Chapter 252: A strong word
Ada was already in the room when Arabella opened her eyes the next morning. The sun was particularly brighter, tickling every surface it grazed.
The maid had her back turned to the bed, working in silence, doing her best to keep the dishes and cups from clinking.
Arabella did not immediately greet her or call for her attention and since Ada’s ears weren’t necessarily keen, she wasn’t able to capture the change in the young woman’s breathing pace.
"Morning, Ada," she murmured after a big yawn.
"Oh!" Ada stopped her doings and spun to meet her gaze, "Morning, Miss! How are you feeling today?" she rushed to her side.
"So much better," Arabella pushed herself up into a sitting position with some struggle, "The cramps persist but they’ve definitely subsided since yesterday and...," she lifted both arms wide open and rocked them lightly, "I don’t feel nearly as tired as yesterday. My muscles are more responsive,"
"That is good to hear," Ada nodded, "Do you have a sudden urge to visit the bathroom?" she tilted her head.
"Not so urgent, but I do need to go, yes," again, in a slow string of motions, Arabella pulled her legs out from underneath the sheets and placed them on the ground.
"That holds," Ada took her arm to provide support, "I made sure to wake you during the night for this purpose. You’ve taken a lot of liquid, be it water or tea,"
"I am really sorry for burdening you this much," Arabella worked on straightening her back but the sudden flashes of pain traveling her middle prevented it.
"Again," Ada chuckled, "This is something we do among us maids every month. It is no special treatment,"
Once done with the washing and dressing up, Ada assisted the young woman to sit at the table.
Arabella took one whiff of the food and beverages only to then clasp a hand over her mouth.
Her throat seemingly clogged with an invisible mass, the effect sparked churning in her stomach that did not ease up the longer she stared at the dishes on display.
"That is natural too," Ada broke the newly fallen silence, "Just try to eat something at least," she gave that sheepish, pleading look that her features returned whenever the words failed her to say more.
"I’ll do my best," Arabella nodded and went for a cup of orange juice.
"I wonder if Master Silas will come by now that you are awake,"
At those words, Arabella froze mid-slurp and only her eyes darted towards her friend. She made no comment on the matter and simply waited for more to come, but when Ada went silent, the young woman thought asking was the way to go about it.
"Why would he come now?"
"Oh, he spent almost all night here," Ada did not break eye contact as Arabella slowly settled the cup back on the table.
"He did?"
"Oh yes!" Ada nodded profusely, "He only stepped out when it was time for bathroom breaks,"
The young woman’s cheeks flushed pink at first, but the shade gradually veered to a deep scarlet one, her wide eyes flickering from one spot to another.
"I’ll have to apologize for my behavior as well," Ada pushed a long and heavy sigh.
"What behavior do you mean?"
"Well...," Ada’s finger drew little circles on the wooden arms of the chair she sat on, "I sort of yelled at him... Unintentionally, of course!"
"What happened?" Arabella’s features twisted continuously, reflecting her utter perplexion.
"I caught him as he was attempting to feed you his blood," the maid grimaced a sort of apologetic look, "Bless him, he thought he could cure you,"
"I was under the impression he was aware of this phenomenon with other human women working in the manor," her face still beet red, Arabella tried to take more sheepish sips of the juice.
"Yes, he is but," Ada tilted her head again, a bit of a strained smile on her, "He doesn’t have any sort of continuous contact with any of us. He doesn’t really see how sick some of us can get because of this and thus did not know how to react,"
"Did you stop him?"
"I had to," her tone grew more resolute, "Lord knows what the consequences would be if he tried to cure you from a natural bodily function," her eyebrows had furrowed as a distant stare took over her entire demeanor.
Arabella nodded a few times, "You did the right thing. Hopefully, he won’t hold a grudge,"
"He does not really do that unless someone gives them a reason to," simmering down a tad, Ada’s shoulders slumped a little, "Still... The fact is he stayed here almost all night. He must truly care for you. I mean I know he does, silly me!" she chuckled.
Arabella’s face fell. Looking through the window, she kept her gaze on one of the tall trees that peaked from the distance.
"What is it?" that sight wiped the smile off of Ada too.
"Nothing!" the young woman immediately started shaking her head.
"You doubt my words on the matter, don’t you?" the maid leaned forward onto the table, "Well, I am absolutely convinced of their veracity. He does love you,"
By then, every ounce of sheepishness had vanished from Ada’s traits. She looked Arabella dead in the eyes and sought her gaze when the young woman averted it.
"Love might be too strong of a word here, don’t you think?"
There were no brisk gestures or movements from her. No rise or fall in her pitch. No frantic explanations or justifications.
In fact, it was the total opposite as her voice sat steady and monotone. Her body too remained practically static. Only her hand played with the handle of the spoon between her fingers.
There was no energy and basically no emotion in her utterances at all. Even her eyes had somehow withered.
"No, I do not think so at all," Ada’s tone too remained unchanged. Just as determined as it’d been seconds prior.