"Of course Emma refused," Eileen giggled, "but it was ever such a scandal."
I nodded in a non-committal manner and continued dusting the cabinet. I normally would have been happy to keep up my end of the gossip (I had heard from the scullery maid that there had been shouting involved) but here, in this room, I did not trust my voice not to break.
I own you, I heard her voice whisper, breathy and soft and cold. I own your tits.
"I'm surprised you're not more interested." I looked up to find Eileen glancing at me curiously. "I had thought you fancied Scott for yourself."
I gave a small shrug. I had, once. It seemed of little importance now. Little had, since that week ago, when... when...
I own your asshole.
"He is a handsome fellow," Eileen continued, still looking at me, "and the talk is that-"
I own your sweet little cunt.
"Scott is a fool." I snapped with more force than I had intended. "Emma was right to have refused."
"Are you..." Eileen started, her voice trailing off as she cast me a look out of the corner of her eye. "You've been acting odd."
I bit down on my lip and turned back to the cabinet, my hand dusting with renewed force. "You're quite right," I said after a moment, "I'm sorry."
"It's nothing." Eileen said, turning back to her own dusting, voice still faintly puzzled. "I shouldn't have bothered you about Scott."
It was more than that, but I kept silent. She wouldn't have understood. Every time she closed her eyes, she didn't hear the gasps and moans of our mistress, didn't feels her hips grind into her face while she gagged, musky scent clogging her nose.
Silence descended between us, Eileen's incessant chatter finally quieted. Without her voice the dusting was soothing in a simple, rhythmic way. I was so caught up in it that I failed to notice the fall of my mistress's footsteps until she was nearly behind me, and only the dip of Eileen's knees in a curtsy alerted me.
My mistress's voice is cultured and refined, with the barest hint of breathiness under it. It stole the air from my chest and the strength from my arms. "Turn around."
I did, slowly, and dipped into a curtsy, eyes downcast. Eileen shot a glance my way, obviously puzzled by my hesitance.
Though I could not see her face, I could still feel the weight of her gaze on me. "Busy at work, little maid?"
I nodded and mumbled something under my breath, still afraid to raise my eyes. Her voice from the last time I had seen her echoed in my head. I own you little whore.
Heavy skirts rustled as my mistress took a step forward and slid two fingers under my chin, raising it to meet her eyes. A faint smile touched her lips, and her hazel eyes caught and held mine. "Pardon me?"
"Yes." I managed.
She tilted her head in the slightest. "Attend Mrs. Levi. She is looking for you."
Eileen bobbed in a curtsy, and with a last quick glance at me, scuttled away.