by Laura Lond
“Are you waiting for someone?” she asked.
“Yes, for Mrs. Stella, the housekeeper.” He crumpled his hat in his hand, clearly uncomfortable in the fancy surroundings. “I’ve delivered her order of chocolate cakes. You have some sort of a celebration coming, as I understand.”
“Oh, yes.” With the recent adventure, it had totally slipped Ellie’s mind. “Lady Mirabelle’s niece is coming to visit.”
She did not know what else to say, and she didn’t want just to leave. Thankfully, Arman kept talking. It seemed to help him relax a little.
“Did you enjoy the pastry your sister had bought from us yesterday?”
“Yes, it was delicious, as always. I’d eat your muffins every day if I could. All our family loves them.”
They did eat the muffins after they’d returned from the shore. The strawberry pie was probably being devoured by their siblings at this very moment, their mother wondering whether it was Leatra or Ellie who’d splurged on it and why.
He smiled again; she knew he was very proud of the quality of products their bakery was known for.
“And the honey? It was the best we had.”
She sighed. “Unfortunately, Leatra had dropped the jar.”
He looked shocked for a moment. “Oh no. How did that happen?”
“I wish I could tell you…” And she did. She so wanted to tell someone. “But I don’t think Leatra would like that.”
“I see. I won’t mention it, then, if she comes by.”
“Yes, that would be the best. Well, I’m afraid I must go, Arman, I need to report to work. I will tell Mrs. Stella you’re here.”
“Thank you, Ellie. You should stop by some time, too. I’ll make sure you get the freshest muffins.”
Ellie started doing her chores, feeling like she was walking on air. She tried to keep her heart in check, as she always did. It was just a polite conversation, she told herself, it meant nothing. No different from the first one they’d had at the bakery. Arman was a well-mannered young man, he would have spoken like this to anyone. His invitation to stop by certainly was not anything special, a sign of interest in her or anything like that.
Yet her heart sang. The work seemed easy and fun, her hands were quick and deft. She could clean the whole mansion today, all by herself, and then dance all night.
***
Leatra walked into the kitchen. As usual, she was the first to arrive. Passing the row of frying pans on the wall, she couldn’t resist the urge to check her reflection. They were as good as mirrors, scrubbed and polished to the point of shining by her—and no, there was still no change.
Was it all in vain? No, no, she tried to assure herself. It had worked for the Lady. No reason it wouldn’t work for her. She just needed to be patient.
Leatra rolled up her sleeves, getting ready to start the fire and boil water. She noticed something under one of the tables, some yellowed piece of paper. Keeping the floor clean was her duty as well, so she hurried to pick it up before Mrs. Clarina, the senior kitchen maid, came. Mrs. Clarina had the eye of an eagle.
Leatra ducked under the table and fished the paper out, wondering how she’d missed it yesterday when she was sweeping the floor. She was about to throw it away, but as she turned it over she saw something scribbled on it, the handwriting nearly unreadable. Was that the chief cook’s hand?
She took a closer look. Indeed it was. It was one of Mr. Edman’s precious recipes. He guarded them so closely, always cooking his famous dishes himself, never letting anyone help or watch. He said he remembered all recipes, but everyone saw him look into that worn little notebook once in a while, the one he carried in his pocket and wouldn’t let out of his hands. The page must have come out of the notebook. Leatra couldn’t believe he had somehow lost it.
She put it in her pocket and went on with her work. Mr. Edman showed up at eight o’clock. He was middle-aged, tall and imposing. Except for the daily ‘Good mornings’ that he would acknowledge with a nod, Leatra had not spoken a word with him. Neither was she ever expected to, or allowed. The scullery maid reported to the senior kitchen maid, and she was not supposed to bother the chief cook.
Leatra curtseyed. “Good morning, Mr. Edman.”
He nodded, as always, without even looking at her.
Leatra hoped what she had found would justify this violation of protocol.
“Excuse me, sir.” She stepped closer to him and held out the page. “I think this is yours.”
