Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 69: With the tall trees

A bitter savor rushed up the back of her throat as Arabella speechlessly gaped in the direction Edna and the other maids had taken.

"I honestly don’t know why the Master decided to do that, but it’s not all bad," Ada’s next words hitched in her throat when Arabella’s dour eyes snapped onto her, "I meant to say, Edna’s vile treatment of you and others as well is what landed her in these waters. You certainly did not cause it to happen," frantic, the maid did her best to appease Arabella.

It only took seconds for the young woman’s expression to mellow, her traits forsaking the stern outlook for an apologetic one, "I am sorry, Ada, I didn’t mean to worry you,"

"Oh! No, no, no! It’s alright! It’s all alright," Ada nodded her head while smiling, "Let us see the gardens then,"

Once outside in the open, Arabella broke the silence that had settled between them, "Has... Edna always been this way? Her behavior, I mean,"

"Well, it’s a bit hard for me to say," Ada’s features returned a little grimace, "She was a blood provider for the Master before your arrival. She still worked as a maid but enjoyed a few perks that the rest of us did not," she slowly shook her head while speaking, "Her tasks, for instance, were always on the lighter side and they weren’t that many. Besides the head maid, the rest of us did not have the chance to spend that much around her and on the few occasions we did meet, she was not awful per se but never the most pleasant either,"

"I see," eyes on the gray pathway they followed, Arabella had muttered in a subdued tone, "But do you think she’d be capable of...," she trailed off, never allowing the rest of her question out.

"Capable of what?" Ada leaned her head a little forward in an attempt to meet Arabella’s downcast gaze.

"Look who’s finally decided to come visit?"

Edgar’s jovial mood clashed with that of the two women and as though contagious, Arabella’s face quickly lit up upon taking note of his presence.

"Hello Edgar," both women greeted him each at their turn.

"How have you been, Ladies?" he asked, before addressing Arabella, "I’ve been worried. I can’t even lie,"

"Oh! I truly am sorry for causing you concern," her smile still lingered, only it was tamer.

"Please, let us not dwell on this any longer," one arm resting over the long handle of the shovel he held in the other, Edgar adopted a relaxed pose before looking back down to the flipped-up dirt by his feet momentarily.

"Yes, let us not," first, she muttered, but then added, "What are you busy with today?" Arabella asked with a little more energy and a brighter beam.

"Today’s the trees turn to have my full attention, as you can see,"

Indeed, Edgar stood nearest to the tall trees that surrounded the great pond. The man had been turning the dirt hugging the trunks to hold them in place.

"Watering is next," he let out a small chuckle, "Would you like to give me a hand?"

"Oh...I don’t think-" Ada held a hand close to her mouth as she searched for an excuse to offer, though her apologetic expression quickly shifted to a surprise when Arabella cut her off to give an answer of her own.

"Yes! Of course! I’d love that!" she twittered, practically leaping in her spot.

"Alright then, follow me,"

The two of them walked in one direction, leaving Ada rooted in place for her eyes to follow their figures along. Eyebrows a little knitted and mouth somewhat agape, not a whisper escaped her as the urge to run and catch up with Arabella overtook her. It was her first day on surveillance duty, she was not curious to find out what was in the works for her should she fail.

"Is it light enough for you to carry?" asked Edgar, watching the young woman wrap her hands around the handle and pull the container upwards, off the ground.

"Yes, it is," she smiled.

"Let me take it off your hands, Miss,"

Ada had hastened to take the handle, but Arabella swerved it a bit out of the way in order to prevent her from grabbing it.

"No, Ada, I truly want to do this," she nodded, maintaining a soft outlook and eye contact with Ada to reassure her.

"I am not pressuring her to do anything. Worry not, Ada," more comforting words, only then they came from Edgar instead.

"It’s really fun, Ada. Would you like to try it with me?"

"Well, I... Sure. Can I have one of those watering pots as well then?"

Ada finally relented and took the can that Edgar handed her over before setting it under the water fountain.

However, all throughout the process, while observing her demeanor, Arabella couldn’t help but sense unease on her part.

The maid bore an odd expression that Arabella was unable to cast. Something that seemed to linger between nostalgia and sorrow.

From the way she’d held the canister, used the fountain, then headed back towards the trees behind Edgar, the young woman got the inkling that Ada was more familiar with their environment that she let on.

"If it is too heavy for you, you may use your... Foot," Edgar had begun but seeing how Ada did exactly what he’d been about to advise her, his voice wavered, "Oh... You seem to know your way around with it," he smiled.

She’d settled the front corner of the watering can on the floor before leaning forward and pushing with her foot beneath the opposing side, actively lifting it off the ground for the water to flow without much effort exerted on her part.

Ada barely reacted at all and merely gave an awkward smile.

"You’d filled it almost to the brim, I thought you would...Nevermind," Edgar kept the rest of his words to himself.