However, I spent the entire morning sifting through a roomful of gowns and jewels but found nothing satisfactory.
Frustration boiled within me as I watched the servants still sorting through the dresses.
I snapped, âIncompetents, is this how you serve me?â
Terrified by my outburst, the servants quickly knelt in a row, stammering apologies.
âMiss, we are sorryâ¦â
âSorry?â I sneered, throwing the dresses to the floor and stomping on them.
I kicked the two servants I liked the least in anger and roared, âYou know Andrew will be here tonight, yet you bring me these hideous clothes? Do you want me to be publically humiliated?â
The servants, on the verge of tears, continued to beg for forgiveness.
Their groveling only fueled my fury.
Pointing at the discarded clothes, I yelled, âHow dare you bring me these ugly rags? Do you have a death wish? Go and buy me new ones, or Iâll have your heads!â
Just as I finished speaking, the door swung open.
Who dared to enter my room without knocking?
I frowned, ready to unleash my wrath, but then I saw it was Addy.
I curbed my temper and asked politely, âMs.
Miller, what brings you here?â
Glancing at the kneeling servants and the discarded dresses and jewelry, Addy quickly grasped the situation.
âLeave us.
Sheâs just in a bad mood,â she told the servants in an impassive tone.
The servants, relieved, hurried out as if theyâd been granted amnesty.
I frowned and said in annoyance, âWhy did you let them go? I wasnât done scolding them yet.
How dare those lowly servants bring me such hideous clothes!â
Addy smiled and took my hand, her voice soothing.
âShirley, these clothes are the best available, or they
wouldnât have been sent to you.
Theyâre all limited editions.
Other girls donât even get to see them, and yet you havenât given them a chance.
If your mother finds out you threw them away and berated the servants, sheâll be furious.
â
My anger shifted to a sense of grievance.
âBut these dresses arenât pretty.
â
âYou seem to care a lot about your appearance today.
Do you have any special plans?â Addy gently ruffled my hair, her tone probing.
I was momentarily stunned, worried that Addy had figured out my intentions and might scold me like my mother.
I quickly shook my head and denied it.
âNo.
What plans could I have?â
Addy gave a knowing smile.
âDo you think you can hide it from me? Iâve known you since you were a child.
I can tell youâre up to something with just one glance.
â
Shirleyâs POV:
I felt somewhat helpless because, as Addy often reminded me, she raised me.
She understood me better than my own mother and always knew my desires.
I could never keep secrets from her.