Get me out of this dress!

- Josephine -

After our introductions Aria and I excused ourselves to rest before dinner.

Several maids escorted us to our room, and let themselves in. They rushed around the room telling me where they had put my things. But I wasn’t listening. I was too busy looking at the room wide eyed in shock. This wasn’t a mere bedroom, it was an apartment.

From the upstairs hallway, the door opened to a sitting room with a large fireplace and seating arrangement. My easel had been set up by the window, and my chess set was perfectly displayed on a table in the corner.

Aria’s room was so lovely that I mistook it for my own. I was quickly corrected and led to a larger bedroom with a four post bed, a large fireplace, and a bath set in the window. Near the fireplace was a large wooden vanity, where my brushes and jewellery box had been neatly arranged. It was breathtaking, I even had my own stool closet, and a small dressing room with large mirrors.

I thanked the maids and dismissed them, before turning to Aria, who was already looking at me.

Shock was written across her face. “What?… how? I-“ she spluttered.

“I have no idea. I truly wasn’t expecting this.”

We began to explore my room. The sheets on the bed were soft and the pillows were thick.

Aria ran into the dressing room, “Josephine! They have organised your dresses. There’s a stool in here, that will make alterations so much easier for me.”

I had already tuned her out and was headed towards the window to look at the grounds, my fingers brushing the bathtub as I passed it.

This must be the rear garden, it was far grander than the front. I looked at the wooden gazebo and the outdoor seating, and I could see a small hedge maze in the distance.

I could see the back of two men strolling the grounds. One was very tall and stoic, with black hair. Quite different from the man beside him, who was much shorter, with blonde hair, and a relaxed demeanour. They were deep in conversation and oblivious to everything around them. I wondered who they were and when I would meet them.

Suddenly Aria bounded towards me, “What do we do now?” She asked.

“Now, we rest.” I turned to face her. “We will change for dinner, and I will meet the rest of the family. You use your meal to find out everything you can about the family from their maids.”

“Yes my Lady, I will do my best.”

I strolled across the room and sat on my bed, I laid back and winced, my dress was still clawing at my skin.

I sighed deeply, pondering my situation. Am I worthy of all this? Was I that important?

I was pulled from my thoughts by a sharp scrape across my arm. I sat up enraged.

“Aria! Get me out of this dress!’