Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Three

Once the preparations were finally finished, the time had arrived for the ball to begin. Slowly, carriages began pulling up and letting their passengers out. The men stepped out in crisp suits, while the ladies wore and flaunted their beautiful dresses. Some were long with beads and feathers and still some were shorter with intricate designs and crystals.

Jessie took a look down at her simple maid’s costume and sighed. They had all received brand new outfits for the occasion. Maids were to wear bleached white, plain dresses with a black and red overlay. The male servers and butlers wore similar matching pantsuits. Shaking her thoughts away, however, Jessie grabbed a tray of drinks and began weaving through the crowds. Before long, her platter was empty, so she circled back to pick up more. After a few rounds, the duke and duchess made their grand entrance. Checking the time, Jessie noticed that they were later than usual, but thought nothing more of it as she surveyed the women’s jealous looks at Katherine’s dress. The duchess truly was stunning. Jessie also noticed that Francis seemed more frazzled than normal, and she made a mental note to ask later. The prince was then introduced, and naturally, the noble ladies lost themselves. Prince Oliver suddenly became the talk of the ball. And it was easy to see why. He had showed up in a silver suit, white shirt and red pocket square. He looked dashing, but Jessie only allowed her eyes to soak up his image for three seconds before turning back to her duties. She wasn’t here to ogle, nor did she have the luxury.

Jessie grabbed a plate of food from the kitchen and began serving the guests. She was careful to avoid the dancers as well as stuck to the walls to stay out of the way and out of people’s sight. If she had learned anything about the nobility, it was that they preferred staff to be hidden. The fewer people who noticed you at these events, the better off a server was. Jessie lived by this rule and had perfected it.

However, because of this, she hadn’t seen steward John Whitman marching through the ball, stopping only when he stood in front of Jessie. Shrinking behind her serving platter, Jessie stared at the floor and backed herself against the wall. She waited only a few seconds before offering the fine delicacies to John. Except, it wasn’t until he slapped the tray onto the floor, causing the food to splatter and the tray clanging to the ground, that she realized he wasn’t there to eat.

John glowered down at Jessie, resentment and pure anger seething from him.

“HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF SUCH A HEINOUS ACT!” he shouted in front of everyone at her.

If possible, Jessie shrank back even more. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand,” she whispered, her eyes never wavering from the spot on the ground.

They had gathered everyone's attention now, and John did his best to look aghast and disappointed, hurt even.

“I trusted you, and this is how you repay my kindness? I’m the reason why you even got this job! Do you think so lowly of me that you’d accuse me, John Whitman of the House of Whitman, of such a crime? What good would it do me? Everyone knows that my family is well to do. And on such an occasion as this?” he continued to scream.

“Please, sir,” Jessie tried to calm him down, one of her hands coming up to nurse her swollen cheek.

A hand suddenly offered her the fallen tray. Jessie looked up and into the eyes of Prince Oliver, but then quickly turned from him.

“Forgive him, dear lady. I think this good sir has lost his wits,” Oliver with a smile.

Jessie absent-mindedly took the tray and curtsied. She then watched Oliver’s friendly demeanor turn cold as he faced John.

“Do you really think causing a scene here, of all places, is a good idea?” Oliver asked, his tone completely void of warmth.

John swallowed nervously. “Wh-what do you mean? I need to get to the root of the accusation.”

Oliver raised his eyebrows. “Here?” he asked. “In front of everyone? It seems to me that you have one of two motives for choosing now of all times to have this confrontation. The first is that you’re an i***t and simply took the first opportunity you had to find this maid. However, knowing your status, background, and schooling, the odds of that are very low. The other option is that, after talking with Duke Laroche, you purposefully chose this specific time to corner a maid, who is working at an event, in order to shame her in front of everyone. You wanted a public apology for a crime you committed so that your lousy name would be cleared. You know that she is the one who caught onto your scheme, and yet, in the eyes of high society, she would be the one condemned, not you. Well? Which option suits you best? The dunce or the liar?”

