Chapter 6

Skye ran to her room. She got inside and closed the heavy door behind her. She leaned against the door, trying to regain a normal rhythm in her breathing.

Her eyes were filled with tears of despair.

"Monster!" she muttered through her gritted teeth.

"My Lady, what happened?" A young girl approached her with quick steps. She touched her gently on the shoulder. "Come let me help you sit down."

Skye was lost in her thoughts, but the girl's voice brought her back to reality, and she left herself in her care.

Skye broke away from the door, taking a step forward. Her legs were shaking, and so were her hands. The girl saw this and wrapped her arm around her waist to support her better.

"Are you okay? What happened, my Lady? You worry me." She led her to the bed and helped her sit down.

"Let me get you some water. I just brought a jug of fresh and cool water. It will benefit you."

She came back holding a glass of water. She put it to Skye's lips and responded by taking a few sips.

"Very good! And now let me help you lie down."

Skye obeyed and leaned against the pillows.

Then the girl went and took off her shoes. She returned to the jug of water; she wet a piece of cloth and placed it on Skye's forehead, who sighed in relief.

The girl smiled, brought a chair over to the bed, sat down, took Skye's hand, and began rubbing it gently on the wrist.

"Are you feeling any better, my Lady?"

Skye nodded. "Much better. Thank you, Maysie."

"Maybe I'd better leave you alone for a while. I'll be back later." the girl told her and got up from her chair.

"No, don't go, please" Skye grabbed her hand and stood up slightly. The wet cloth fell from her forehead. "I don't want to be alone right know. Keep doing what you were doing before I came. I need to feel a presence around me, and what better than having you."

"Okay, okay, I'll stay," the girl replied, putting her hand reassuringly. She took the cloth and put it back on Skye's forehead, who calmly leaned back on her pillows again.

Skye closed her eyes while Maysie returned to the work she was doing- Arranging the clothes in the closet.

It looks like Maysie spent some time in Skye's room tidying up. A large basket was on the floor, almost empty of clothes. There were few left.

A few minutes passed, and Skye sat up. Maysie looked up at her.

"I'm better now," Skye told her, and Maysie smiled, "I'm glad to hear that."

Maysie continued to fold clothes while often sneaking glances at Skye.

Skye, however, couldn't take her eyes off her.

"I know you want to ask," she said. "So, go on, ask."

Maysie's eyes lit up, and she ran over and sat next to her on the bed.

"Was another a prospective groom? I was in the kitchen with the rest of the maids and Tavish told us that there was a young man sitting at the table with you."

Skye nodded. "Yes, he was another prospective groom."

Maysie let out a heavy sigh. "So, for coming like this I suppose he rejected you?"

"Yes, but that's not why I was like this. I wanted him to reject me like all the previous ones." Skye emphasized her last words.

"So, you caused your rejection like always?"

"Yes, and he turned out to be insolent because he insulted me," Skye said, raising the tone of her voice.

Maysie's eyes widened. "He did that? How? What he said?"

Skye then told her everything that had happened. Maysie was hanging from her lips. She found some parts amusing and laughed, but she remained speechless with her mouth open at others.

"What a rascal! That was quite a grave offense," she agreed when Skye finished her narration. Maysie got off the bed and started pacing up and down the room. "This time, I'm glad that this prospective groom didn't accept to marry you. I don't think it would make you happy."

"I'm not interested in that, Maysie. How many times do I have to tell you that I don't want to get married?"

"Yes, you've told me that before, many times, but I don't believe it." She stopped pacing and looked at her. "There is no girl in this world who does not wish to be married," she exclaimed out, lowering her voice.

"There is!" Skye slammed her hand on the mattress. "And it's me!"

 Maysie took a deep breath and looked at her with wet, dull eyes. She approached the bed, knelt on the floor, and took Skye's hand.

"I know it, and you know it; it's not that you don't want it. I think the real reason holding you back is nothing that bad as you think. This is all a creation of your mind. No one will pay attention to that reason you are hiding so well."

