The next day Eloise was greeted by an exited young Fred. He was literally waiting out the door with a black bag in hand.
"Miss Eloise!" he stood up when the door opened. He adjusted his shuffled hair and his crumbled shirt. He looked up only to meet the cold stare of the maid.
"Sire, if you wait out like this, our Miss's reputation might get tarnished. It is not my place to chide you, Sire, but this is not totally not agreeable!" Odette declared with a glare. Yesterday her sleep got disturbed by this man. Now seeing his face early in the morning, she lost her cool.
Eloise, who just finished her morning duties, came out to see the what was the hassle about. She opened the door wide and peered out. "Sire Fred, what brings you here so early in the morning?"
Fend heatedly smirked. "Miss, you were totally right!! It was just as you said,"
Eloise hid her mouth with her wide sleeve and yawned. "What was as I said? Please clarify, Sire,"
"This," he pulled up the bag and opened it. A foul smell gushed out.
"Oh, Lord!! What is that!!" Odette cried and backed away.
"It's rat, Miss," Fred whispered proudly.
"Sire, something is definitely wrong with your head. How can you gift a young Miss such a wretched thing!!" Odette cried.
Eloise on the other hand walked closer and peaked in. "wow, it worked so well,"
"I know right, it was just as you said the health one got sick in just two hours. Twenty minutes later the sick one died and the healthy specimen was only left. But sadly, by the time I took it over last night they both had passed!" he excitedly explained.
"Oh, I see," Eloise nodded, but inside she was slightly suspicious, 'I think this rat might be very sick than I anticipated. What if it's a contagious one?' she slightly backed away. "Sire, did you deal with them with gloves on?"
"yes, I did. What's wrong, Miss?" he tilted his head cutely.
"Nothing much at all." She whispered with a kind smile.
"oh I don't want these rates to go to waste so i'm planning to feed them to that snake you had. Can you introduce that kind man to me? I can submit this to him respectfully,"
Eloise smiled even more. 'That thing died of sickness, yet you can't wait to feed it to that cutie snake! This guy, does he even under what he is talking about?' she took another look at his face. His eyes were shrunken in and there was a huge black circle around them. 'Maybe he is lacking rest,'
"Sire, why don't you go rest first. As for the snake matter, these shall not be sustainable. Those snakes don't eat rats," she lied through her teeth.
"That's sad. Oh Miss Eloise, I completely forgot." He shuffled through his coat, searching for something. He came out with a slightly crumbled letter. "There is a ball conducted by my Murphy family. It would be an honour to invite you there. Please bring your mother as well,"
"I am not sure...." someone pulled Eloise in by force. Her mother glanced at her with her ever smiling face.
"Darling, is that a talk of a ball o hear. You should definitely go there." she opened the door wide and bowed to Fred. "It would be an honour to attend your family ball, Sire. Please take care of my daughter," it was her informal way of saying you better take my daughter to the ball.
Fred nodded happily. "I do have a lot to talk. Please, Miss Eloise, let me escort you to the ball,"
"I—I...." feeling her mother's slight glare, Eloise sighed. "I shall meet you in the evening then,"
"good, good, it really is a pleasure," Fred chuckled and hopped away, leaving the black bag at their doorway.
Madam Miller closed her nose in disgust. "What is that nasty smell? Goodness" she ran back to her room.
Odette and Eloise stayed silently looking at the bag.
"Are you squeamish of rats?"
"Aren't you Miss? You used to hate rats," Odette whispered in a monotonous voice.
"I am more scared of my reflection now. Nothing beats a scare like that," Eloise mumbled, patting her pale ass face.
Odette peered at her. "You are totally true, Miss. I shall make you pretty for tonight. Even of that man is weird he is still your suitor!!" with renewed vigour she ran to Eloise's room picking out dress and jewellery for her.
Eloise stood with her hands outstretched. "But he is just a business partner. Geez, why won't anyone believe me. Why is he my suitor?" dejected, she walked back to the parlour for a moment of peace.