Chapter 242: Smitten
The scarlet hue on her did not subside, especially around her cheeks. On the contrary, they seemed to radiate and climb in temperature, threatening to release steam at any moment.
The fact that Silas still faced her did not help that phenomenon one bit.
"The third thing I wanted to say was that I’ve secured the material needed for embroidery," he paused before adding, "Well, most of it, hopefully. Since it isn’t within my area of expertise I may have overlooked a few things,"
"Oh! That is extremely kind of you," all of the sudden, the mousiness that had its clutches around her weakened, allowing the faint gleam in her eyes to connect with his diamonds.
He’d acted fast. Arabella had only told him about it the night before and yet the vampire got everything ready within the span of hours. Well, most things... As he’d so earnestly confided in her.
"Everything has been delivered to one of the lounge rooms on the first floor. The one closest to the music room. You won’t miss it,"
With that, he turned around to leave, but for once, her brain had sorted through her words in due time.
"Thank you!" she chirped before he reached the door.
He said nothing in response. Instead, his eyes fell to her wrist, the one he freed from entrapment only moments prior and then finally resumed his motion.
Not a minute slipped away since his departure that Ada rushed back in, straight towards Arabella wrists.
"See what you’ve done? it’s all red now!" the maid hadn’t yet noted the nebulous look on the young woman.
"Yes... Red, yes," she barely whispered.
Ada had to literally snap her fingers in front of her face in order to get her attention.
That appeared to have broken her out of that daze,"What? What is it?" although her eyes still flickered between Ada and the door from time to time.
"I am afraid you’re quite smitten!" the maid pressed on the last word of her sentence, "I see now why you’ve chained yourself to the bed,"
Those words wrenched a stronger reaction out of Arabella as she held her head with both hands and cried, "Oh dear Lord! This is a disaster!"
"It’s alright, Miss," Ada tried soothing her with a gentle hand on her back, "It’s not that bad, is it?"
Arabella halted all motion and locked on Ada, "Not that bad, you say?" her features had hardened, "I can’t get his face or voice out of my head! I have this constant desire to seek him out and be with him! It grows more and more unbearable by the second!" her face crumpled again, all that harshness melting away.
"Perhaps it isn’t such a bad idea to let it happen," seeing the look on Ada, it was safe for Arabella to assume the maid had spoken before thinking her words over.
"And what do you suggest? That I follow him around like... Edna does," her voice leaned to the quieter side the longer she spoke, "I have to keep my feet on the ground, Ada. Right now, I only serve one purpose and I am replaceable. I don’t wish to be thrown out," she shook her head, "You know I can’t afford it,"
The hand Ada used to cover her own mouth gradually moved away, her demeanor shifting to a more resolute and confident one, "Don’t say such things about yourself, please," she kept her voice low but steady, "Not to mention, I am sure it is exactly what he wants. That is why he hasn’t cured you from it yet,"
Upon hearing those words, Arabella’s brows furrowed a tad, "I understand that you know his blood has a miraculous effect on physical injuries and ailments, but...,"
To that, it was Ada’s face that turned crimson. She bit down on her bottom lip for a few seconds, "I may or may not have been the one to suggest his blood cured both the mark and the Mirari," hands low, rubbing against each other to relieve stress, null doubt, her eyes refused to meet Arabella’s.
The young woman went quiet after that and neared the trolley which hadn’t been touched since it was pushed inside.
"I am sorry, Miss," Ada followed closely behind, "Master Silas instructed me not to breathe a word of it,"
"No, I understand, Ada. It’s alright," she uttered in a subdued tone, her full attention seemingly on the dishes she placed onto the table.
"Please, Miss. Don’t be upset at me," the maid pleaded, seeking Arabella’s gaze, "I truly had no other choice,"
"No, really, Ada," Arabela finally stopped and looked her dead in the eyes, "I am more upset at him for not telling me, but it’s such a nothing situation that it’s not worth discussing. I just need some time to wrap my head around it," the young woman marked a short pause, "I am more curious as to how you knew to make such suggestion,"
Ada went on to explain and tell the same story she related to Silas about her father as well as the relevant bits of her childhood.
Arabella listened intently, her eyes widening at certain parts and narrowing at others. It sure helped her focus on something other than Silas while downing her breakfast.
The questions on that topic continued even after breakfast and as they descended the stairs leading to the first floor.
"About that list of ingredients he’s asked you to provide... Did you complete it?" she asked.
"Yes, of course! I handed it to him the very next morning of him asking," Ada nodded.
"Would you be able to-"
her vocal cords switched off on her, but she didn’t even seem to notice as her attention had landed elsewhere.
On Edna who walked up the stairs, an empty laundry basket in hands.
The two of them locked eyes, but Edna broke contact first and turned her beak away, raising her chin and looking the other way.
Arabella had slowed down, following Edna’s figure until it disappeared behind a wall. She focused most on the notable shawl wrapped around her neck.
"She was given more days off but declined and insisted on getting back to work," Ada whisked Arabella back to reality.