He glanced up, eyebrows raised, took a look at the paper and snatched it from her hand.
“Where did you find this?”
“Right here,” she pointed. “Under the table.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
“Did you read it?”
“No, sir. I tried when I’d picked it up, but then I realized it was your hand, and very likely one of your recipes. I knew you wouldn’t want me to read, so I didn’t.”
He looked satisfied. “Good girl. I’d made sure it wouldn’t be easy to decipher, but still, I appreciate your good judgment. Thank you for returning it.”
Leatra curtseyed again. “It is my pleasure to be of service, Mr. Edman.”
The chief cook kept studying her. “Leah, isn’t it?”
“Leatra.”
“How long have you been working here? About a year?”
“Two years, sir.”
“Hmm. Longer than I thought. And without ever getting in trouble, as far as I recall.”
That’s right. Only it took a merman’s kiss to notice.
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Edman gave her another evaluating look. “Do you think you can handle a job of a kitchen maid?”
“Yes, sir.”
Leatra could barely hold down her excitement. This wasn’t something she planned to do for the rest of her life, either, but still. Less scrubbing, more cooking, double pay.
“Well, I think you deserve this promotion, and I’ll mention it to Mrs. Clarina.”
And so he did. The promotion was approved on that very day. The luck part was definitely working.
Subtle changes in Leatra’s appearance followed, starting on the third day. She was brushing her hair in the morning, looking in the mirror, when she noticed that the sickly blue shadows under her eyes were gone. Her hand with the brush stopped. Were they, really? She leaned closer to the mirror, turning this way and that. The features were still the same, but her complexion definitely improved. No shadows, and she was no longer so pale. And her hair? Was she imagining it, or did it really become a little thicker?
As days went by, Leatra saw with delight that she wasn’t imagining it. Her face became rounder, no more hollow cheeks. Eyelashes grew longer, lips, barely noticeable before, were getting fuller. Her eyes were now as big as Ellie’s, but not in the hungry child way; they were a young woman’s eyes, bright and lively. Even the sharp nose she so hated seemed to change.
In about a week, her mother noticed it, too.
“Seems like you’re finally starting to blossom into a pretty flower,” she commented, looking her daughter over. “Took you a long time, but here you are. Hope Ellie follows suit.”
Ellie didn’t, of course. Her sister remained as she was, providing a stark contrast, a vivid—and unpleasant—reminder.
“You really, really need to do this as well, Ellie,” Leatra urged. “Don’t you see? Don’t you want what I have?”
She could tell Ellie was tempted, yet she hesitated. She wouldn’t explain why, and Leatra couldn’t possibly fathom her reasons. Was she such a chicken? It was creepy, yes, but it could be done, and the result was so worth the scare. Perhaps another dance night would help to convince her.
Leatra had no doubt that attending the dances would be a much different experience now, but she wanted to maximize her chances. She spent her monthly pay on a new dress, a silk one, the color of ripe peaches. She also bought a bright red sash and matching ribbons for her full and shiny hair. When she attired hers
elf, Ellie stood next to her, eyes wide, looking at her in awe.
“Oh, Leatra… The whole tavern will be yours tonight!”
Leatra smiled, turning in front of the mirror, admiring the flowing silk. “I would think so. But we’re not going to the tavern where everyone knows me as the ugly duckling. We’ll go to town.”
The town was two miles away, but the long walk paid off. Leatra’s entrance into the larger, fancier dancing hall was immediately noticed, and she did not even have a chance to sit down. She was asked right away. As much as she hoped for success, she didn’t expect that. She didn’t catch the man’s name, neither did she hear much of what he was saying, but he was well dressed, and he tried to ask her again later on. He had no luck: other men were quicker.
Gram was there, too, and he asked Leatra as well. Gram the charmer. As they whirled in the dance, she looked into his sparkling blue eyes and feared to wake up from this dream.
“You are Leatra, right?” He flashed a smile. “I saw you in the village. And at the Mansion.”
