Silk and Wool: 5/?
Author's Note: Another update! :D
“What a delightful little home. It appears like the one we have upcountry, doesn’t it Suzy?”
“Min…please,” her sister stretched out. “You have a lovely home madam. Just lovely.”
She put on her best smile to make up for her sister’s impoliteness, and the madam took it kindly. Min walked in a few more feet into the home as the footmen brought in their mounds of luggage.
“Where am I to stay while we’re here?” she asked one of them.
“Yes, miss. There are rooms available on the top floor and a few near Miss Fei. The household staff and myself have taken the liberty of finding you a room right next to her with wonderful-“
“Where will Chansung be staying?”
The footman looked taken aback and the madam forced herself not to look at her as if she were a tart from the city.
“Well? Did you not hear my question?” Min continued.
“Yes miss. I apologize. He stays on the second floor. We split an area of rooms for the master and-“
“Give me one next to Chansung. If I’m to learn more about this home and the people in it, what better than a personal guide and friend so nearby?”
“Miss Min!”
Chansung’s mother finally spoke, aghast at the liberty her new guest was taking with her placement in the estate.
“I am aware that you’re a guest of this household, but by no means will I have a woman, dear God, a single, young woman at that, staying next to my son! What of manner? What of class and dignity and-“
“Madam, please. I am sorry to interrupt but how could you think such a thing of me? My father sent me with well wishes and I would never try to intrude on the rules of your household. I do apologize. I am but an eager visitor to your home and I believe my manners are out of touch-”
Suzy was blinking rapidly and almost at the point of rolling her eyes, hearing such words come out of Min’s mouth before. Chansung, Fei and Jia looked upon the conversation, the younger two confused and the teacher with her mouth pursing. There would have to be adjustments to this new guest. Min didn’t acknowledge anyone but Chansung’s mother, smiling politely and bowing ever-so-slightly as she continued to speak.
“The journey was long and all I wish to do is rest. I am sincerely sorry.” She rolled her eyes around to the rest of them, “…to all of you, I am sincerely sorry.”
His mother seemed to fall for it though, nodding and allowing the girl her wish of a room next to Chansung’s, and with a bit more coaxing, made Chansung lead her up the stairs to it. Chansung obliged, but he was uncomfortable. He walked with her, elbow out as she clutched on, and helped her to her room. When they were at the door, he refused to enter, despite her spurning him to come in and speak with her. He was saved by a stern-looking Fei at the door, telling him that his lessons would begin soon. Min was disappointed, but she feigned a smile and let Chansung on his way. As they approached the stair, Fei walked straight, off to another room to find a man-servant that attended to the top floor.
“Miss Fei, I thought I’m to receive my lessons-“
“Chansung. Just as I reminded you before…think as a man. Watch those with heady ambition.”
She said nothing else, but there was a look in her eye as she turned to find that particular servant.
---
Back downstairs, Jia stood by the side of her mistress, now hacking more often than not. She gave her a tissue and asked that another servant prepare some herbal tea for her as quickly as possible. Jia rose with her to escort her to her room, but her eyes still wandered in the direction of the stairs, the trail that led up to her Chansung and this new girl. …her Chansung. She stopped herself from the thought of laying claim to him.
“Do you need help?” Suzy asked.
Jia had an arm across the back of her madam as Suzy looked at her from the other side, eyes hopeful and arms helpful. “I am quite strong. Don’t let the flow of my dress fool you,” she chuckled.
“It’s quite alright. No-“
“Indeed!” the old woman interjected, “You are a guest of this home and I shant have you doing manual labor. The thought of it, what is the matter with the young these days?” she grumbled.
Jia looked at her in thanks and Suzy smiled back as the madam continued to groan and cough quietly.
“Taking liberties…in my day…cannot even fathom…”
Jia walked the rest of the hall with her madam until they were in front of her room, another two servants coming to help her. They ordered Jia to leave, but not until she saw Fei at the door and the madam shooing her out did she excuse herself.
