Page 14 of A Rose Among Snakes

“Come in, Mihrra. Don’t mind him. He’s Velian’s dog, but I like to steal him from time to time.” She grabbed his face and planted a kiss between his eyes.

I walked over and stood behind her, catching her gaze in the mirror in front of us. “How do you wish for me to get started?”

Kezara stared at her reflection, and quirking a brow, she fooled with her hair. “I’m not sure, what do you think? I want to wearthat gold gown this evening,” she said indicating the dress draped over an armchair in the corner.

I pulled the pins out of Kezara’s hair and fluffed out the curls to acquaint myself with her mane. I’d always had an affinity for styling hair, which is part of what led me to seek work as a Lady’s Maid. With a lifetime of braiding and pinning my mother and sisters’ hair, it was a skill I was confident in.

“What if we pull it all to the side and pin it here?” I moved the hair over Kezara’s right shoulder and held it there to provide an example.

“Ooh, yes. That’s lovely.” She smiled and sat up straighter in her seat.

I got to work, finger-combing and pinning until the style was perfect. After the arduous task of getting into her gown, Kezara stood in front of a full-length mirror and beamed at her reflection.

“Mihrra, I don’t feel I’ve ever looked better! You do excellent work.” My chest swelled with pride as I examined her, grateful to be improving on my first impression. She twirled around and smoothed her dress out. “I’m famished, I hardly ate earlier today.” She waggled her eyebrows at me and continued, “I was a little distracted.”

I scoffed. “I’dsay.”

Once again, I was toeing the line between informality and disrespect. I clamped my mouth shut, appalled at my lack of self-control. Fortunately, Kezara only giggled and picked up her skirts.

I escorted her downstairs and over to the dining room. After pushing her chair in, I stepped back and glanced around, trying to get a cue for my next step. I spotted Franz pressed against the back wall and he waved me over. I stood next to him, watching as Kezara grabbed a roll, tearing off a piece and stuffing it into her mouth.

“You look lost,” he mumbled without turning to look at me.

“I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be,” I whispered back.

“You can go to the kitchen and eat your meal there. If Kezara needs you for any reason, she will ring the bell,” he replied cheerfully, still keeping his voice low.

I thanked him and made my way to the exit, only to bump into someone’s chest. I inhaled sharply, the scent of cedar and spice wrapping around me. Craning my neck, I met Velian’s emerald eyes shining with amusement, and I shuffled back, heat flaring in my cheeks. Heavens, he was tall.

“Please forgive me, sir,” I said with a slight curtsy, grateful for a reason to look at the floor.

“No, forgive me. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” he said, backing up to give me the space to walk by. “Allow me.”

I flashed a nervous smile, and scurried past, wondering if I would ever get used to his effect on me.

Chapter Eight

The kitchen was a flurry of activity with Shandy shouting orders while Narell and another girl placed food on serving platters. Near the pantry, there was a long table where a few staff members sat waiting for their meal. Mrs. Shulling beckoned to me from her seat, patting the chair next to hers.

“I heard you’ve had quite the day already, Mihrra. How are you getting on?”

I swallowed, unsure of what all she had heard. “Fairly well, I’d say. Is it normally this exciting around here?”

Milner was sitting across from me and he chuckled. “They are when you’re spending your time with Ms. Kezara. She’s a lively one, that lady.”

Narell called out, “Remember the time she had you take her and Henella into town and she disappeared, but she got a ride home with a stranger and left you two there searching for her all night?”

“How could I forget?” Milner rubbed the back of his neck. “It was the last straw for old Henella. She quit the next morning.”

“Good riddance, I say,” Mrs. Shulling said with a sniff. Surprised faces turned to her as if it was an unexpected statement. “Ms. Blaise deserves to be served by someone kind, not someone so…”

“Stuffy?” Milner offered.

“Proud?” Someone else said.

“Old and boring?” chimed Narell.

Stifling a grin, Mrs. Shulling simply said, “Yes.”

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