Our Little Secret (The Reborn)

The plot

The plot!

Ursula knocked on the door as the maids at the door opened the door for her to walk in and she did. Ursula sighted Mariah sitting on a chair reading a book that she couldn't capture the words to recognise the title. Ursula had always wanted to be like the wealthy children but in a place like Saxton's province, average families could access education but not its height and then the poor children could never ever access education whether or not they were willing to.

Ursula moved forward to make her presence Known.

 "Excuse me, my lady!" She bowed in accordance. Mariah tilted her eyes with a steady underestimating look. Ursula tried as hard as possible not to look into Mariah's eyes because they were intimidating. "I have come to sort your clothes as you wish!"

 "And what difference does it make?" Mariah asked. Ursula couldn't answer such questions. "Your presence or arrangements makes no difference, not even a little of it!" Mariah said sternly.

 "Im sorry, my lady..." Ursula apologized for whatsoever that made her sad at the moment. Mariah interrupted.

 "...Enough of your drama, Ursula! What in the name of clumsiness gave you the audacious feeling to spill wine on my son? Have you not heard about him or the Salvador's?" Mariah said and chuckled. "It will be hell for you because i have now become the hunter and you are simply the hunted. Mark my word!" Mariah stated almost groaning in anger

 "Forgive me, my lady! I would never do such a thing on purpose..." Ursula tried to explain with plea. Mariah hit her face hardly until Ursula fell to the ground. Xavier stormed in purposely to let his mother know about his take off since Jim had left for a meeting with Preston and the council. He was unhappy over his mother ill treatment.

 "Mother?!" He called out calmly to distract her. Mariah turned to him immediately and forced a smile pressing her anger.

 "Xavier! You are here? Are you set to leave already?" She asked walking towards him.

 "Of course! That's why I'm here!" He said. "Why's she punished? Did she cause another trouble?" He added 

 "You know how these servants behave, no regard. They need to be taught a lesson because i couldn't digest the embarrassment she caused at dinner last night. How could she spill wine on you and still defend her clumsiness? That's unacceptable!" Mariah explained bitterly

 "I understand but she was clumsy that means it wasn't on pur...." He was defensive. His mother began to understand his defensiveness instantly and he didn't let her proceed. "That's exactly what they deserve, to be treated the Saxton way!" He beamed while his mother was satisfied finally.

Ursula heard their conversation yet she felt like she was jilted on purpose, it was not his duty for him to defend her every time and yhis situation involved his mother so he couldn't go any further. Ursula rose to her feet during off her body that had no dust at all, Mariah called again.

 "Ursula? Place my clothes in the cabinet appropriately." She instructed. 

 "Yes my lady!" Ursula said but as soon as she turned to pick the clothes her gaze met with his, he had been stealing glances whilst his mother spoke about their business. He turned away immediately and Ursula decided to focus on her job instead, she has had enough humiliation for the morning.

Xavier had left in a cart as always but a part of Ursula wanted to wish him well, she couldn't. All she did was watch him ride away without looking back. 

Ursula returned to her room curling up on her bed burying her face between her knees. She sobbed because of her helpless mother who must be worrying and crying out like her. She thought about Kim who might be sold or retained for other slave trade busineses or maybe locked until another Saxton's day during another winter. Everything was tiring already and she had barely spent two days yet it seemed like five years without redemption. Tessa knocked on her door then entered since she heard no response. Tess was worried to see Ursula in tears. She sat next to her.

 "Ursula! Ursula!! Ursula!!!" Tess called out coldly

 "Leave me alone! I don't want to see anyone!" Ursula was retarded.

 "You know you need me! Why are you crying suddenly, i thought we agreed on a good day?" Tess asked. Ursula raised her head up slowly wiping off her tears.

 "Is this what it means to unintentionally hurt the Salvador's, what if i hurt them intentionally....am i going to die?" Ursula's voice broke. Tess sighed in distress, she wanted to encourage her friend in the best way she could.

