Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sighing heavily, Jessie plopped onto the couch, sinking into the cushions. She was exhausted, and it wasn’t even time for lunch yet. She felt drained of all her energy, and didn’t think scrubbing the floors of the Laroche manor had been as tiring as what she’d been doing that morning. And, to make matters worse, Lady Christine had joined them. She touted off that the king had requested her help in mentoring Jessie, since a maid couldn’t know the latest fashions nor how to act with the nobility. Jessie was told that she’d be taking lessons from Lady Christine to help get her ready to be a baroness.

Jessie’s head hurt from all the decisions. Pink tablecloths or white? Matching napkins or something that compliments? Silver or gold silverware? A sit down dinner or buffet? What kind of theme? Flowers or greenery? White accent color or peach? Should her dress be pure white or more of an ivory color? Was this in the budget? Or that? Or what was the budget? The list continued on, making her head swim.

She didn’t understand how she was supposed to decide everything all in one sitting. She also didn’t have the heart to tell everyone that she didn’t care about any of it. She wanted nothing to do with this wedding, and it had been thrust upon her without warning. Jessie loathed Baron Carter, and had been certain that he had felt the same towards her. How wrong she had been, and she felt sick when she thought of the encounter she’d experienced earlier that morning.

“I wish I could have a wedding. Jessie, you are so lucky,” Christine sighed sweetly, sitting next to her.

“Oh,” Jessie smiled politely. “I’m sure you will have a lovely wedding when the time comes.”

Christine crossed one leg over the other and leaned into the cushions. “You think so? Wouldn’t it just be so dreamy to marry the prince? You can see that, can’t you? You know, he asked after me the other day. Such a sweetheart,” she cooed dreamily.

Jessie continued to smile at her. She knew exactly what Christine was doing. It had become an underlying game between the two. Christine had seen the way Jessie influenced Oliver, and she was clearly jealous. However, Christine knew that Jessie would never be an option for marriage, so she used the fact as a weapon to cut away at Jessie whenever she could. Everything was veiled, of course, but in the world of noblemen, it was as clear as glass.

Jessie bit her tongue, knowing that saying that the only reason Oliver inquired about her was because she had prompted him to do so. Jessie had wanted to hear about the new illness Christine had concocted.

“Yes, he is,” Jessie finally stated. “It is a shame to see you so sickly, though. I saw that you were unable to make it to the last tea party. Lady Beatrice and Lady Diane were so kind and sweet. The prince looked like he was having such a good time. He even gave them personal bouquets of flowers to take home. He definitely thinks of everything.”

Christine gave her a fake smile. “Yes, well, it’s good for the ladies to all have a fair chance. We are, after all, looking for the best candidate for the prince. It is important to look at options, so that when the right choice is made, it will be quite obvious.”

Jessie was about to respond when a servant entered the room. She turned her attention away from Christine, knowing that anything she said now could possibly get her in trouble later.

“Excuse me, ma’ams, but your luncheon is ready in the other room,” the servant said, bobbing her head.

“Wonderful. I’ve been famished. It is hard work making all your decisions for you. You have so much to learn, and there are only so many hours in the day,” Christine said, gathering her skirts and getting up from the couch.

“It is a testament to your character how you’ve managed to do it for only a few hours,” Jessie sparred back, following the other women to the table that had been set up for them.

They were to dine together so that Jessie could learn the proper eating etiquette for nobles. She couldn’t wait to show off her skills, since she already knew what to do. Jessie was expecting Christine to teach her incorrectly in order to make her look like a fool.

Chuckling mirthlessly, Christine gestured to the table. “When you sit, ensure that your lead foot is tucked behind the other. So, when you go to sit, for example, my right foot, which is leading, will take a step and while I’m slightly bent to sit down, it will tuck behind my left. Understood?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Good. I’ll show you, and then you try,” Christine said, lifting the hem of her skirt to show Jessie what she meant.