Skye jumped off the bed. Her face had obtained a reddish shade, and there was a tightness in her eyes. "Do you think I'm paranoid, Maysie? Huh? Do you think I'm crazy too?" she yelled, stamping her foot in frustration. "Do you think I'm paranoid for thinking this would repulde any man who would marry me?"

Maysie shook her head vigorously. "No, I didn't mean such thing, my lady."

"Come! Help me get the dress off." Skye urged her, and Maysie complied.

Skye was left wearing only her short petticoat; she went and stood in front of the full-length mirror.

"Come closer!" ordered Maysie in a harsh voice.

Maysie took a step back. "Skye, please don't do this to yourself. I know what you want to show me. I've seen it many times."

"Come closer, I said!" ordered her.

Maysie approached. Her eyes were watery, but Skye paid no attention.

"Do you see it?" she asked in a sharp tone as Maysie approached.

"Yes, I see it." She replied weakly, but she wasn't looking.

"No you don't see it." Skye yelled and grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look. "Look, Maysie. Do you see it?"

Maysie whimpered. "Yes," she said, looking at the hand Skye was showing her. From her left shoulder to her elbow, her skin was shriveled from the burn the fire inflicted on her eight years ago on that fateful day when she lost her parents.

"Do you see that too?" Skye asked her again. This time she had pulled her petticoat up high on her hip. A fire mark was also present on her left hip, covering all the hip's outer side until the knee. 

"Can you see how disgusting they are? How awful for someone even look at those marks? How is it possible for a man to see that and not feel disgusted? How?" her tone of voice rose.

Maysie swallowed hard. Through the mirror, she looked at Skye's face staring in disgust and abhorrence at her scars, and her grief grew.

Why was it so bad that she didn't see it that way? The scars didn't repulse or disgust her when she looked at them. But unfortunately, Skye didn't see it that way, and this broke Maysie's heart.

She lowered her head, not daring to speak her thoughts.

"What are you thinking, Maysie?"

"I dare not say so, my lady."

"I want you to tell me," Skye insisted.

Maysie took a deep breath of courage and raised her head. She looked into her eyes. "What you say is something you assume, my Lady. It's not certain what you say would happen since you didn't give a single tiny chance to anyone."

Skye balled her hands into tight fists and pursed her lips.

"Wait, I'm not done yet, please," Maysie stated and continued. "Do you know what else I see? I see a beautiful girl with two wonderful big shining eyes the color of honey. Here, look at them too" she walked behind Skye and gently turned her head towards the mirror.

"So, I see those two wonderful eyes that are full of kindness and love for everyone. I see dewy cheeks full of glow and health. I see lovely juicy lips to the color of the brightest red rose. Two lips that thirst for passionate kisses. This is what I see. Your marks don't matter to me. They don't reduce in the slightest the beauty you have in your face and mostly in your heart. And these are more important to me."

Skye covered her face with her palms and let herself fall to her knees.

Skye was sobbing. "Why? Why are you saying those things to me?" she asked between her sobs.

"Because it's the truth. The only truth." Maysie replied and gently touched her shoulder.

Skye fell into her arms crying, and Maysie held her close.

"Cry. Cry to comfort your heart, my Lady," she told her, stroking her hair.

"I have told you a thousand times not to call me my lady but by my name," Skye sniffed her nose and told her tenderly. Maysie laughed softly.

"I know. And I answered you the same number of times that I can't do that. I am not allowed to".

"I'm sorry for my behavior earlier. I feel so ashamed."

"No, don't apologize. I understand. We all need to take it out sometimes. To let go of what hurts us, and we get through that only with people we love. Today you show me that you love me and that makes me happy because I love you too, my Lady."

"Oh, Maysie," Skye only said and started crying more as Maysie held her tightly and stroked her hair.

"Everything will be fine, you'll see," Maysie whispered.