Page 27 of Euphoria
11
There wasa somber lineup in the main gallery the next morning.
I stood beside Alice, ready to greet the guests and hand out keys, and housekeeping were poised to begin ferrying luggage to their assigned rooms.
My stomach rolled with sickness, and I was sure I carried around the mortal wound I’d been given like a blinking neon sign. I was all nerves and not much else standing there, and I wasn’t sure what I dreaded the most. Laying eyes on the beautiful Blanche Ingram and finding myself a pale subject in comparison or seeing her draped on the arm of Mr. Rochester, the man who had stolen my soul and discarded it with so little effort.
His name had returned to the nom de plume his station required, and it eased my mind to refer to him as something other than Edward. I would deal with it at some point, but there was no time for it now with fifteen guests arriving en masse on the doorstep of Thornfield…in no less than five minutes.
“They’re coming!” Alice declared, stepping through the front door. “Look lively, people! This isn’t a funeral!”
“She jests,” said one of the housekeepers beside me. “I should’ve worn black!”
“And prepared a eulogy,” another replied.
I couldn’t help smiling at the thought as laughter erupted around me, but when the cars began arriving outside, all was hushed and professional. Thornfield began to fill to the brim with guests, luggage, and excited chatter, and life was breathed into his old bones.
I didn’t care to inspect the other guests closely as they came, for it was Blanche I was most keen to see. Whether it was self-depreciating or mere curiosity, I didn’t know, but I wanted to lay eyes on the woman everyone was certain Mr. Rochester would someday marry.
When she finally appeared, my heart sank like a stone, and the tiny shred of light I had left, began to dull.
Alice was right, as usual. The Queen Bee was perfect. She had the form of a catwalk model, which was tall and slim, and the gait to match. She glided across the threshold in her high heels, removing her sunglasses as she came. Her bright blue eyes stood out in the heavy darkness of the gallery as she looked over it, and she shook her full head of glossy black curls as her opinion was formed.
“It’s very beautiful, but it’s dark, don’t you think?” she said to the woman next to her.
“Indeed,” the woman replied. She had a similar look to Blanche though not as striking, and I assumed this was her sister Mary. “It’s rather masculine still.”
“I thought there was going to be some improvements?” Blanche went on. “It looks as if nothing has been done at all! Rocky must review his staff at once!”
Alice nudged me with her elbow and whispered into my ear, “Told you so!”
So this was the infamous Blanche Ingram? I could see why Mr. Rochester would be drawn to her over me. She was beautiful, and her dismissive tone I put down to an unexpectedly long flight delay. Surely she wasn’t so…haughty? I could ponder it all I liked, but it wasn’t any of my concern.
Plastering a smile on my face, I handed out each party a room key, passing unnoticed among the chaos. I suppose I was just another paid subordinate to order around, and I didn’t think much of it. It was my job, so I performed it without complaint.
Once the keys were given out and the bags were on their way, Alice pulled me aside, locking us in the office.
“That was a chore,” she said, sinking down into her usual chair. “I need five minutes before I go back out there.” She fanned her face with a piece of printer paper and gestured for me to sit.
“Your descriptions were accurate,” I said, forcing a smile for her sake. “I was well prepared.”
“They’re having a dinner and party tonight in the main sitting room,” she went on. “Before I forget, I’m to tell you it’s at eight o’clock.”
“Do I have duties?” I asked, already dreading the rest of the summer months.
“No, you are to attend.”
“Attend? When was this agreed upon?” I asked a little too harshly.
“This morning at breakfast,” she said. “Rocky said you’re expected to be in the sitting room after dinner. You poor thing! I don’t know why he thinks to command you. The hotel staff has always been apart from their company.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I murmured, beginning to panic.
“He seems to have taken a liking to you,” she mused, oblivious to my discomfort. “I think he appreciates the things you’ve done for Thornfield and wishes to show you off. I told you when you first started he likes to reward hard work, Jane.”
“This is a reward?” I asked, tilting my head to the side. “It feels more like waterboarding.”
Alice laughed as if I’d told the most hilarious joke in the entire world. “And here I thought I was being dramatic! It’ll be a laugh at least.”