Christine sat gracefully in her chair without so much as a wobble. Jessie had to admit that though she wasn’t Christine’s biggest fan, the woman exuded grace and confidence.

A moment later, Jessie followed Christine’s directions and sat down in her chair, tucking her foot without trouble.

“Like this?” Jessie feigned ignorance.

“Uh, yes. That was, um, well, perfect,” the other woman replied, slightly taken aback by Jessie’s own graceful descent.

“I have been told that I’m a quick learner. I hope I don’t disappoint you.”

They were served their meal, and throughout the entirety, Christine instructed Jessie on what to do. Jessie didn’t hide her skill, making a point to show the others that she was quite able to learn and be a proper lady. Jessie grew tired of Christine’s attitude and wanted to prove that though she was from a ‘lower’ station, it didn’t degrade her character or abilities. The nobility were rampant with such ideas that the common people were below learning such things. It seemed to Jessie that they truly believed that those not raised in a higher station meant that a person could not learn how to be noble. It infuriated Jessie to no end, especially when Oliver made comments unknowingly following such logic.

The meal passed more quickly, since Jessie learned so quickly. The two women continued to make decisions about what was needed for the wedding until Jessie finally bid Christine goodbye after dinner. It had been a long, long day. She never wanted to be stuck with Christine for that long ever again. Keeping up the verbal sparring was tiring. The silent jabs at her character or station were grating on her nerves.

Jessie let Lydia lead her back to her room and help her change, bathe, and get ready for bed. After Oliver had chastised her, Jessie noticed Lydia making more of an effort to get to know her, which was nice.

“Do any of the other noble ladies talk to you in such a manner?” Jessie asked with curiosity.

“What do you mean, ma’am?”

Jessie chuckled. “I just spent the entire day being ridiculed for every little thing I did, and I supposedly have some status. I hope no one talks to you like that.”

Laydia gave her a small smile. “Usually, the staff are simply ignored. They’d rather not engage with us if they can help it. When they do take notice of you is when the real problem begins.”

Frowning, Jessie remembered Oliver mentioning that the king had taken an interest in Lydia. She briefly wondered if that was still going on and hoped it wasn’t, for Lydia’s sake.

“Good night, miss,” Lydia said, breaking her line of thought.

“G–good night, Lydia. But hey,” Jessie stammered, making Lydia turn back to face her. “If you ever, uh, want to talk, I’m here for you. I–I know I can’t exactly do much, but I have a little influence and would like to help where I, uh, can.”

Lydia gave her a tiny, yet genuine smile. “Thank you, miss. I’ll remember that. Get some rest.”

“You too,” she called back, settling into a comfortable sleeping position.

Her mind raced, thinking over everything she’d done that day. She hadn’t seen Oliver at all, and she missed his cheery smile and blue eyes following her around his office. Turning onto her side, she chastised herself for thinking of him. For wanting him. It wasn’t in the cards for her, so much so that now she was engaged to a horrible man. The king had rightfully been suspicious that Oliver putting off a match had been because of her, and now, he had taken care of it. Without her as an obstacle, there wasn’t much standing in the way of Oliver getting married.

Jessie fell into a restless sleep, tossing and turning. Her dreams were filled with Lance’s words, sending pictures of what he’d do to her. She felt lost and alone, trapped in his house and unable to escape. She felt like crying. Like screaming. Like running.

“MISS!” Lydia’s shout woke her up. “Please miss! Wake up. Calm down. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

Jessie pressed a hand to her forehead, groggy and disoriented. “What?” she asked.

She felt Lydia’s arms encircle her and rock her back and forth. Lydia was rubbing her back softly. She didn’t understand what was going on until she saw the state of the room. Her eyes widened, and she jolted forward, causing Lydia to squeeze her tighter.

“Shh,” Lydia cooed. “It’s going to be okay.”

Jessie looked around wildly and was filled with dread.

“No. No, no no no,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “No, please no. Not again. This can’t be happening again.”

“I can help. I promise to help,” Lydia whispered. “I know who can help control your magic.”