“Follow me,” Fei ordered.
They travelled a familiar path in the estate, past the kitchens and down long hallways. At the end, and in front of her room, Fei took hold of Jia’s hands. She held them firm and looked her in the eye, alarming Jia with the brute force she took in her grip.
“Jia, listen and listen carefully-“
Both of them had hurried breaths.
“Take heed in these new guests. Please. You’ve been comfortable thus far but I cannot ensure your safety or what’s to come should they find out about the relationship you have with Chansung. …do you understand?”
Jia’s eyes widened at the threat, but she had to ask. She’d been careless before with the book, but this threat was beyond what she’d expected. Was her heart this open? Her eyes this blind to what she recognized in the past? Were these new guests like the others? Worse?
“Are you listening!?” Fei exclaimed. “You cannot be as you were with him-“
“Miss Fei. Miss Fei, what relationship?”
“Jia…you know what I speak of.”
Jia knew. She knew her feelings for him had grown and yet…she couldn’t act upon them consciously. Unconsciously she had though; the stares, the tightening of her face and her body, the blush on her cheek whenever he was near. Jia knew what Fei spoke of, but she wanted to think that they could at least still be friends. This was friendship, was it not?
“Take heed,” Fei continued to warn, “and remember my story. …don’t fall in love.”
Fei finally let go of her hands before taking deep breaths to approach the hall and the rest of the household. She righted herself and looked ever the prim schoolmarm before the others saw her emerge with a strict look back on her face.
Back in her corner of the estate, Jia shook. She shook like shivers of cold were overtaking her body, running through the heat of summer and striking her hard. It rushed through her body and she had to calm herself, but she couldn’t do so as quickly as Fei had. She was still a girl, though seasoned in ways she wished she weren’t, she was unseasoned in matters of the heart. Despite the warning, it was too late. Miss Suzy seemed friendly, but Miss Min was a threat to her. Even in their first meeting, Miss Fei appeared a threat to her.
Jia had fallen in love.
“What a delightful little home. It appears like the one we have upcountry, doesn’t it Suzy?”
“Min…please,” her sister stretched out. “You have a lovely home madam. Just lovely.”
She put on her best smile to make up for her sister’s impoliteness, and the madam took it kindly. Min walked in a few more feet into the home as the footmen brought in their mounds of luggage.
“Where am I to stay while we’re here?” she asked one of them.
“Yes, miss. There are rooms available on the top floor and a few near Miss Fei. The household staff and myself have taken the liberty of finding you a room right next to her with wonderful-“
“Where will Chansung be staying?”
The footman looked taken aback and the madam forced herself not to look at her as if she were a tart from the city.
“Well? Did you not hear my question?” Min continued.
“Yes miss. I apologize. He stays on the second floor. We split an area of rooms for the master and-“
“Give me one next to Chansung. If I’m to learn more about this home and the people in it, what better than a personal guide and friend so nearby?”
“Miss Min!”
Chansung’s mother finally spoke, aghast at the liberty her new guest was taking with her placement in the estate.
“I am aware that you’re a guest of this household, but by no means will I have a woman, dear God, a single, young woman at that, staying next to my son! What of manner? What of class and dignity and-“
“Madam, please. I am sorry to interrupt but how could you think such a thing of me? My father sent me with well wishes and I would never try to intrude on the rules of your household. I do apologize. I am but an eager visitor to your home and I believe my manners are out of touch-”
Suzy was blinking rapidly and almost at the point of rolling her eyes, hearing such words come out of Min’s mouth before. Chansung, Fei and Jia looked upon the conversation, the younger two confused and the teacher with her mouth pursing. There would have to be adjustments to this new guest. Min didn’t acknowledge anyone but Chansung’s mother, smiling politely and bowing ever-so-slightly as she continued to speak.
“The journey was long and all I wish to do is rest. I am sincerely sorry.” She rolled her eyes around to the rest of them, “…to all of you, I am sincerely sorry.”