There was no way he could remember her name, he must have found it out from the others.
“How come I never noticed how pretty you are?” he asked.
Leatra knew she was blushing. “I suppose it’s the new dress. You men are like butterflies, you’re drawn to bright colors.”
He laughed at that. “I guess we are! And you are the brightest flower there is today,” he added, lowering his voice. “Any chance I may kiss these coralline lips?”
She leaned away, pressing her fists into his chest. “Not so fast. I’m not that kind of a girl.”
“I know you aren’t. I was just teasing. Any chance I can walk you home tonight?”
She thought about it. “You’ll have to earn it.”
“Tell me how, I’ll do it.”
Leatra gestured at Ellie sitting alone on her chair.
“Make sure my little sister over there gets to dance as well.”
He nodded and smiled again. “Say no more.”
Gram whispered a word here and there, and Ellie spent the rest of the night dancing. Leatra watched, enjoying her sister’s stunned, overwhelmed expression as men continued to ask her, one after another. Let her have fun, let her get the taste of what life should be like. She’d probably run to the sea after that.
Having well earned his chance, Gram walked them home, together with Arman, the baker’s son, who also happened to be at the dancing hall. Arman didn’t talk much, and when he did, he talked to Ellie, but Leatra saw the looks he was casting at her.
“I have the morning off tomorrow,” Gram said. “Would you join me for a boat ride?”
Leatra shook her head. “No, thanks.”
“Why not?”
She had several reasons. One, she did not have the morning off. Two, she was not sure she should be spending time with Gram, the heartbreaker and fortune hunter. True, she was poor; but so was he. Whether he was serious or just wanted to play with her, she did not want him. And three, she was uneasy about going to the sea.
Leatra had been uneasy about it for a while. Every time she caught a glimpse of the azure waves, she thought of the merman. He had asked whether she’d come again, and she knew he was waiting. Sometimes she had the strangest feeling that he was calling out to her. Perhaps she was imagining it; perhaps not. If not, what did he want? Was he curious to see whether the kiss worked? Well, it did; Leatra was grateful, and she probably wouldn’t mind to show it to him, but… he was just too scary.
She didn’t tell Gram any of that, of course.
“I’m not that fond of boating,” she replied.
He wouldn’t give up that easy. “How about just a stroll on the beach, then? We could walk to the lighthouse, see the sea turtles, if we’re lucky. Then I’d take you to that little sweet shop that sits between the two hills, have you ever been there?”
“I haven’t.”
“See, more reason to go. I’ll buy you any treat you like. Arman here would not be in favor of that, of course,” he winked at the baker’s son, grinning. “They are competitors. But I think I can make peace with him if I promise to bring you to his place next, three times in a row.”
Smooth talker. Already trying to claim three more dates.
However, the outing Gram suggested was tempting. Maybe Leatra could go, just once. If the merman is out there, he won’t show himself when he sees her with Gram, they don’t like to be seen by people.
“I must be at work tomorrow, there’s no way I can ask for time off on such a short notice,” she said. “I can try asking for Tuesday morning, though.”
“Excellent!” Gram bestowed one of his most dashing smiles on her. “Tuesday it is. At seven. I will wait for you at the lagoon.”
***
Ellie removed the vase with roses and two marble figurines from the mantelpiece, dusted it, and placed everything back. Dusting was probably the easiest of her chores, although she was always a little nervous about dropping and breaking something, even after two and a half years of working here. Another maid had tried dusting around vases and other things, without moving them; she’d gotten fired for that.
Careful to get a good firm grip on each item she handled, Ellie let her thoughts wander. They wandered, of course, to the wonderful dance night. She still couldn’t believe all those men had asked her. She was aware it was only because she was with Leatra, and they were trying to please Leatra this way, earn her favor; Ellie had understood it right away. Nevertheless, she loved it. And then they’d walked home with Gram and Arman. She smiled as she replayed in her mind every word she and Arman had said to each other. The words were not many, and she probably shouldn’t make too much out of that, either, but it was so nice to remember them. It was the best night she had in her life.
