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0.99% The Knight's Mysterious Maid / Chapter 5: Quite the character (1)

Chapter 5: Quite the character (1)

"Woods? I have never heard of such a last name. With your looks, I am sure you are not from around here," Beatrice said, giving Annalise a look over. If you lined all the servants up, Annalise would stand out with her wild hair. "You're different. Luckily, I happen to like different things."

"She is, isn't she?" Mavis forced a smile and pretended to agree with Beatrice. In her opinion, Annalise was the bad kind of different. She was hoping the lady would dislike Annalise and be the one to kick her out right away but with her terrible luck, Mavis now had to deal with Beatrice liking Annalise.

"It is hard to believe you are the young master's mother. You look so young," Annalise commented, finding the older woman to look young for having such a grown son. Annalise would have never believed Beatrice was Rafael's mother if she wasn't aware of the Callahans.

'She knows how to flatter someone. She's smart,' Beatrice thought as she tapped her finger against the table. Annalise's comment didn't come out as if she was trying too hard to make Beatrice like her. She was subtle with her advances. 'Well, this is interesting.'

Beatrice was used to the maids overly complimenting her in hopes she would pick them as her personal maid when she came to visit Rafael, or they thought pleasing the mother would help them get close to the son. She wondered which Annalise was trying to aim for.

"I like her," Beatrice smiled as she made up her mind. "Mavis, make sure she is the one to tend to me when I come for visits. You know Rafael is going to become busy with training instead of taking a moment to rest, and my husband will find someone who needs help to pass his time. I'll need someone like her by my side to keep me company."

Rafael didn't think Annalise was the most suitable person to keep his mother company. His mother was already quite the character so she didn't need someone with a mouth like Annalise's to further influence her. He had not gotten past Annalise's offer to show him her thigh. Rafael did not know Annalise but he already had a feeling there were worse things to come out of her mouth. "There are other maids-"

"Why not this one?" Beatrice quickly asked, picking up on the fact something must have happened between Rafael and Annalise. Rafael never stopped her from picking any maid she liked to tend to her when she visited. Was there a silver lining at the end of this day?

Beatrice gave Annalise a look over once more as she wondered if this was Rafael's type. She had gotten it wrong over the years if it was.

"Nothing," Rafael dropped it before his mother could get the wrong idea. It was obvious she started to overthink his words as she flashed him a big smile, and her eyes pleaded with him to tell her more. "Enjoy breakfast and find something to pass the time until father arrives. Stop frowning."

"I would if you brought home some good news," Beatrice pouted. At this rate, she would have to play with her sister's grandchildren since she was not getting any of her own any time soon. "Mavis, excuse Annalise from her duties to have her remain by my side. I prefer her company over my son at the moment," Beatrice tried to guilt Rafael into spending time with her.

"Yes ma'am," Mavis replied, still bothered by the lady's choice. She preferred to have one of the maids who followed her to be close to Beatrice. It was the best way to get any news on what was happening between mother and son.

Mavis was not going to waste time trying to bring Annalise under her wing. It would only start another series of headaches. It was much easier to wait for Annalise to mess up and for Beatrice to fire Annalise or for Mavis to fire Annalise herself.

Annalise found Beatrice to be more likeable than she anticipated. She was getting close to Beatrice faster than she planned, but it was better this way. She needed someone in the Callahan family to latch onto so Mavis could not keep trying to fire her. It also helped her plans concerning the Callahans that Beatrice seemed like the type to keep talking about Rafael's affairs. Annalise would use Beatrice to get information on Rafael.

"Your coffee," Annalise started to pour Rafael's coffee for him. She tried not to spill any as she focused on his cup.

Rafael glanced at Annalise's hands and then at his mother's. Annalise's hands were almost similar to those of a woman who had never worked a day in her life. He was curious, but then again, he didn't know much about Annalise. She could have lived an easy life until her parents decided it was time for her to work.

All of the maids working here did not come from poor backgrounds where they worked every day of their lives. For some, this was their first job, and they picked his home because of the good pay.

Rafael shook his head, feeling foolish for questioning her hands, but he couldn't help being so observant. It could be blamed on the fact he had just returned from long days of fighting and travelling, where he needed to be cautious about every single thing around him during that time. He had not settled down enough to not be on edge in his own home. It was a hard task to not grab for a weapon at the faintest odd noise.

"Are you alright, young master?" Annalise asked after noticing Rafael seemed lost in thought. Instead of giving her a response, Rafael only stared at her. Annalise thought he was asking her to leave him alone with his eyes, so she moved on to serve Beatrice coffee.

Beatrice couldn't help but sigh. Her question was answered now that she witnessed Rafael and Annalise interact with each other. There was nothing going on between the two. Rafael was still her silent precious son who had no time for women so she needed to live with this fact.

"Would you like coffee or tea?" Annalise asked Beatrice when she came over to her side. She wished to suggest a wine to help Beatrice deal with Rafael. Rafael was her only employer, and his silence was hard to bear. She couldn't imagine what it was like for Beatrice. "Wine?" She took a risk to ask.

Beatrice looked up at Annalise, for a moment thinking she misheard what the young woman suggested. Judging by Annalise biting her lip, Rafael looking at Annalise like she lost her mind, and Mavis turning red, Beatrice knew she had not heard wrong.

Beatrice snorted and quickly covered her mouth with her hands because of the unladylike noise. She tried not to laugh but could not refrain from doing so. "Wine?" Beatrice chuckled. "Yes, wine with breakfast would be lovely dear, but I'm afraid I must leave that for another day. Some juice would be nice."

"I will get it for you right away, Mrs Callahan," Annalise replied, happy to see Beatrice was not a stick in the mud like everyone else.

