I blinked in quick succession as I took in the ornately decorated room covered in a soft cream and purple scheme. My hands pushed onto the soft mattress I’d been laid upon. I lifted the covers only to discover my filthy clothing had been replaced with a satin nightgown that went down to my knees. Another clank turned my head toward the nearby window.
Standing next to a small round table covered in a lacy tablecloth was a round figure. She was short and stout in a muslin-colored dress, her greying hair pulled up into a bun on top of her head. She rearranged dishes on the table, clinking them against each other in her hurry to get them in order.
“Uh... hello?” I asked.
A startled little sound came from the woman who fiddled with her hair and rubbed her hands down the front of her skirt before turning around. She bent over at the waist as she addressed me.
“Oh, mistress. I didn’t know you were awake. Please forgive me for my rudeness. I am Fran, your maid.”
Mistress? Maid?
Ignoring her clear confusion, I slipped out of the bed, my feet instantly screaming in orgasmic bliss when they sank into the plush cream carpet laid across the stone floors. I shook off the desire to roll around on the carpet just to see how it would feel on my skin and cautiously rounded the bed to come up to the woman’s side. There was no other clothing in sight and, as we were both women, it seemed a bit silly to complain about the lack of dirt and grime on my body.
“I don’t mean to be a bother, but could you tell me where I am?” I gave a self-deprecating smile. “I really need to get back to work and while this...” I ran my hands down the silk nightgown longingly, wishing I could take it with me. “This is lovely, it would be impractical for me to return in this. It’s hard enough to find clothing Rumple doesn’t mind us keeping, let alone ones that fit, and that dress still had a few more good years in it.”
The woman’s pale face, paler than what seemed healthy, peeked at me from her bent position. Her wrinkled face pinching with concern. “I’m afraid master had us burn it.”
My mouth fell open before I quickly clamped it shut. “Very well. Then do you have some servant's clothing I might have or at least borrow until I return to the factory and find some replacements?”
I shifted from side to side, searching for some kind of wardrobe. The woman straightened her mouth, pulling into a broad grin.
“We most certainly have something you can wear. Over here, mistress.” She shuffled across the room, her left leg dragging slightly behind her until she stood before a door. Pulling it open, she quickly darted inside a room about the same size as the room I shared with three other women back at the factory.
It was then that I realized there were three doors in the room. Since one went to a closet, I could only assume the other two went to a bathroom and the exit. My feet moved on their own, inching toward the door, the tugging in my stomach more insistent than before. Before I knew it, my hand was on the door handle.
“Mistress?”
I blinked, turning my head toward the woman. “I... uh... I don’t know how I got here.” I frowned, staring at my hand on the door. The tugging had briefly stopped, but the moment I stopped moving, it came back with a vengeance.
A hand touched my arm before Fran drew me away from the door. “Come, mistress. Let’s find you something to wear first.”
Yes. I did need something else to wear. I glanced down at my nightgown once more. I couldn’t very well make it all the way back to the factory in this. It might be summer, but who knew how far I was from Candiopolis? Yes, get dressed, then find a way out of here.
The annoying tug lessened to a slight twinge.
“Now, then.” Fran stopped us in the middle of the room where we were surrounded by a sea of different colored gowns andaccessories. I hadn’t seen this many beautiful things in one place since I had to fill in for Patrick for deliveries in that dress shop. “How about this one?” Fran pulled out a blue silk dress with a massive skirt and an array of frills.
“It’s lovely, but...” I paused and glanced at a rack nearby. My hands slid over the clothes, my eyes fluttering closed at the feel of the elaborate fabric beneath my fingertips before they settled on one pale pink dress. I hesitated over it — the color wasn’t one I’d trust myself to wear at work — before forcing my hand to shift to the dress beside it.
While the fabric was still too nice for factory work, the beige-colored fabric and simple A-line skirt made it the simplest gown out of the whole treasure trove.
“I think this one would be more appropriate.”
Fran eyed the dress, clearly not happy with my choice, but didn’t say anything otherwise. When she reached for me, I flinched back, holding the dress to my front.
“I can do it myself. Thank you.” I flushed, peering off to the side.
Fran bowed and backed out of the closet. The door clicked behind her. For a brief moment, I closed my eyes and just breathed.
Alright, Mara. You’ve got this. Rumple can’t blame you for getting kidnapped. You didn’t ask for this. Everyone who was there last night will be able to testify to your unwillingness.
The important thing was to figure out where I was and how I could get back to Candiopolis. I just hoped that whoever my kidnapper was, they weren’t here and wouldn’t get in my way.
Not wanting Fran to walk in on me while I was changing, I pushed the straps of the silky sleeping gown down my shoulders, letting it pool on the floor. I lifted the new gown I’d selected up before me, searching for any ties that might need to be undone.
That’s when my eyes caught in a mirror on the wall.
My eyes were wide with purple bruises beneath each of them, my skin was a shade paler than usual, my hair stuck out in all directions. My gaze skimmed down the side of my body, skipping over where my ribs protruded and across my bony hip as I went. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled loud enough to make me wince.
