"Once you grow up then I might tell you"
Layla doesn't need Henni to answer her question, she already knew the answer herself. Her face relaxed and her anger went away as she looked down on her feet.
It's seems like the bullying already started with her maid. Layla felt guilty, if Henni was not her maid then she wouldn't have to deal with such things and even more things in the future.
"How much more work you have left Henni?"
Henni stopped her mopping and looked up at the little girl. She looked from one side to the other side. "Almost half done other half left. Wait outside, I will meet you once I am done" Henni said and then went back to her work. Henni was confident she could finish quickly if she put in her hundred percentage. But what she didn't expected was what happened next.
"Move". One single voice came.
"Huh?-What the hell are you doing!" Henni shouted. Her mistress had grabbed a broom and was walked in front of her to the area which had the most dirt.
Her mistress was a noble woman if someone sees her doing this, Layla's reputation will plunge down badly. Ain't no way she will let her mistress get her hands dirty.
"Stop it! What are you doing mistress! Have you gone insane" Henni tried to forcefully grab the broom from her hands but she didn't let go but instead she swatted Henni's hands away.
"I ain't got all day for you Henni. We have to report back to the head maid" Layla said. If she didn't they would have more excuse to harass Henni more, and Layla certainly doesn't want that.
The whole place was filled with dirt, muddy water and soggy hays. It's nearly impossible for one person to finish it by today.
Two extra brooms and one bucket in the corner from where she grabbed this broom, tells her that at least three stable boys assigned to work here but none of them did their job. Workers who are not afraid of punishments for uncompleted work or maybe it was the order of someone higher up. Maybe it was her step mother or the head maid.
"That's not your job, it's mine. Give that to me" Henni tried to reach for the item once again and Layla smacking her hand like before. It went for few minutes until Layla had enough of this child's play. They ain't got all day.
"Stop It!! If you really are responsible person then do your part of the job!" Layla said angrily.
"I will. I don't need lady's help in this"
"If you wanted to help then do your part, and stop bothering me"
"I will after you give me your broom"
"Henni, do your part of the work. This is an order" Layla's face was stoic, slightly annoyed. Maybe Henni still thinks Layla as the little child, who would be ordered around. Layla need to show her that she has grown and she can be mature.
Henni stopped. She stared at the girl standing in front with a determined look on her face. Something has changed. She isn't the gentle and sweet Layla, that Henni used to know. Now that she thinks about it Layla would never cry in front of Henni, let alone give an order. She had never heard Layla ever give any order.
"Damn girl your attitude changed. Did the fever messed your head that much" Henni said but didn't any response back. She sighed. She picked up the broom and went back to work.
Henni had known Layla for a long time. Since she came in this mansion at the age of nine she was assigned as Layla's maid. Back then she was just a five year old little girl, carrying her little stuffed teddy bear everywhere. Henni thought of her as a little sister, since she didn't had any siblings. A little sister who was so kind that people would take advantage of, so selfless that people only takes things from her. A little sister Henni needed to protect, it is her duty as her maid and elder sister.
She looked at the girl brooming next to her, evenly sweeping the floor. She looked more mature than before, like she has a little girl's body still but her core had changed.
But can a person's personality change this fast, that too in one day. She was unconscious for a long time. Was the fever that bad?
Layla's voice brought Henni from her thoughts."Hey Henni can I ask you something?"
Henni looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "What?"
"Do you think dad ever loved mom?" Layla asked. She had by now stopped brooming and looked very dejected and sad. A pout on her childish face.
Oh, It's about that. Henni's eyes softened. At that moment all her doubt were cleared.
Henni remembered the girl in front was just an eleven year old who's mother died about five days ago and her scum dad brings another woman over. Of course she would be angry.
"I don't know Layla". Henni really didn't know whether her father's love for her mother was genuine. In past her father would do anything for her mother, one could say he was a fool for his wife. But everything changed after she fell ill few month back. His attitude change was so drastic it looked like he never loved her at all.
Can love really change this fast? Or was it ever love if it changes in a heartbeat? If not then what was it? Maybe lust. But how can Henni say this to an eleven year old who was still grieving her mother's death.
Henni tried to change the topic.
"Do you even know how to use that? Can your noodle arms hold that heavy broom" Henni said slightly laughing.
"It's not that hard. Plus I will try my best" Layla said with a cheerful smile.
Phew, she was back to normal cheerful self. Relieved, Henni picked went back to work. She needed to finish all this work quickly to get both of them out of here.
Layla's hands were slightly shaking as she held onto the broom. Her ears were feeling hot from anxiety. She nearly slipped out of her character.
A sweet and gentle girl being aggressive, for sure it would raise alarm to Henni. Her anger made her act out like that, she needed to learn to control her emotion more efficiently.
Layla exhaled and then looked up on Henni who was super focused on her work. She did sense Henni staring at her, maybe to be sure this commanding girl indeed was Layla. But now it looked like she was not alarmed anymore. That's good.
Henni always had a strong personality. Sometimes she was too unpredictable. Though her and Henni grew up together she sometimes still can't predict Henni. If Henni gets suspicious then it would create more problems for Layla.
The broom was indeed heavy. She was having a hard time moving with the big object on her hand. Brooms were for adults not for a child like her. But she still wanted to help Henni.
Watching her struggle made Henni chuckle. "Still not giving up huh?" Henni said.
"Nope"
"Good. We will be needing that determination later"
"So tell me Layla what are you doing here. Got nothing better to do"
"I came to see you, since you didn't came at all" Layla lied, it's funny how naturally it came to her. If her mother were alive she would have been so disappointed.
Henni was appalled. She tried to protest but knew Layla's statement were true, as much as she hated to admit it. Henni scratched her head, while looking down. "Y-Yea. Sorry about that. I was there when you were unconscious. Then Jane send me to fetch cold water for you-". Henni's dejected face became bitter "-but they didn't let me take any. And when I did stole some from the kitchen secretly, they all caught me and here I am"
Henni looked at the little girl and smiled, all her anger gone. "I was so happy when Jane told me you woke up. I was planning on seeing you once my work was here done, but instead you came to me"
Layla looked at Henni, who seemed genuinely happy about her. It kind of warmed Layla's heart. Someone was wishing for her well being. These few people who were on her side needed to be protected. And now that bullying had started she needed to act.
First the bullying started from her close aids and then it escalated to her.
"Alright. After you are done let's eat some cookies together"
"Sure, lady"
Layla smiled back and was about to get back on her work, but the heavy broom slipped from her hand and fell onto her forearm. A pain shot through Layla's body.
"Ugh!" Layla let the broom fall onto the ground. She nearly forgot about the bruise. Her long sleeve dress further did a good job of hiding it.
"Lady!" Henni threw her broom on the ground and ran to Layla. Henni grabbed Layla's arm and forcefully removed the sleeve, against Layla's protest.
Henni's eyes grew wide to see the dark coloured bruise against Layla's pale skin. "What is this? Why didn't you treat it!". Henni got up and grabbed Layla's another hand and walked out of the stable.
"Where are we going?"
"To patch up this damn wound"