 "They are humans like us but we just happen to fall under the unlucky ones, we can not deny our heritage as poor people...." Tessa said

 "No Tess! We aren't going to be poor for ever, there's got to be a way out and if there is then we'd not be treated as this!" Ursula countered

 "I know! You talk like you've got some magic to perform!" Tess teased as they smiled failure. "What exactly happened at the lady's chamber?"

 "She was mad at me for spilling wine on Sir Xavier. She believes it was intentional! She hit me on the face and then he came in....he...he..." Ursula halted, she was skeptical about explaining his defense. "I did not spill the wine on purpose!" She finalised innocently

 "I know you wouldn't! You have to be alot more careful next time! They take every mistake as our planned mischief...you just have to be careful, Ursula!" Tess advised

 "I am, believe me but i really don't know why the lady's daughter hates me so much...." She stirred up

 "Oh dear! She hates everyone who's not Wealthy as she is." Tess explained with a shrug. Ursula held Tess's arm gently in persuasion.

 "No Tess, you have got to believe me! While i was serving the wine, i was about to put the wine into Sir Xavier's cup then she placed her foot to hinder and it...the wine spilled on him!" Ursula explained

 "This is not new!"

 "What do you mean its not new?" Ursula was confused at her blunt response.

 "She's always overprotective over her brother, she must have done that to inflict more pain on you for reasons i really don't know!" Tess felt sorry for Ursula but she was helpless as well. "We have to be very careful around her, she could kill us in the process if we do something different!" Tess advised sternly. Ursula nodded positively.

Tess was brought into yhe fashion two years earlier by lord Jim where men rich men gambled over money and slaves available in stock like goods, he earned both the money and the slave, Tess. She was an orphan which made it somewhat easier than Ursula who had a mother here in the province.

Marie was not satisfied with the punishment given to Ursula. She was sternly jealous at the fact that Ursula confronted her which no one ever did, Ursula had favors in the sight of her brother and she was also intimidated by Ursula's beauty especially for the ocean blue eyes. She's always wanted an oceanic eyes even if hers were green, she was saddened that it had to be Ursula who had her dream set of eyes. She sat in her room thinking of ways to hurt Ursula even more since Xavier wasn't home. She sprang like a lighted lamp. Her special servant, Donna, followed as expected but along the way, Marie stopped.

 "Donna?"

 "Yes madam?" Donna answered hastily waiting for errands or delegations

 "Go to the slave yard, summon Ursula as soon as possible! Don't return without her!" She instructed with a straight and firm face.

 "Yes madam!" Donna walked away to fulfil her duties.

Marie proceeded for the lady's chamber instantly to carry out her plan. The chamber was empty but it was surrounded by guards, they couldn't restrict or stop her. She headed straight to the Lady's jewelry box but there was a small black bag beside it then she opened it and found a new golden necklace, two rings, a set of earrings and a bracelet. It was a gift that lord Jim attained for Mariah as a surprise gift.

 "This would be a perfect plot!" Marie smiled at herself in the mirror holding the necklace. She returned it into the bag and his it inside her pink elbow length gloves. She strode out innocently then she stopped at the guards and asked.

 "Where's the lady? I searched but she wasn't found."

 "Lord Cunningham's wife stopped by and they left for tea!" One of the guards explained

 "Great! Tell her that i dropped by to talk about my brother, Nathan!" She smirked and walked away elegantly.

Even if the guards suspected something dubious they had no right to talk against Marie, it was of no use to the Salvador's.

Ursula scurried to Marie's chamber which Marie was sitting on her bed. Ursula greeted as exoected, waiting for her next reaction either a slap or a rude conversation. Marie stared at her with a deadly smirk on her face, her snowy skin and red lips glowed but to Ursula it glowed like evil on the way.

 "Nice to meet you again. Urchin!" Marie laughed wickedly while Ursula stood still in silence. "Why were you in my brother's room earlier?"

Ursula was stunned that Marie knew but she wasn't there, Ursula whispered inside her.

