The Lady Belongs to the Moon

“Get out of my sight.”

The maid backed away and ran out of the room crying.

The lady rolled her eyes and slammed the tea cup to the ground. It broke into a million pieces.

“Stop throwing a tantrum sister, you shouldn’t be so mean to the girl.”

“Always defending the maids, never thinking of how I feel.” Snapped the lady, “would it kill you to sympathize with me for once?”

In a lavish tea room, the two exchanged cold looks.

“Ivette. I don’t remember a time you ever showed kindness to anyone.”

“Markus. You are being stern. I look after you like a good older sister. That is kindness.”

Markus set his tea cup down.

“I’m tired of visiting you sister. Your tea is cold just like your temper. Our conversations never end well. You make it sound like I am your responsibility.”

“…”

“Enjoy your tea.”

He left the room and closed the door with a soft click.

Ivette poured another cup of tea for herself and raised to her lips.

She could not drink it.

Setting down the tea, Ivette got up and went to the window.

She watched as her brother chased after the maid that broke her vase.

“That clumsy maid did it on purpose. Why did she have to trip over her own feet? That vase was expensive. A rare item and she went ahead and broke it.”

Her brother offered a handkerchief to the crying maid and dried her eyes.

Ivette widened her eyes as she watched the maid blush. The maid was taken with him. It showed in her eyes.

“That little maid… dares look at my brother with eyes like that? I’ll have to throw her out immediately. I refuse to entertain this nonsense. She isn’t worthy of my brother.”

Stomping down stairs, Ivette decided to interrupt the two because their foolish amor would grow in her own home.

Before she made it to the bottom, her male servant bowed his head.

“Lady Ivette, a letter.” Said her male servant.

She snatched the letter from his hand and ripped it open.

After she read it, lady Ivette crumpled the paper.

“Unbelievable. I can hardly believe it… get the carriage. I leave at once.”

“Yes my lady.” Said her male servant obediently.

She climbed into the carriage with the help of her male servant. He was going to follow her in, but lady Ivette raised her hand.

“I did not ask you to come now did I? Stay here and make sure no nonsense happens while I am away. Oh… and have that clumsy maid scrape ash from the stoves.”

The male servant bowed his head.

As soon as lady Ivette left he sighed.

“Finally, she’s gone.”

The male servant returned to his post and watched as the young master spoke with the clumsy maid.

He noted that the maid was happy listening to him and decided nothing was wrong.

“The stove is already clean.” He thought.

He walked away and allowed the two to continue talking.

The male servant passed the kitchens and seen a few maids putting small trinkets into their pockets.

He pretended not to see them.

One maid decided to steal a gold spoon.

This time he spoke up.

“Items that will be missed should not be removed… items not so close to the lady’s liking are better, forgotten.”

The maid placed the gold spoon back and stole a small bottle of sweets. Easily overlooked on the tray full of fancy decor.

Every room was partially cleaned and most things went missing.

The male servant of lady Ivette smiled and continued on his way.

This is what happened when lady Ivette went on trips.

“A few stolen goods shouldn’t phase her…” thought the male servant.

A cold smile appeared on his face as he walked down a dark hallway.

***

Lady Ivette was silent in her carriage. She had her eyes closed and focused only on where she was going.

At last the carriage stopped.

She hopped out and tossed a gold coin to the driver who snatched it with one hand.

He bit it with his teeth and nodded his head.

Off he went.

Lady Ivette was in front of a large home in the city.

She knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer.

No one came.

Growing impatient, lady Ivette opened the door herself and wandered upstairs to the bedrooms.

She seen a door half opened and peeked inside.

“Ivette is that you…?” Came a weak voice.

Hurrying over, Ivette sat down on the bed and brushed her hand over this person’s forehead.

“Marla, you are with fever. Have you not called for a doctor?”

“I did… but it has been a few hours since then… what day is today?”

Lady Ivette said the date and the pale woman sighed.

