#microfictin — Public Fediverse posts

M is for Milady

#Fanfiction #EstherAndErie by @art_of_goulwenr
#Wss366 #PIXIVCharitySanta

Erie had started limping, and, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop herself from touching the collar around her neck. The same went for staring at the tall buildings and the carriages, wagons, and delivery vans on the street. She had never seen so many people. Her mistress, Esther, had gone so far as to indulge her when she couldn’t stop staring at an organ-grinder with a monkey on a leash similar to her own. Esther even gave her a small coin to give to the man.

“Erie dear, are your feet hurting? I can’t do much about the collar, but we can stop and rest if it helps. It won’t do if you’re lame and can’t do your work.”

“Sorry, Milady. I’m not used to walking so much in these #boots.”

“The street is hard, but I see a park ahead where we can sit. I am a trifle fatigued myself. I thought you might enjoy looking at the stores. You’ve never been to a big city like this before, have you?”

“No, Milady. It is all so new to me.--Oh!” An exclamation escaped Erie as something caught her eye in a window.

Esther followed her gaze to a large book with a giraffe, elephant, and lion on the cover. “You can read, can’t you?” she asked.

“Yes, Milady. Lady D’Arcy taught me.”

“Would you like this book? It seems simple, but the art is nice.”

“Oh, no, Milady.” A look of fear came into the servant’s eyes.

“Erie, what is it?”

“Nothing, Milady.”

“No, that won’t do. When I ask you something, you must tell me right away. If I ask about your feelings or thoughts, I want to hear them.”

“Lady D’Arcy made me read the most dreadful things to her and would whip me when I made a mistake.”

“I see. Now I understand. I’ll save the whipping for when you’ve done something truly heinous. Not for stumbling over a word. Come. I’ll buy this book for you, and you can read it to me in the park. You’ll see that I’m nothing like Lady D’Arcy.”

#MicroFictin #TootFic #Victorian #NMFic #NMV366