John stood still, shaking in anger. His eyes were murderous towards Jessie, but he stayed rooted in his spot.

“I’m waiting,” Oliver said gruffly, annoyance evidence in his tone.

“I apologize, your majesty,” John replied stiffly.

Oliver shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the maid you insulted. Also, please answer my question. Are you stupid or did you scheme this entire plan out? I’d love to hear the answer.”

“I…” John grumbled. “I planned it in order to get my reputation back. This lowly maid, who I helped to get into the Laroche household to begin with, planted false evidence in the books in order to ruin me. I couldn’t let it go unanswered. My name deserves to be cleared!”

Looking to the side, Oliver noticed Jessie practically hiding behind the tray. Her demeanor was calm, but very obviously scared.

Sighing, Oliver crossed his arms. “I looked over the books myself,” he began. “There was no altering. We went all the way back to when you started here as steward of House Laroche. Are you now suggesting that I schemed with the maid in order to ruin your good name?”

“N-no,” John stuttered, clearly uncomfortable.

“Good. I see you aren’t a complete moron as to accuse the prince of the kingdom. Now, this has gone on for far too long. Apologize at once. Do not make me repeat myself or the consequences will be more detestable than you can even imagine,” Oliver seethed.

John slowly turned towards Jessie and mumbled, “I apologize for making a scene at the ball and confronting you about this incident.”

“Louder, and more sincere, please,” Oliver grinned.

Clearing his throat, John said, “I apologize for trying to cover up my lies and theft and turning the tables onto you in order to make you take the blame.”

Oliver’s smile grew wider and more genuine. “Wonderful!” he clapped his hands together. “Now, guards, take him away, and let the party continue!”

Jessie watched in shock as two guards strode up and pulled the steward out of the room. She barely had time to fully process everything that had just taken place before Oliver turned his piercing, blue eyes to her.

“Though you are a maid, everyone deserves to be treated fairly. What he attempted to do to you is cruel and shall never be tolerated if I can help it. Are you yet recovered?” he asked gently.

Jessie licked her top lip and tried to smile, unable to meet his gaze. “Thank you, m’lord,” she whispered. “This job means everything to me.”

Curtising once more, Jessie attempted to back away and escape into the kitchen to gather herself, but Oliver caught her arm.

“Why are you leaving so soon?” he questioned, his smile turning into a frown.

By now, the entire room was intently watching this spectacle play out before them. Jessie obviously looked uncomfortable, especially with the prince of the kingdom holding onto her arm. Oliver, noticing this, let her go, but gave her an expectant look.

“M’lord,” Jessie tried again. “I must get to work. Please, let me do my duty.”

“Why won’t you look me in the eyes?” Oliver suddenly asked.

The blood drained from her face, and she shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

Swallowing slowly, Jessie finally managed to squeak out, “I’m a mere maid, m’lord. It is

not my place to act above my station. Please, forgive me, but I must be going.”

“Work for me instead,” he said boldly.

This statement did gain a look from Jessie. Her eyes were confused, but she quickly regained her composure and stared at the floor once more.

“I cannot, but I gratefully appreciate the offer.”

“You cannot?” Oliver blanched. “You…you cannot? You dare reject your prince’s request, and with no reason at all?”

Jessie took a few steps back, shaking her head. “I–I I’m s–sorry, m’lord,” she stammered, bowing her head low. “I do not mean to be difficult or ungrateful. It is not my decision to make. I have a contract with Duke Laroche–”

Oliver cut her off. “Then I’ll speak to him presently.”

“But m’lord!” Jessie called out. “I’m sure you already have so many maids. What could I even do?”

Giving Jessie only a winning smile, Oliver turned on his heel and headed away from her. She watched him make a beeline for Duke Laroche, and her heart both soared and sank simultaneously. Frowning to herself, Jessie found herself questioning how she should feel, but shook it off. Surely the duke wouldn’t let her go, not after everything she had done for him and was planning to do, she stated to herself as she walked back to the kitchen in order to grab a new platter.