“How time passes. I wish this terrible cold would leave me.”

Lady Ivette rang for a maid. It took time, but a girl came.

When she seen lady Ivette the maid stiffened.

“Where is the tea?”

“C-coming my lady.”

The maid rushed out of the room, and lady Ivette shook her head.

“Incompetent girl. I’ll have to visit more often.”

“She is the only maid I have. Be kind to her.”

“You are far too patient with people.” Answered Lady Ivette, “however do you manage to stay this thoughtful of others is beyond my comprehension…”

Lady Ivette glanced at the fireplace that was filled with ash and then looked up at the cobwebs in the ceiling.

“Ha… I suppose I like to think the best of people. Speaking of people, how is your brother Ivette?”

“Following a maid like a puppy.”

Marla laughed.

“Don’t be so harsh. He is young and handsome. Love is a beautiful thing when it blooms.”

“…That depends on if that love is pure.” Said lady Ivette quietly.

Marla looked at lady Ivette and smiled. She reached out and grabbed Ivette’s hand.

“Yes… you are right Ivette. It seems you have changed a bit, normally you would denounce such things as love and affection.”

“I’m sure you cannot be serious… now tell me Marla. Where is your husband?”

“Away on business.”

“For how many weeks?”

“…”

Lady Ivette pulled her hand away and leaned forward to Marla.

“I told you not to marry that bastard. I could have looked after you.”

“Ivette-“

“Do not defend him. You know I am right. Why a innocent flower like you is left to suffer alone in this wretched house is too cruel for me to fathom.”

Tears streamed down Marla’s face.

“I… please forgive me Ivette.”

“Forgive? What is there to forgive?”

Lady Ivette placed her hand on Marla’s face and wiped away a stray tear from the poor woman’s face.

“To me, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. You do not deserve to be cast aside like some old coat. You are a lady that belongs to the moon, safe from all evil that dare taint your beauty.”

“Oh… Ivette!”

Marla sat up and hugged lady Ivette. She sobbed into lady Ivette’s shoulder. Patting Marla’s head, lady Ivette went numb to everything around her. She closed her eyes.

This was Marla.

A dear girl since they were children.

Now look what happened.

Life came and went.

Marla fell in love with a navy officer. She traveled with him to different towns and so lady Ivette could only know about her through the letters that followed weeks after the event.

Of course, that man has now abandoned Marla. She is to live her own life in the shadow of his marriage.

Lady Ivette kissed Marla on the cheek and embraced her wholeheartedly.

Well, that didn’t matter anymore. Now she could care for Marla like how she always wanted to.

As Marla and Lady Ivette were swept in their emotional reunion, the maid who went to get tea watched from the crack of the key hole.

“…”

The maid’s eye widened when lady Ivette kissed Marla, and when Ivette spoke so forcefully it made her heart tremble.

“I-it’s disgusting!” Thought the jealous maid, “why would anyone look at Marla? She is poor and sickly. Nothing more. How is it that lady Ivette treats her so intimately?”

The maid backed away from the door.

“She must… love Marla… how sinful!” Spat the maid.

***

Lady Ivette was working in her study late into the night.

She needed to maximize her profits in order to ensure good care of Marla.

It wasn’t that lady Ivette was poor. Far from it.

However, lady Ivette was not pleased with giving Marla standard care.

No.

Lady Ivette wanted her friend, the closest thing she had to a sister, to be given the most elegant of dresses, the most darling of jewelry, the best quality of food for her meals, and even her own carriage so that Marla could visit the opera in the capital or the royal garden if she so wanted.

A knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Paul.”

“Come in.”

Lady Ivette did not look up to see her male servant.

He entered quietly and offered her more papers.

“There seems to be a problem with the ships selling your goods. Pirates have stolen most of the valuables on the vessels.”

“What?!”

Lady Ivette stopped her pen and closed her eyes.

She had placed quite a few expensive items of her most recent exchange.

How was she supposed to even this substantial loss?

