I shall expect my meal once I am done,” I said but before I could make my way past Ruth and into the bath area, she had scribbled something on her notepad which she had now shoved in my face.
_Lady Nydia commands that you reflect on your actions tonight._
“So?” I asked out loud.
_No food._
“What? How does that even make sense?” I cried out loud but Ruth only gave a bow, glanced briefly at the fireplace and walked out of the room.
“Diane? No food?” I was so hungry I was convinced I could eat a horse and quite literally too. Why did Lady Nydia have to do this? Was cleaning the servants’ quarters not enough to appease her? Had she not proved her point that she was the lady of the palace and could do as she pleased? Did her power trip have to include starving me too?
Diane placed a finger on her lips signaling for me to be quiet. I looked at her rather oddly as she tiptoed towards my wardrobe and from the very depth brought out a sealed plate.
“Diane!” she motioned for me to be quiet and I shut up at once.
Diane really was the best thing that happened to me since running away from my father's palace.
“You should have your bath or the water will become cold,” she said.
“Of course, of course,” I needed no one to tell me twice as I stripped myself off my clothes and entered the bath.
A few minutes later I was eating dumplings and reading about fairies.
*******#******
It was morning rather too quickly. I had not slept a wink through the night as I had been enthralled by the book. It was all so surreal but what if it were true? What if there were pretty little creatures with beautiful fluttering wings? How wonderful would that be!
“My lady? Did you not sleep at all last night?” Diane asked me and I shook my head.
“But Diane, it is the most wonderful book! It was such a beautiful story. The fairy is flirting with the vampire Lord and…” Diane's next action surprised me. She took the novel from my hand and flung it underneath my bed.
“Lady Regina is not quite ready to have her bath. I will fetch you when she is,” said Diane to Ruth.
Ruth had a creepy vibe about her. While I pitied her greatly for the loss of her tongue and consequently her speech, it sent shivers down one's spine at how light-footed she was. One did not know when she entered or when she left. I felt that even if she was not speech impaired, she would still be eerily quiet.
_Lady Nydia instructed me to tell Lady Regina that she would be working on the fields today, Pete will be here in an hour to show her what she will be doing._
“I see, so you will return to prepare my lady's bath?” asked Diane.
_Her bath will be ready in the evening. There is no point in taking a bath when she will be in the field all day._
“The fields?” I exclaimed as soon as Ruth had left us.