07-13-2025, 06:24 PM
Thursday could not come fast enough for Ellie, the anticipation of an evening at the grand manor on the hill was never too far from her mind as she scrubbed pots, stacked books, or served meals. Miss Christine had been her usual non-committal self over the whole affair; but she had approved of Ellie’s choice of her emerald-green velvet dress and boots for an evening.
Meeting the hack on the pavement outside the now darkened shop, Ellie climbed aboard with little fanfare.
“Hallo, sir. Thank ye for the ride. I’m Ellie, ye may remember me…” No answer other than the regimented clatter of hooves and the slapping of reins.
“Have ye had a good day? Been busy in the shop I have.. been lookin’ forward to visitin’ Miss Ennington, everso much. Singin’ lessons if ye believe it...”
The driver was apparently not in a talking mood. Ellie’s expression relaxed from a smile into that neutral silence, before she piped up again.
“We can ride quiet like.. Miss Ennington says I need to stop being so much; so I can practice that."
Soon enough, the house loomed large out of the darkness, tiny pools of light from candles grew larger as they approached. Ellie disembarked with the same fanfare as last time and was quickly shepherded into the house. Rather than the private quarters of the previous visit, the maid was steered to the main rooms, with much higher ceilings and opulent décor. Ellie knew a parlour when she entered one, right in the middle of conversation between Miss Catherine and a middle-aged lady who was quickly introduced. Ellie considered the older woman for a moment; enough of a likeness for her mind to wonder if that was what she would look like when she was old.
“Miss Bell lean-y” Ellie repeated, wrapping her stubby English tongue around a name clearly not English. She curtsied and nodded at the older woman. Everyone was her superior. “Nice to meet ye, I’m Ellie, Eleanor, like she said. Good evening, Miss Ennington, nice to see ye again.” It was actually lovely to see her, but nice was a better, more refined word.
Meeting the hack on the pavement outside the now darkened shop, Ellie climbed aboard with little fanfare.
“Hallo, sir. Thank ye for the ride. I’m Ellie, ye may remember me…” No answer other than the regimented clatter of hooves and the slapping of reins.
“Have ye had a good day? Been busy in the shop I have.. been lookin’ forward to visitin’ Miss Ennington, everso much. Singin’ lessons if ye believe it...”
The driver was apparently not in a talking mood. Ellie’s expression relaxed from a smile into that neutral silence, before she piped up again.
“We can ride quiet like.. Miss Ennington says I need to stop being so much; so I can practice that."
Soon enough, the house loomed large out of the darkness, tiny pools of light from candles grew larger as they approached. Ellie disembarked with the same fanfare as last time and was quickly shepherded into the house. Rather than the private quarters of the previous visit, the maid was steered to the main rooms, with much higher ceilings and opulent décor. Ellie knew a parlour when she entered one, right in the middle of conversation between Miss Catherine and a middle-aged lady who was quickly introduced. Ellie considered the older woman for a moment; enough of a likeness for her mind to wonder if that was what she would look like when she was old.
“Miss Bell lean-y” Ellie repeated, wrapping her stubby English tongue around a name clearly not English. She curtsied and nodded at the older woman. Everyone was her superior. “Nice to meet ye, I’m Ellie, Eleanor, like she said. Good evening, Miss Ennington, nice to see ye again.” It was actually lovely to see her, but nice was a better, more refined word.