"Lovely, isn't she?" Beatrice asked Rafael. She was starting to consider stealing Annalise away from Rafael's home.

"That's not the word I would use," Rafael replied, having an entirely different opinion about the new maid.


Chapter 6: Quite the character (2) 

"How long do you intend to stay? Did you leave your bags at the door?" Rafael asked as it wouldn't be the first time she did it.

There was always the excuse of her carriage wheel suddenly breaking, a tree mysteriously falling and blocking the road, or his father leaving his mother behind and forgetting to pick her up. Beatrice had a habit of leaving her bags somewhere around the house and then revealing them once she got permission to stay.

"My son returned from a long adventure so why wouldn't I come to spend at least one night with you? Please," Beatrice innocently smiled. As long as she pleaded with him, she got her way, and would most likely be spending the night here. "I want to be closer to you."

"You live four houses away from me," Rafael replied, reminding her how close she was already.

"Your training grounds are large, and there are a lot of fields between those estates," Beatrice corrected him. Those four homes felt like four towns away. If not for wanting to give Rafael some space, she would build a new house on one of the fields to be closer.

It was only when Rafael went on long trips around the kingdom that Beatrice wanted to spend the night at his home. Seeing Rafael for a few hours was not enough to ease her mind that he had returned home safe and sound. Rafael would always hide when he injured his hand or foot, and the only way she would learn of it was by watching him.

Annalise returned to the dining room with a jug of fresh orange juice made by the cook. She was told it was something Beatrice would enjoy. Annalise looked back and forth between mother and son, hoping she did not miss out on anything important.

Annalise needed to hear about Rafael's travels, but more importantly, she needed to hear about his future plans. What was the King assigning him next and why was the Duke sending Rafael a letter?

"Your juice," Annalise smiled as she neared Beatrice. As long as she stuck close to Beatrice, she would find out all that she needed to know. "Is there anything else I can get for the two of you-"

"Rafael!" A voice Annalise had never heard before yelled.

After pouring Beatrice's juice, Annalise raised her head to get a good look at the newcomer. She assumed the well-built man with messy hair and a crooked smile to also be a knight. Once again, Annalise appreciated how many good-looking men she got to see from working in this home.

The stranger's eyes met with Annalise's, and before he could greet Rafael or Beatrice, he addressed Annalise. "A new one. Just my lucky day."

Annalise frowned as all interest in him vanished when he opened his mouth. From his words, he sounded like the type to enjoy flirting with the maids. She didn't mind him admiring her beauty, but as he continued to stare at her, it felt like her clothes were slowly disappearing in his mind.

Annalise wished more people would realize how unattractive they could become when they open their mouths.

"Mavis, you and all of the maids can leave. We will take care of serving the rest of our breakfast," Rafael disrupted the silence that had fallen over the dining room.

"Yes, young master. You heard him, girls! Hurry, hurry!" Mavis clapped her hands to get all the maids moving.

Annalise briefly glanced at Rafael, wondering why he was sending them away when there was more food to serve, and they were meant to clean up afterwards. She placed the jug on the table beside Beatrice so she could easily pour more when she was ready.

Cara went up to Annalise to grab her hand. "Come with me," she whispered, leading Annalise away from the dining room.

"Who is the man that just arrived?" Annalise softly asked as Mavis was right in front of them with the other maids. She knew the old bat had out-of-this-world hearing.

"That is Connor Bailey. His father is well-known for building houses for the rich. This estate was built by his father who is also friends with the young master's father. Connor is a guard for the King's army and is under Rafael. Conner is nothing but trouble for us," Cara whispered, keeping her eyes on Mavis to avoid getting in trouble. "Mavis doesn't like when we tell anyone about it. Especially the young master."

"Can we get to the point? Is it his perverted gaze that is the trouble?" Annalise asked. She kind of figured this Connor person was a creep just from his gaze alone. 'I've been called a pervert and met one in less than a day. Great,' she thought.

"Perverted, yes. He takes things a step further by getting too touchy. I like to make myself scarce when he comes to visit Rafael. Some of the maids have entertained his advances and learned a hard lesson about why you should avoid him. He seems to think he could have his way with us as he likes," Cara explained.

Annalise wondered what Rafael had to say about this friend. "What does the young master say about it?"

"Well, Rafael is hardly home for us to tell him, and Mavis has already told us to not mention it to him or she'll fire us. Connor comes from money so there's nothing we can do to get rid of him or have him punished. For the ones who feel uncomfortable around him, we either try to leave quickly when he is around, or smile and endure his hands being too touchy," Cara frowned, remembering the time his hand brushed against her buttocks.

"I don't know what to make of the young master as yet, but I think it's worth a try speaking to him instead of listening to Mavis. You should not have to let that bastard get away with this because he comes from money. If the young master is aware of this, but does nothing, I swear the last thing he will be worried about is me seeing his pecker," Annalise dramatically clenched her right fist. It loved connecting with the face of anyone who abused their power.

Cara pushed Annalise's hands back down to her side. "I am certain the young master does not know. He does not enjoy it when Connor visits, and out of all my employers, he is the kindest. If he ever finds out, the young master might kill Connor for putting his hands on the maids, but then it will create problems with Connor's father. Promise me that you will not say anything. I don't want to risk my job and shouldn't risk your own."

"All of these men and women with status speak to each other, and prefer when the servants are silent. If we expose one of them, if we leave this job it won't be easy to find work elsewhere. If he does something to you, speak up, but otherwise, just ignore what you see. Mavis is already looking to fire you," said Cara.

"You already know that I am not one to keep my mouth shut. If I see that bastard getting touchy with anyone, I am going to let him get well acquainted with the palm of my hand," Annalise promised.


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