“Ellie.”
Thankfully, Lady Mirabelle’s voice sounded when Ellie had just safely placed another figurine back on its spot. She span around, jerked out of her dreams.
The Lady, splendid in her forest green dress, stood in the doorway, looking at her with knowing sympathy.
“Yes, my lady?”
“I did not wish to startle you.” She stepped into the room and closed the door. “So your sister has done it.”
Ellie knew what she meant. “Yes, my lady.”
“When?”
“On that same day you had the kindness to tell me the secret.”
Lady Mirabelle shook her head. “You’d told her right away. It’s my fault, I suppose. I had not worded it well. I had said she would claw it out of you when she saw you change after getting a merman’s kiss; I assumed you would understand not to tell her until then.”
“Oh…” Ellie clutched the dusting rag. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize…”
“Do not blame yourself, I should have been more clear. Did you go with her?”
“Yes, my lady. I hid behind rocks, but I saw everything.”
“Tell me.”
Ellie would love to tell every little detail, but she didn’t dare take too much of the Lady’s time.
“He was so very handsome.”
“They all are,” Lady Mirabelle nodded. “Go on.”
“He was kind to Leatra. She was terrified of him, but he told her she wouldn’t be harmed, and talked to her very politely. He tried to make her feel less afraid.”
“What did she pay with?”
“He took no payment, but she had brought—”
“What?!” The sudden change in the Lady’s face and voice frightened Ellie. “She did not pay him? Did you not tell her that everything needed to be done exactly, precisely the way I said?”
“I—I did, my lady,” Ellie stammered. “But… things went differently.”
Lady Mirabelle marched to the nearest chair and sat down.
“Tell me exactly what had taken place.”
Ellie did. Fighting back panic, she relayed every word, every gesture, missing nothing. The Lady listened, her face hard like stone.
“Bring thi
s foolish girl to me, right now,” she snapped when Ellie finished.
“Yes, my lady.” Ellie ran to carry out the order, then remembered that it was Tuesday. “Oh, I forgot—she’s not here, she has taken the morning off. She will come at noon.”
“Fine. Bring her to me as soon as she comes.” The Lady rose and walked to the door.
“My lady…” Ellie ventured. “If I may ask…”
Lady Mirabelle stopped. “Yes?”
“Is my sister in any danger?”
The Lady’s fine lips curved in a bitter smirk. “She isn’t. Don’t worry yourself about her.”
Ellie did her best to continue her work, but she was barely managing. Despite the Lady’s last words, she was worried. Something was wrong, very wrong.
At noon, she hurried to the kitchen. Leatra was not there. Ellie’s heart sank; it was not like her sister to be late, she was never late in her life. Rules were strict at the Mansion; one could lose their job for a far lesser crime.
Sick with fear, Ellie rushed to Mrs. Stella, the housekeeper, tried to explain that something must have happened to her sister and begged to allow her to go look for her. Mrs. Stella was not too happy about that, but mentioning that the Lady wished to see Leatra as soon as possible helped.
Ellie ran outside. Where to? Home? The lagoon? She decided to check at home first. She was out of breath when she reached their shabby little log house, her right side was hurting.
“Is Leatra here?” she shouted to three of her young brothers playing outside.
“Yeah, changing for work,” Torgen replied.
Changing for work? Ellie slowed down, relieved and confused. Was Leatra so enamored with Gram that she’d lost track of time? She’d be in trouble for this, big trouble. At best, demoted back to scullery maid, at worst, fired.
Ellie went inside. The door to their room was locked.
“Leatra?” She knocked. “It’s Ellie.”
She heard a sob, some movement followed; the lock clicked, and the door opened. Leatra stood before her, trembling, eyes red, face streaked with tears. She was not changing, she still wore the simple yellow frock she’d put on for her outing. The hem of the dress was wet.