 "Madam I..l.." Ursual stuttered

 "I can tell you why you are so lost right now! I am teling nothing but the truth! How could you try such an abominable thing, urchin? Did i not warn you about my brother? Are you not aware that you are not his class neither his standards. I mean....you can not read or recognize alphabets so what type of woman that you are makes a good match? Not even by the Saxton's law are you fit for my brother! This is totally abominable, just like your clan!" Marie insulted, Ursula was hurt because she was reminded that she couldn't read or recognize alphabets. Instantly, she made a promise to sort a way to read whether or not Saxton's law acknowledged it or not.

 "It won't happen again, madam!" Ursula pleaded instead

 "That's not enough but I'm impressed that you have learnt a few within 36 hours. Bluntly impressive!" Marie said. "I want my feet massaged with a lukewarm water! Get the water ready in 2 minutes!" Marie instructed

 "Yes madam! Can i leave now?"

 "Pathetically!" She dismissed. 

Ursula ran as fast as she could to get the hot water ready, luckily Tess was about to prepare dinner so there was some water heated, Ursula pleaded before Tess proceeded with the mixing of ingredients. Ursula rushed back with two clean equally white towel on her shoulder then she entered the room. 

There was someone added, Nathan. Her both nightmares. Nathan was sitting on the designed wooden chair adjacent while Marie rested her back on the pillow sitting on the bed. Ursula greeted both of them again and proceeded for her duty, she tried not to get distracted by their intimidation. She placed a towel under Marie's feet then soaked the other into the warm water and squeezed tightly after bthrn began massaged duly. Nathan was distracted because he was staring at Ursula while she worked.

 "You are not carried away by her unlucky charmth, are you Nathan?!" Marie asked 

 "Of course not! I only wonder what sort of a slave is this!" He said

 "What do you mean?" Marie asked in confusion. She turned to Ursula "Easy!"

 "Sorry madam!" Ursula snapped

 "I mean...She feels like bad luck itself." He added. Marie sighed and continued.

 "Oh Saxton! (It was a favourable exclamation in the province) I thought you had eyes on this witch of a girl!" Marie said sternly. "Oh i forgot! Nigel had acquired the clubhouse at the south, did he not tell you?" She stirred up. 

Nigel was a son to Cunningham's which she admired but he didn't show the same affection. The clubhouse was a place for wealthy young lads, both male and female which was once argued to be owned by a man at Lesner province. Saxton's citizens were obliged to acquire every tangible asset from other provinces like Lesner because the dictatorship system was a mandatory action for them to embark on.

 "Are you still fantasising over Nigel? He's absolutely not a good bet, spin again!" Nathan said truthfully

 "What do you mean Nathan, its obvious that no man can resist a woman like me! Say no more!" She was pissed. 

 "Ok!" He shrugged. He gulped from the silver cup of wine.

 "I was thinking that we could buy off the Clubhouse as well!" Marie suggested. He tilted his head in surprise.

 "Unbelievable Marie! You can not buy off the clubhouse Nigel bought 2 days ago...." Nathan countered

 "....And who can stop me?" She smirked and continued "Saxton province is all about consistency..." She stated

 "...Not competition..." He reminded

 "And competition! You seem to have forgetten the sub acts. If we buy the clubhouse Nathan, you and i stand a better chance of recognition."

 "I can not see how helpful this is to me..." Nathan explained

 "Not just to you but the Salvador's! We are simply creating a better name! Acquiring assets from the peasants is not enough because it has to go beyond that. How about introducing the discrepancy between rich and wealthy?! Hmm? Poor Nathan! It's simply called strategy!" She stopped

 "Its going to destroy our relationship with the Cunningham's, we trade vines with them! Marie, this is an evil strategy!" He teased "This is to get back at Nigel for declining your tea party, isn't it?" Nathan asked.

 He was correct, she was turning away in embarrassment that she forgot about Ursula who massaged her feet diligently.

 "You...You know that it was humiliating, i'd make him realise who's giving more power! Right after I'm done with him, he'd run to me voluntarily!" She said as they laughed in accordance

 "Father would finally see my worth around here!" Nathan blurted.

 "So I'm not the only one demanding true respect!" Marie added in content. Ursula could only remain silent and fall deaf ears to their discussion.