“Also…” added Paul, “it seems you are required to pay a tribute to the boat house.”

Lady Ivette laughed coldly.

“I was the one who helped create the damn harbor. How can they have the courage to ask me for money when I effectively made their place of employment?”

Paul said nothing and watched lady Ivette rub her temples.

She looked tired.

He set another paper on the table.

“The doctor you hired sent his fee for treatment of the anonymous patient.”

Lady Ivette looked at the paper and nodded her head. Once she seen the contents of the letter she burned it.

She stood up and walked away from her desk.

“Paul… where has my brother gone?”

“I do not know-“

“For the past three days, my little brother has been leaving home. I assume he makes good use of his time studying at the university or working diligently at the bank but…”

Lady Ivette crossed her arms.

“I am not going to pretend not to notice the suspicious activity he has engaged in.”

Paul had a blank expression.

He was not going to break his silence even if she tortured him.

Lady Ivette smiled.

“I know you like to hide things from me. You think I do not notice when the things in my house go missing. You let the maids run a muck in my absence. To be expected of course.”

She tapped her finger to her chin.

“But be warned… I will not excuse your mistakes if any harm comes to my foolish younger brother because of your neglect. It surprises me that you would let him act recklessly seeing that you both are about the same age and how that silly boy looks at you like his most trusted companion.”

Turning to go, lady Ivette left without saying anything more.

Paul grit his teeth and felt the stinging warmth of embarrassment.

Lady Ivette walked down the hallway.

The maids got out of her way.

She looked deadly focused. A glare in her eye and no hint of a smile.

“Anyone else who steals from me will have their fingers chopped off!” Shouted lady Ivette, “I am not a gaming mood today.”

Slamming the door to the library, lady Ivette opened up multiple maps in hopes of getting a better idea of the sea travel and the issues surrounding it.

For the next four hours, lady Ivette devised a plan to make up for the lost revenue.

A maid arrived with a tray of tea and biscuits.

The girl nervously poured the tea and presented it to lady Ivette.

Taking it without even looking at the maid, lady Ivette sipped it slowly.

The maid left quietly. She didn’t dare make a sound.

“No… I’ll have to try something else. There is no way I can sent cargo that large on one of my vessels. It would be stolen immediately.”

Lady Ivette smirked.

“I have to deal with people stealing from me an awful lot. It’s almost impossible to see how much different a pirate is from a maid.”

The door to the library swung open.

Markus entered with a angry face.

“You threw out Kate!”

“Who…?” Said lady Ivette with a raised eyebrow, “do you think you are talking to?”

“Don’t start with me. I am not going to beat around the bush. That maid, the one who you always treated badly. That maid has a name and it is Kate!”

“Ah… yes. I threw that girl out.” Said lady Ivette firmly.

“You hate her that much…” said Markus in a whisper.

“I do not hate her. I just do not like her. Hate is a powerful word Markus.”

“Then why did you do it?” Demanded he.

“Because my house is not a brothel. The maids have been gossiping. Do you know that I heard that you went into a locked room with that girl… that unmarried young girl!”

“It is not what you think. I would never-“

“It doesn’t matter what you did or did not do.” Interrupted Lady Ivette, “you have ruined that maid’s reputation. People will doubt your intention because of your inability to follow common decency. Who would believe that a young man followed a young girl into a room and did nothing but stare at her pretty face?”

“I DID NOTHING WRONG! NOTHING TO TAINT THAT MAIDEN. YOU DOUBT ME?!” He shouted.

Lady Ivette marched up to Markus and slapped him across his face.

“You must be out of your MIND if you think I will let you scream at me! Listen to my words and get them through your think skull.”

Lady Ivette watched Markus lift his head slowly.

He glared daggers at her.

“The world cares nothing for kindness. Did our childhood teach you nothing? When we ate scraps in the cold streets and walked barefoot in winter?” Questioned lady Ivette, “who offered us bread or a gold coin for our troubles, eh?! No one! We were left to starve and die in the gutters-“

“Shut up! You have no reason to say any of this!”

