Thread: Dynasty of Blood (Alvis Alendran & Danidoo88)

The week had been an utter nightmare! From the moment Cat agreed to go work as a servant, her mother had swept her into a whirlwind of shopping, dress fittings, grooming and the fastest etiquette course in the history of the world. Perhaps that last one was an over exaggeration but honestly where had they even gotten the money for all of this? If she had known that they had been sitting on a gold mine all of this time, she wouldn't have bothered agreeing to this madness. And what was the point?! She was going there to be the man's made, for the sake of all the gods! She wasn't going there to become his bride! She heaved a heavy sigh as she watched her mother pace her tiny room at a frantic rhythm, wringing her hands with so much vigor that Cat was sure they had to be raw by now. Madness. All of it. She should have just said no. The family had been happy before all of this and now all of them, excepting the children, were buzzing about like bees from a broken hive. Rena, sit down. You're making your daughter nervous and she needs to be at her best tonight! Cat's gaze flicked to the other side of the room where the real object of her annoyance sat. Judy Bartlett, one of the richest women in town, had somehow managed to invite herself and her spoiled brat of a daughter, Alana, to see her off as if they had ever even looked at her with anything other than scorn. No, it was a classic, though no less annoying, plot to get Alana married off to the rich gentleman coming to collect her tonight. She looked back to her mother who was visibly shaking with frustrated anger. Even after all of her preparations and all of the torture Cat had gone through at her behest, Alana was still the prettier of the two....or at least the best styled. Then again, she could afford the more expensive fabrics and cosmetics and Cat highly doubted the girl had done her hair or dressed herself a day in her life. Cat had gotten some hair treatments and a trim but the styling had been the work of her mother and the millions of bobby pins than had been stabbed directly into her scalp. She didn't have any make-up...at all...and, though the dress she wore was the finest she had ever owned, the material was cheap and rough. Her hair was a brown where Alana's was blond, she was thin where Alana was curved, she had freckles and rough skin where Alana's was flawless and smooth. Still, she supposed in the raw looks department, she was about even with Alana, depending on what you were looking for. Whatever the case, she definitely beat the girl in personality. Not that that really mattered. She sighed again and looked down at her hands. Not of this mattered. She was going for a job. J.O.B. It was pointless to compare herself to Alana when she had no idea what the point of getting all dressed up was in the first place. The biggest thing that bothered her was that having the Bartletts present was upsetting her mother. He's here! I can see the carriage coming! Cat straightened at her brother's shout and tried not to grimace when her mother excitedly pulled her from her chair and prodded her into the living area. She also did her best not to snap at Judy when both she and her mother were elbowed out of the way so that the shrew could push Alana to the front of everyone. It was a near thing though, especially when Mrs. Bartlett stood directly in front of her so that she couldn't be seen immediately from the door. Her mother pulled her to the side to switch places before she could do anything though. And then they were inside. She blinked at the tall man as he stooped to enter their small home, then slid a glance over to where Alana was standing. If the girl had only been interested in the money before, now was an entirely different story. Cat bit back another sigh and tried to keep from fidgeting. She wasn't nervous but she really didn't want to be in this position either. She would much rather be at the neighbors with her little brother and sister where she could go on with her life completely oblivious to the spectacle taking place in what could laughably be called their foyer. She turned her attention back to the entrance and met the unusual gray gaze of the man, jumping in surprise when she realized that he was staring directly at her. She fought hard to hide an unexpected blush and cleared her throat. Um...Yes...I mean, my name is Catalina but everyone calls me Cat. Gods Above, did she really just say that? How incredibly clich. She cleared her throat again. What shall I call you...um...my lord? Why had she even been born? My lord, my name is Judith Bartlett and this is my daughter Alana. Judy cut in and for once Cat was grateful for it. We just wanted to say how generous it was of you to offer employment to a family that so desperately needs the income. Or perhaps not so grateful. We only wish there was something we could do to thank you for your kindness. Like offer your daughter's hand in marriage. Ugh. Why had Cat even bothered? Why had her mother? They both should have known the second Judy made it clear that they were going to be at this meeting that they would take over.