The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 36: [Bonus - ] Returning gifts (1)

"Why are all of you staring instead of cleaning the floors? I will tell Mavis," Cara warned the other maids. Since she had walked out with Annalise to start cleaning up the grand hall the morning after the party, the other girls could not stop staring and whispering something about Annalise.

"They are going to be talking about what happened with Connor for a few hours. It is the only thing that happened last night that is worth talking about," said Annalise. She did not mind that the other girls were talking about her and Connor. Coming up with many stories about what happened.

So far Annalise heard what really happened, then there was the story about her being with Connor and framing him for trying to force himself on her when she was caught by Rafael, and other stories that just made no sense in her opinion.

For the most part, many of the maids who were uncomfortable with Connor around visited her room late in the night, early in the morning, and then when she went to breakfast, to tell her that they were glad she was alright. They even offered her kind words to help her move on from it.

It was a horrible experience for anyone, but Annalise was glad some good came out of it. Now the maids did not have to worry about Connor being around to make them uncomfortable. Annalise was told that Rafael had the butler announce that anyone who felt uncomfortable around someone should come to him if Mavis or Edwin was not helping them.

"Stop talking and get this room cleaned!" Mavis yelled.

Mavis wasn’t too happy with Rafael questioning if she was right for the job. She devoted too many years to this house for her to be fired and have to look for work all over again. There was no telling if she would be hired as a head maid elsewhere if Rafael were to fire her. Mavis could not go back to being just a maid.

"Try not to get in trouble today. Mavis is in a terrible mood," Cara whispered. She didn’t see why Mavis was taking her anger out on them when it was her own doing for not telling Rafael about Connor. She would have liked to see Mavis fired and then one of the other women who had many years of experience be given the job.

Annalise wasn’t thinking about Mavis. She was still stuck on what happened outside of Rafael’s study. Who had created the noise and was trying to get into the room? Was there someone else looking to steal information from Rafael? If they were, who were they working for and what was their purpose?

Nothing was said about someone trying to get inside Rafael’s study so maybe she was thinking about this all for nothing.

"Annalise."

"What?" Annalise looked away from the window she was wiping to Edwin, who stood beside her with something wrapped up in his hands. "I’m sorry," she apologised for not noticing he was calling out to her. ’Why is Edwin here?’ She wondered since Edwin had never come looking for her before. Beatrice was no longer here for Edwin to be looking for her to tend to her.

Beatrice left as promised when the party came to an end. Annalise came out in time to see Beatrice’s bags being taken out and her kissing Rafael goodbye. Annalise was surprised to hear that Beatrice lived quite close to Rafael because of the tearful goodbyes like Beatrice had to travel for days to see Rafael again.

"Don’t apologise. I like to see when someone is lost in their work. It is I who should apologise for interrupting you. The young master asked that I deliver this to you," Edwin said, holding out the dress and blanket he sent someone to buy early in the morning. He did not want to deliver Rafael’s gift too late.

The room became silent at the mention that Rafael had sent something to Annalise. Even Mavis, who would normally scold the girls for stopping their work, stood still, trying to get a glimpse at what Rafael had sent for Annalise. He had requested that she keep an eye on Annalise to comfort her if she were to feel shaken up about last night.

It wasn’t something Mavis enjoyed doing since she wasn’t a nanny, but she needed to get back on Rafael’s good side, so she agreed to do it.

Annalise took whatever was wrapped in cloth from Edwin. "Thank you," she said.

"Don’t thank me. Thank the young master, since it is a gift from him. That is all," Edwin said, excusing himself as there was work for him to get back to. First, he had to let Rafael know that what he requested was given to Annalise.

Annalise placed it to the side to take a look at later. Right now, she was more focused on getting the windows cleaned so she could move on to her next task. She was still looking to get on Mavis or Edwin’s good side.

"Are you crazy, Annalise? Open it so we can all see what it is," Cara excitedly said. She was on the verge of opening it herself.

Annalise looked around, not noticing how many eyes were on her. Even Mavis seemed like she wanted her to open it now so she could see what she was given. "I am certain he said this was my gift," she muttered. They were acting like it was a gift meant for everyone, and she was keeping it to herself.

Annalise knew that receiving a gift from Rafael would spark a lot of jealousy, but it would be worse depending on what was inside. Either way, she would have to hear them complaining about her getting a gift.

Annalise didn’t think whatever was inside could be considered a gift. Rafael simply felt bad about what happened and wanted to make her feel better. Annalise untied the rope that kept the gift together in the cloth. What she picked out first was a blanket.

Annalise tilted her head, trying to make sense of him giving her this blanket. It was soft and would certainly keep her warm during cold nights, so she could not complain, but why a blanket? Was this custom here? Did he think she had trouble sleeping now?

Annalise heard laughter behind her since the blanket had not impressed anyone.

"A dress!" Cara exclaimed when Annalise lifted the blanket and found a dress underneath.

This caught the attention of the maids, who laughed a moment ago.

Annalise put the blanket to one side and picked up the top of the dress. It was white and similar in style to something Beatrice and the other women attending the party last night would wear. ’This is to replace the one Connor tore,’ Annalise now remembered.

The old dresses she wore were nothing compared to the dress in her hands. Annalise only had cheap dresses she had bought to use for her time here working as a maid. She would not be taking them back home with her for her father to know where she was.

The dress Rafael sent her did not suit her.

’How would I fight anyone in this?’ Annalise asked herself.