His mother seemed to fall for it though, nodding and allowing the girl her wish of a room next to Chansung’s, and with a bit more coaxing, made Chansung lead her up the stairs to it. Chansung obliged, but he was uncomfortable. He walked with her, elbow out as she clutched on, and helped her to her room. When they were at the door, he refused to enter, despite her spurning him to come in and speak with her. He was saved by a stern-looking Fei at the door, telling him that his lessons would begin soon. Min was disappointed, but she feigned a smile and let Chansung on his way. As they approached the stair, Fei walked straight, off to another room to find a man-servant that attended to the top floor.
“Miss Fei, I thought I’m to receive my lessons-“
“Chansung. Just as I reminded you before…think as a man. Watch those with heady ambition.”
She said nothing else, but there was a look in her eye as she turned to find that particular servant.
---
Back downstairs, Jia stood by the side of her mistress, now hacking more often than not. She gave her a tissue and asked that another servant prepare some herbal tea for her as quickly as possible. Jia rose with her to escort her to her room, but her eyes still wandered in the direction of the stairs, the trail that led up to her Chansung and this new girl. …her Chansung. She stopped herself from the thought of laying claim to him.
“Do you need help?” Suzy asked.
Jia had an arm across the back of her madam as Suzy looked at her from the other side, eyes hopeful and arms helpful. “I am quite strong. Don’t let the flow of my dress fool you,” she chuckled.
“It’s quite alright. No-“
“Indeed!” the old woman interjected, “You are a guest of this home and I shant have you doing manual labor. The thought of it, what is the matter with the young these days?” she grumbled.
Jia looked at her in thanks and Suzy smiled back as the madam continued to groan and cough quietly.
“Taking liberties…in my day…cannot even fathom…”
Jia walked the rest of the hall with her madam until they were in front of her room, another two servants coming to help her. They ordered Jia to leave, but not until she saw Fei at the door and the madam shooing her out did she excuse herself.
“Follow me,” Fei ordered.
They travelled a familiar path in the estate, past the kitchens and down long hallways. At the end, and in front of her room, Fei took hold of Jia’s hands. She held them firm and looked her in the eye, alarming Jia with the brute force she took in her grip.
“Jia, listen and listen carefully-“
Both of them had hurried breaths.
“Take heed in these new guests. Please. You’ve been comfortable thus far but I cannot ensure your safety or what’s to come should they find out about the relationship you have with Chansung. …do you understand?”
Jia’s eyes widened at the threat, but she had to ask. She’d been careless before with the book, but this threat was beyond what she’d expected. Was her heart this open? Her eyes this blind to what she recognized in the past? Were these new guests like the others? Worse?
“Are you listening!?” Fei exclaimed. “You cannot be as you were with him-“
“Miss Fei. Miss Fei, what relationship?”
“Jia…you know what I speak of.”
Jia knew. She knew her feelings for him had grown and yet…she couldn’t act upon them consciously. Unconsciously she had though; the stares, the tightening of her face and her body, the blush on her cheek whenever he was near. Jia knew what Fei spoke of, but she wanted to think that they could at least still be friends. This was friendship, was it not?
“Take heed,” Fei continued to warn, “and remember my story. …don’t fall in love.”
Fei finally let go of her hands before taking deep breaths to approach the hall and the rest of the household. She righted herself and looked ever the prim schoolmarm before the others saw her emerge with a strict look back on her face.
Back in her corner of the estate, Jia shook. She shook like shivers of cold were overtaking her body, running through the heat of summer and striking her hard. It rushed through her body and she had to calm herself, but she couldn’t do so as quickly as Fei had. She was still a girl, though seasoned in ways she wished she weren’t, she was unseasoned in matters of the heart. Despite the warning, it was too late. Miss Suzy seemed friendly, but Miss Min was a threat to her. Even in their first meeting, Miss Fei appeared a threat to her.
Jia had fallen in love.