Better Than Dusting

Writers: Suzee, Arale
Date Posted: 8th July 2012

Characters: Benani, Willara
Description: A drudge gets to do something different for a while.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 9 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Halah

Benani

"My Lady," Willara curtsied as the Lady Holder entered the room she'd
been cleaning. The girl rather hoped the Lady needed her to do
something or send a message somewhere because, honestly, dusting empty
rooms was not her favorite chore. She much preferred working in the
kitchens where there was always a group of other drudges and cooks to
talk to while she labored. Working by herself was so boring!

"Afternoon Willara," smiled Benani loosening up her gloves finger by
finger preparing to pull them off. She turned her back to the drudge
and with one hand pulled back the hood of her cloak preparing to take
it off. Her usual maid wasn't here to help her so she smiled over her
shoulder. "Do you mind?"

Willara quickly wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing and
hurried over, "Of course not, milady." She slowed as she reached the
Lady Holder, not sure what to do. She'd never attended a Lady before
and felt quite nervous about touching her.

"You can just hang it up over there," she pointed toward the small
room where her clothes were. "There is a peg just inside the door."
Benani's eyes were on her hand as she finally got one of the
troublesome gloves off.

The drudge reached out hesitantly and untied the cloak from the Lady
before taking it and hanging the article in the large closet. She was
careful to avoid creasing or wrinkling the cloak as she did so, still
feeling a bit nervous. "Can I those for you too, milady?" She asked,
indicating the gloves.

"Yes of course," said Benani handing her the gloves. Then she crossed
to her chair and put her foot up on it for the girl to remove her
outdoor boots. Maybe it was what was left of her baby weight but they
were pinching her feet and she'd be quite happy to have her more
comfortable house slippers on her feet.

Willara set the gloves on a nearby table and then knelt down to undo
the laces on the boots. Once she'd loosened them a bit, she gave a
tug, trying not to pull too sharply and unbalance the Lady. The last
thing she wanted to do was yank the Lady Holder off her feet trying to
remove her boots.

Benani tipped slightly but caught herself on the nearby table as she
pulled her foot out of the boot. This time she smiled at the drudge
and sat down before putting her other foot on the stool.

Feeling a little nervous again after the near tipping over she'd
caused, Willara was more careful with the next boot, even though
Benani was sitting this time. Both boots off, the drudge picked up
both boots and set them inside the closet where she'd hung the cloak.
"Your slippers, my Lady?"

"Yes please," she waved a hand toward on of the cupboard doors. "In
there." She realized the girl probably didn't have a clue where things
were in her room and she briefly wondered where Halah had gotten to.
Well, she probably should make certain more then one of them knew what
was up. "Thank you for your help Willara, I know this isn't your
usual job."

Willara found the slippers in the cupboard and offered the Lady Holder
a shy smile, "Oh, you're welcome, my Lady." As she knelt down to set
the slippers next to Benani's feet so she could just slide them in,
the drudge glanced up, feeling a little bolder now. "It's made a nice
break from the dusting, if I may say so."

Benani smiled and stood after pushing her feet into her slippers. Then
she walked across the room to the sideboard for a cup of hot tea. But
there was no hot water. She sighed, "The water's gone cold. Can you
please ring for more?"

"Of course," Willara did so, pulling the braided cord and handing the
boy who answered the carafe to bring back the hot water in. "It should
be here shortly, do you need anything else, my Lady?" She hoped there
were a few more things she could do for the Lady Holder before she was
forced to move on to dusting the next room.

"I think I'm fine," she said with a smile. "But if you can find Halah
and send her to me?" Benani sat again near the window in a pool of
sunlight and picked up her embroidery. "That will be all. Thank you
Willara."

"My Lady," Willara curtsied before leaving to find her fellow drudge,
pleased that she didn't have to get back to the boring job of dusting
just yet.

Last updated on the July 17th 2012

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Better Than Dusting