Page 21 of The Fighter who Needed Me
She felt a soft touch to her shoulder, and she started. Turning to look at who touched her.
Anneliese stood next to her bed. She had her dark black hair pulled back into a tight bun at the back of her neck and her dark eyes were kind.
She was new but had been with her since she had gotten home from the ship. She knew her parents must have fired the other maid she had.
And once again, Persephone was reminded why she did not make friends with the staff. Why she kept her distance.
The girl had a mask covering her mouth and nose and Persephone fought hard to not roll her eyes.
In the country she had not worn one, but here? Here her parents were here, and everyone acted as though the illnesses she had would kill them all. They all treated her like she would die from illness any moment.
No one needed to wear the blasted things, but they did anyway.
Anneliese reached out for her and helped her sit up, though she did not need help.
“Can I help you bathe? I will help you get over there. It’s ready for you.”
Persephone just nodded again, not wanting to get anyone in trouble and not needing her parents to come down and be upset.
She had gotten permission to be able to finish the rest of the season, but as soon as it was over, she was headed to the country and off to be married to the worst man she could ever imagine.
She had to see him today and was not looking forward to it in the least.
She knew how much Brooks was struggling not being able to see her. She too struggled with it.
Sighing, she let Anneliese wash her hair and bathe her quickly. Persephone hated that she could not just take a bath alone. That they thought she was so fragile that she would drown or something.
But she kept her thoughts and biting words to herself. Knowing it would not end well if she spoke up.
When Anneliese helped her from the water, she looked Persephone in the eye and then quickly away.
Persephone felt her eyebrows twitch in confusion for half a minute. And then she let it go.
Anneliese had been with her for long enough she knew the rules and knew that she was not allowed to do or be anything other than what her parents wanted.
When Anneliese helped her to dress and brush her hair out, she locked eyes with her once again.
Then she looked quickly away, only to do it again. Persephone went still and looked around the room trying to figure out what Anneliese was trying to say.
She whispered, “What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
Anneliese shook her head, “Not here. I will tell you later when the house is asleep.”
Persephone raised her eyebrow and then nodded, “All right.”
Anneliese finished her hair like nothing was amiss and did not just make her nervous.
Persephone spent the rest of the time in her room until the luncheon with Reginald.
She was wheeled from her room by Anneliese and into the sitting room, which wasn’t usual, but she didn’t ask questions.
Reginald was behind the small desk that her mother wrote correspondence at sometimes. Not that she came to this sitting room often, if barely at all.
He stood as she was wheeled in and Anneliese left and shut the door behind her.
Persephone sat in the chair, trying to figure out a way to leave as this had never happened and she did not like it. Not one bit.
Normally her mother watched her like a hawk when Reginald was around, but today she was nowhere to be seen.