Lady Ivette shook her head.

“Now look foolish child, I will tell you all so that you may have the knowledge to see things in the dark light like I do!” Pressed lady Ivette, “Recall that I married an old man who enjoyed young blood for a number of reasons. I was barely thirteen. Before I married him I was a scruffy girl looking after her scruffy younger brother.”

She paused and crossed her arms as though fighting a cold wind.

“Did you know… I suffered each and every night to the most unusual of circumstances. I shall not tell you what become of me in the dead of night. Only the moon was witness to my poor soul. Permit me to say that I was tormented like a prisoner of war.”

Markus looked away. Lady Ivette was stern and unyielding.

“Nothing can be more important than a woman’s virtue. Should it be questioned then it is certain doom for her. You think I am heartless?! Why do you think I become angry when I see that maid look at you with burning passion? It is because I know what cannot be done. It is because I know the overwhelming pressure that society will bare on that little girl who is oblivious to the world we live in!”

Markus shook his head.

“You make her clean ash from the floor and hard labor too impossible for a woman.”

“I never said she had to do it alone, now did I? There are other maids in this house that I command. What has she told you? That I give her punishment? That I force her to work until she is stone dead? I ask that she clean my house, that is all. You seem to think I want to mistreat her.”

“You yell at her when she drops the teapot.”

Lady Ivette smirked.

“Come now Markus. She wants me to yell at her. And I do. She somehow always managed to break my things. At first I thought it was because she was actually incompetent, but now I see she does it for your attention. To appear pitiful and weak so you protect her.”

Markus huffed.

“That’s a twisted way to describe it. You think Kate is some diabolical girl out to do harm.”

“My sweet brother, that is exactly what I did to get the interest of my dead husband. Do you not remember? I was nothing more that a little maid to this place. After I found out what he liked, I did everything to please and manipulate his mind until I had him married to me.”

“…”

“Why else do you think I had to send you away to the farms while I worked in the capital? It was because I did not want you to see the things I did. You were too young… but now you must know. If it is love she wants from you, then satisfy your heart. If there nothing but immature lust then kill it before it poisons you.”

Markus went silent and lady Ivette walked to the window.

“Believe what you want, but you know I could never lie to you. It is a world without kindness, but that does not mean it is without love. Ha… not that I expect you to understand what I mean little brother.”

“What do you know of love?” Said Markus flatly.

To this, Ivette hesitated to answer.

A maid entered and placed a tray of tea on the table. She nervously poured tea into two cups and left immediately.

Markus could tell that the tea was warm.

Funny, he knew his sister like to drink it cold… would it mean that… she had this especially made for him?

He cast his eyes down.

What a curious thought.

It was hard to understand his own sister. She seemed to be like a stone wall and every once in a while she would open the door and let him pass through.

It was terrible to see and hear what she had to say though.

Had he become so used to seeing her as a stone wall that he forgot that she was once a small girl who feed him her half of bread underneath a lamppost?

Perhaps… he had always felt her to be a strong and immovable force all his life.

“I have to go.” Said lady Ivette suddenly, “I have said my piece to you and that is all I can do. The rest is up to you. Do what you like with that maid. Marry her, keep as a mistress, or abandon her it makes no difference to me. I only hope that you do not regret your decision.”

Lady Ivette left the room and the tea grew cold.

***

That night lady Ivette could not fall asleep.

She was reminded of her little brother’s question.

What did she know of love?

Gazing at the moon, lady Ivette lamented over the bitter years of her childhood and the only person who she could ever love.

Like a cloud lifting from a terrible storm, some instance of happiness crept in.

She thought of Marla who had the warmest smile of a young, foolish, wild girl.

Ivette remembered the promises they made and… the secrets they kept.

Their nights were filled with dreams.

Smiling at the moon, lady Ivette knew that under her cold surface, her heart was still beating with love.