Thread: Maid for You [Prince of Smut & YellowSmoke]

IMG150x112 La Lavoisier La had caught that hitch, ever so slight, in Ellie's smile when they had entered the room. Quickly masked in her response to La's hug, La still guessed that her younger sister wasn't as thrilled by their new quarters as La had hoped. It had been five years since La had lived in their parent's house and she realized her perspective had certainly changed. Maid's quarters could be squalid, dark and crowded, with four girls to a room at time. Some were unheated or drafty, others little more than mattresses on the floor. The Guillory's, owning a larger and now mostly empty house, had provided her with an almost extravagantly nice room by her standards. La even suspected that at one point in the chteau's history it had been a room for a high ranking servant, maybe even the head housemaid? I know it's not much, but it's ours, La said with a nod. Well, Ellie was still young and this was her first job. She didn't realize how lucky she had it, yet, and La briefly frowned as she pulled her sister's suitcase to the empty dresser. A maid's life was tough and she had a gnawing uncertainty that Ellie might not take to it like La had. The girl had grown, physically of course, but might she still have a little of the immaturity that her parents had encouraged in her as their youngest? A little more of a desire to be taken care of, rather than care for herself? La felt a strange excitement at that idea it was much in line with her own strong urge to look after her younger sibling and fill her parent's role. She'd have to be strict with Ellie and teach her well their relationship couldn't be just sisterly coddling and hugs. There was too much weight on La's shoulders for that. La had a smile by the time she turned to face Ellie again and glanced at her sister appraisingly. Let's get you unpacked and then fitted into a maid uniform. I'd like you to make a smart first impression to the Guillory's who should return within the hour. They'll not regret hiring you if you are ready to work so soon after arrival. La had just crouched down to unclasp Ellie's suitcase when she heard Girard announcing that the Guillory's had returned. Her jaw dropped in surprise and a flicker of annoyance crept across her face. Well, it looks like we'll have no time to get you changed. Let's go and present you to them and we can change afterwards, said La with a reassuring smile to Ellie that hid her own annoyance. It would be fine. As much as La wanted to show Ellie off in the proper light, the Guillory's were rather casual for a wealthy couple and La told herself again that they would find no fault in Ellie not being in uniform already. IMG150x178 Florent Guillory The limousine bounced down the country lane towards their chteau and Florent stifled a yawn. The de Limousin's luncheon had been insufferably boring and he had been pleasantly surprised that Miriame had agreed to leave early. Even though his wife seemed to take no joy at these events, at least any more, she always seemed to want to maintain a veneer of politeness that prevented her from declining invitations or leaving early. Miriame had returned to her typical silence since they'd entered their car, staring out the window at the familiar countryside outside of Brezins and barely replying to his comments. Florent tapped his hand idly on the pants of his suit and glanced at Miriame with a frown. He'd been distracted with his business affairs for many years, which had perhaps made him slow to note the changes in her, but since their youngest daughter left just the prior summer he'd keenly felt Miriame's new penchant for brooding silence. Her smile, her laugher and her joy seemed to be gone. Of course, Florent had not always been the most attentive husband in recent years either. Florent adjusted his silk tie and swallowed drily, thinking of the mistresses and liaisons of his recent past. Miriame could not know, could she? She did not suspect him and act like this out of some bitterness? Florent was not a careless man and he tried his best to be discreet, out of respect for Miriame, but Brezins was not a large city and he had always feared some rumor leaking back to his wife. She was partly to blame for his acts anyway, as her bed had been cold to him for years as well. A cold bed, despite the fact that Florent was still a handsome man, though now in his forties and with distinguished grey sprinkled in his dark hair. A tall man, he worked hard to keep his figure lean and knew his impeccably tailored suits fitted him in a manner most men his age envied. The bright blue eyes were as piercing as ever and he believed his face, though more lined, had the same sharp features that had made him quite the catch in Brezins when Miriame had married him over twenty years ago. A man had his needs and women seemed almost more drawn to him now, at the peak of his wealth and success and with his looks and charm still a match for younger men. How could he help himself from enjoying their attention? A taxi was coming down the lane in the other direction as they approached the turn off to their chteau and Florent was puzzled for a moment. That's strange... he murmured as he watched it dwindle behind them. Ahh, yes... the new maid, La's sister, must have arrived. She'll help cut down on the part-timers that come with their sticky fingers. Florent had suspected the non live-in maids of stealing small items in the house. La had been without reproach, he'd searched her room secretly at times to prove that, but he distrusted strangers coming and going so freely. Hiring her sister at a cheap rate had been a fortunate solution when La had proposed it. And of course, with the passing of her parents, it seemed a charitable gesture as well. Excellent timing for another set of hands as we have the cocktail party on the lawn coming up, Florent continued, trying to make small chat with Miriame. I do hope that the de Limousin's can't attend. I couldn't bear another story about their insufferable son and his accounting firm in Paris.