The painting room was dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from the window facing west. Paulina was seated on a wooden chair, focused on her painting, trying to perfect every stroke of the brush.
She had spent the past night here. It was the only place she seemed to feel safe, and she didn't want to be a burden to Alicia by clinging to her.
She had been spending her time painting, as it seemed to help her get her mind off everything that had happened lately.
Alicia had described her looks and even drawn samples of how she usually dressed to give Paulina an idea, so she tried to get a picture of it in her head and make a nice portrait of her, a lot bigger than she had ever drawn her entire life.
She had been painting for a few hours when she heard footsteps outside. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tried to assure herself that she had heard it wrongly. Who could possibly come here?
When the footsteps got closer, she stood up in a hurry and instinctively hid behind a cabinet.
As the footsteps came closer, she held her breath, hoping whoever it was would leave. But the door opened, causing her to almost gasp. She immediately reached to cover her mouth so as not to let any sound escape.
For some reason, she could tell that whoever had entered was looking for her. She could feel the person's gaze sweeping over the room until it finally settled on her hiding spot.
"I know you're there, Paulina," he said, his voice low and soft. "You can come out."
Paulina was more than surprised to hear Williams' voice. Wasn't he still ill?
She hurriedly stepped out from behind the cabinet, and when she saw him really there, standing in flesh with a cane supporting him, her eyes rounded in surprise.
"What... how... why..." Paulina tried to ask a question, but she found it difficult.
What was he doing here?
How did he get here?
Why was he here?
Was it wise for him to be up and about?
Williams only observed her look. Some parts of her face were smeared with paint oil. In fact, she seemed to have it all over her. He turned towards the closest chair and sat down gently, explaining, "I'm tired of being in bed all day," he replied with a shrug. "I needed to stretch my legs a little and..." He paused and looked around the room before his eyes settled on her. "I missed this place."
Paulina still had that wary aura all around her as she stared at him from where she stood.
His eyes remained on her before they moved to where she had been painting earlier. He stood up, walking towards that direction, and as soon as she noticed, she dashed past him and instinctively turned it away from him, hiding it from his view.
He didn't fight her for it and just raised a brow at her. "What are you painting?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"It... is a gift for my mistress," she replied, her voice guarded.
He was still suspicious, but he nodded and returned to his seat.
"I thought you already gave her one? What about mine?" He asked, faking sadness.
"Oh... Milord... I will make yours after--"
"Have you ever received a gift?" he asked, interrupting her.
She pursed her lips as she pondered the question, then nodded.
"Queen Anne used to get me nice things. Princess Amber also made me an oil paint out of a plant." She smiled when she remembered that, but her smile grew sad as she said, "Madam Grace poured them away and forbade me from using such things." The sadness lingered for only a short while before she snapped out of it and said, "I'm sure my parents must have gotten me a lot of things too. Even though I cannot remember much about it."
Williams looked at her intensely. From the few words she had just said, he had been able to learn more about her than he had known about her in months.
"I could give you a gift," Williams offered, his voice soft. "Just name it."
Paulina snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "I don't expect such things."
"You do not have to expect it." He spoke calmly.
Paulina eyed him warily, unsure of his intentions. She was aware of their differences in status, and the idea of accepting a gift from him made her uncomfortable. It was improper. Inappropriate. In fact, it was taboo.
"I appreciate the offer, my lord, but it's not necessary," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
They fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their thoughts. Williams noticed the tension between them and tried to ease it.
"Don't you have anything to ask me?" He asked her. He could tell she was very wary of him. Not like she had never been, but now, it was very obvious. She wasn't even making any move to sit down. She just kept her eyes on him as though waiting for any sign that would make her flee.
Paulina hesitated before she shook her head. She didn't want to talk about that. The thought of it still scared her.
Williams seemed a little disappointed that she wasn't asking, but he said instead, "Then tell me about your life in the mountains," he said, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Paulina sighed, a sad smile playing at the corners of her lips. "It was not easy, My Lord," she admitted.
Even though she had never been comfortable here, life was a lot easier here than in the mountains. Being watched over by someone like Madam Grace, eating barely proper meals, not meeting other people, having to farm for food to eat before some would be sent to Madam Grace from the palace, the fear of wild animals, and how cold it usually was.
"It was tough," she said quietly.
"I can imagine it," Williams said, his eyes filled with sympathy. "But you're here now, and that's what matters."
"Yes?" She answered with uncertainty.
When Williams suddenly stood up, she flinched, making him raise a questioning brow at her.
"You still think I am going to hurt you?"
"I... I don't... think so. I don't know. I'm just--"
"Be calm." He said calmly, making her stop her rambling to look up at him.
"I am still the same person, Paulina." He assured her. "Everyone who was good to you will still be good to you. Everyone who was bad to you will still be bad. Nothing has changed." He let her words sink in before he asked, "Do you understand that?"
"I... think so," Paulina said as she tried to control her breathing to go more smoothly.
"Come," he called, laying out his hand for her to take.
She looked at his hand and looked up at him, reluctant.
"You want me to?" he asked.
She continued to stand there, staring at his hand. How dare she take the hands of a Lord? Did he even know what he was asking of her?
Since she refused to move, he did.
He dropped his cane carefully by the chair and walked closer to her. With every step he took, she took one backwards until her back was firmly against the wall, stuck, and Williams towering above her.
"I don't bite." He promised in a whisper as he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She gasped and looked up at him in disbelief.
She wasn't sure what he was doing, but she knew this was... weird.
Everything about it was weird, including how closely they were standing.
"Do not always look down on yourself. You are a lovely person." He said in a soft tone and leaned in, gently kissing the top of her head.
Paulina was completely caught off-guard. It was the first time any man had ever kissed her, and the shock of the sensation was overwhelming. She felt her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
Her mind raced with a mix of emotions: shock, fear, confusion, and even a hint of excitement. She had never been close to any man before coming to the palace, and this unexpected kiss left her feeling unsteady and off-balance.
When Williams pulled back, Paulina didn't know what to do. She stood there, staring at him in disbelief, as he watched her red-beet face with a mixture of concern and interest.
But as the reality of the situation sank in, Paulina's fear took over. She was just a maid, and Williams was a lord--what was she doing?!
Without another word, Paulina manoeuvred her way out and fled from the painting room, running as fast as she could down the hallway. She didn't want to think about what had just happened - it was too much to handle.
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