"No!... I mean, I can handle it myself" without waiting for a reaction from her, she rushed into the bathroom and closed the door with a click.
Cora sighed, she respected her wishes. She wasn't used to being helped by maids. She didn't just wait quietly for Leigh to come out of the bathroom. She walked to the wardrobe and took out clothes from the other side, from part she took out clothes for Leigh.
It is clothing for men. She closed the cupboard door and walked towards the door, while giving orders to the two maids, "Wait here, when she has finished bathing, help her get ready."
"Yes, Miss Cora" answered the two maids at the same time with their heads slightly lowered to her. And Cora walked out of the room, heading to Kendric's study room.
Arriving at the door to the study, Cora knocked on the door until she heard a response from behind the door. "Come in"
"My lord, I brought your clothes," said Cora, bowing her head in respect. "Miss Leigh is awake, currently taking a shower" she reported in a flat tone. As if it was a daily routine that she did without Kendric having to ask. And that's how it is. Besides, Kendric likes her work efficiency. That's why she holds the title of head maid of this house.
"Hmm" was his only response with a cursory glance, without looking up from the paperwork on the table, which he was reading. Cora herself put his clothes on the sofa table.
"How's she?" This time he leaned his body against the back of the chair, looking closely at Cora. it was in a bent position in front of the table to put his clothes. With her flexible body, she immediately stood up, after putting the clothes neatly. Turned her body and faced Kendric.
"Still a little distracted and unfocused, my lord," answered Cora with a calm and collective facial expression. Staring straight into Kendric's always calm eyes. Cora learned demeanour calm from him.
"Aside from the guard guarding the front door of her room, make sure to assign two maids to be on standby in front of her room," Kendric reminded her, Leigh's safety and comfort living at his house is a priority for him now.
"Yes, my lord. Any other orders, my lord, if there are none, I will leave," she stood in place, waiting for orders from Kendric.
"You can leave" answered Kendric, straightening his body, took the pen and immersed himself again, engrossed in the documents in front of him.
Coming out of the study room, Cora walked towards the kitchen to make sure breakfast was ready to be served in the dining room. It is her duty to ensure that everything is managed neatly and according to existing habits here in this house. As a head maid, that was a task she had to carry out and was entrusted to her by Kendric. She ensures that no errors arise under her supervision.
Meanwhile in the bathroom, where Leigh stayed, Leigh was still immersing herself in the bath. The warmth felt from the warm water made her mind calm and relax. She wanted to take a long soak, but she knew the maids was out there waiting for her. She is not a selfish person to not care for other, that why she didn't want to keep them waiting. So, she cleaned herself up like she always did.
After freshening up, she dried her body with the towel that had been provided. Wearing clothes prepared by Cora. Silk dress, golden cream color, V-shaped neck. Elbow-length sleeves, half-circle skirt the long until her ankle. She looks elegant, like an upper top-class people. Actually, she prefers to wear pants. But because the clothes available are the dress she is wearing now. She had no choice but to wear it. This is only temporary, she thought to herself.
When she finished. She looked at herself in front of the mirror. The size of the clothes fits her body perfectly. She wondered how he knew her size. But then, she remembered Cora mentioned that the one who bought these clothes was his secretary. This thought should have relieved her, but instead it made her brows knit together and her eyes narrow. 'She doesn't think they've ever met. At the annual company gathering, he was alone. who always accompanied him was Ezra. Was Ezra the one who bought and chose these clothes for her?' the more she thought the more she gets confuses. In the end she choose to not think to much.
She took a deep breath and exhaled. Then stepped towards the door. Opened it and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Let us help you with your hair and face, Miss," the maids standing to her right said while lowering her head.
As she expected, they were waiting right on either side of the bathroom door. She sighed. All her life she did everything herself. But now there were two maids ready to help her prepare herself.
She reluctantly nodded her head. Even if she says, he can do it herself. They will still insist to help. Because Cora had ordered it. So, she allowed herself to be helped by them.
She walked towards the dressing table and sat there. One maid, doing her hair. Another one does the make-up. it's her second day, and she doesn't feel comfortable with the help she's getting. If she could, she wanted to ask them out, but she couldn't. She is a guest here, at least she respects the etiquette set by the host.
So, she let them do what they thought was best. She sat there, waiting patiently. A few moments later, the sound of knocking on the door was heard again. She glanced at the door through the mirror in front of her. Cora's face appeared, stepping in with an expression that was always calm and dignified.
"Miss Leigh," said Cora as soon as her eyes met her in the mirror. "Breakfast is ready" she announced.
"Okay, I'll be there when I'm done," Leigh answered briefly. Still waiting patiently for the two maids to complete their tasks.
"Okay Miss Leigh," said Cora, she had to ensure Leigh's comfort, but above all her main priority was still Kendric. After that, Cora left Leigh's room to go to the dining room. Ready to serve her Master, if he is already there.
A few moments later "It's finished Miss" the maid on the right announced.
Leigh looked at her reflection in the mirror, it looked natural, and she liked it. With a small smile on her lips, she stood up straight. Her hands straightened the dress which was slightly wrinkled at the bottom. "Okay, let's go then," she said, as she stepped towards the bedroom door and walked into the dining room.
When they arrived at the dining room, Kendric hadn't arrived yet. There was only Cora and the maids, standing there quietly, ready to serves. Seeing Leigh, Cora smiled slightly, walked towards the chair she was going to sit in, pulled it out, said "Please Miss Leigh". She stood there waiting for Leigh to come over and sit down, making sure she was sitting comfortably. then ordered the maid to start serving her.
Meanwhile the maid served some of the dishes she was going to eat. The dining room door opened, Kendric entered with firm and calm steps.
Leigh turned her gaze towards him, and smiled stiffly, she was just about to stand up, as a courtesy to respect him. But before she could stand up completely, Kendric's voice came "No need, it's fine just sat" and she sat there waiting until he sat down on his seat place.
Kendric sits elegantly at the head of the table. The maid swiftly placed a napkin on his lap, then stood not far from him, ready to serves during breakfast time waiting for orders from Cora or Kendric himself.
"How are you today" asked Kendric seeing Leigh start to eat food from her plate. He himself was only holding a drink in his right hand, while his plate was still empty. He watched Leigh closely but with relaxed gaze and not too obvious.
From Leigh's side, she felt intimidated by his sharp and scrutinizing eyes, she started to feel nervous, until she subconsciously tightened her grip on the cutlery in both hands. "I'm fine," her voice sounded half a whisper but clear.
In response he just nodded his head. "Please eat as much as you like" he said, when he saw Leigh stop eating. Her eyes looked anxious and wary.
Leigh focused her attention on the plate in front of her. Trying not to pay too much attention to the man on her left. Sometimes being around him makes her tense, nervous, intimidated, even scary, but the strange thing for her is that she can feel safe, comfortable, and protected too. A mixture of feelings that both confused and frightened her.