an independent muse written for @briarglenrp , penned by HARPER.
— WHEN SHE WAS HARDLY FOUR, daniela found herself amongst cargo in the bottom of a ship that was most unkind to the belly of a ill-fed toddler. amongst crates of produce, burlap sacks filled with rice and seed, and chickens and hens cooped up in wooden cages ; there was daniela. often she wonders what had motivated her parents to ship her overseas to london, what they expected to happen when the royal staff began unloading the delivery only to find a child amongst their trade. . . all daniela knew is she was taken in by the housekeeping staff and raised under the same roof the queen resided in, being taught how to read and write whilst also learning the art of folding a fitted sheet. not that she had perfected the art, but she had learned it.
twenty one years went by, and now daniela was a grown woman with a disdain for society. the housekeeper often finds herself holding grievances as often as she holds piles of folded laundry. angry at the world, angry at the copious amount of throw pillows she can never arrange properly, angry at how stubborn the horses are, angry at how no matter how often she sweeps, there is always a layer of dust somewhere. anger drives her, steers her, and oddly enough — brings her the most peace.
however, she finds the most comfortable of quiets in her room, curled up in the windowsill, writing letters to lovers she doesn't have and parents she's never known. hours are spent consuming society gossip, scoffing at the " struggles " of those who have only ever been burdened by having an empty dance card or parents who wish them to be married. she holds little sympathy for those of the ton who fancy the bells and whistles of society; who overspend, overindulge, and under appreciate. the only reason she holds her tongue is because of what the queen and the royal family have provided her — wishing for nothing more than to run off into the wilderness and become one with the animals she is so often compared to. stubborn, poorly mannered, and brash — daniela almedia is the epitome of all things the high society looks down upon.
𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞: daniela luz almedias
𝐚𝐠𝐞: twenty five
𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧: brazil
𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲: mother and father are unknown, as daniela was sent hidden amongst a shipment delivered to the royal family when she was approximately four years old.
𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜: sitting at a window long after the sun has set with nothing more than a half-burnt candlestick and bleeding moonlight illuminating the room, a pair of worn boots that are so well loved there are holes forming in the soles — and yet — refusing to wear anything else, an aged handkerchief who's dye had long faded with one's initials lovingly embroidered into the corner, the smell of pine needles and the spray of a roaring rivers waters on your cheeks, the whinnying of a horse as it is startled by a shadow and creaking stable floors, a stack of books collecting dust and holding secret letters between their pages.
𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦: marina moschen
𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
" i suggest not expecting me to act like a lady as i haven't been raised as one. if you wish to expect anything of me, except that in which you'd expect from a barn animal."
" oh ?? you have a grievance with the ton ?? do tell. i'm quite good as keeping secrets as my closest companion is a washboard and a mare that refuses to eat hat unless it is of the upmost quality. "
" oh, my queen, for there is nothing i love more than to tuck the corners of your sheets and tend to your gowns. i'm being quite serious, your highness — there is truly nothing more i love. "
" a man of high society, you say ?? well, do forgive my boldness, my lord, but i have met billy goats with more poise than the likes of you. "
𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬: tending to the horses in the stables, writing letters, trying to find ways to push the limits without breaking past them entirely, obsessively consuming lady whistledown whilst sipping hot water and lemon as she is quite horrible at making tea, threading the stems of wildflowers through the laces of her boots, gossiping, swiping arrows from the royal armory and practicing archery on the grounds when no one is looking, struggling to make beds, talking to the royal dogs and impatiently awaiting the day they will speak back to her, perfecting the art of rolling her eyes.
𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: eloise bridgerton ( bridgerton ) , elizabeth bennett ( pride & prejudice ) , arya stark ( game of thrones ), elizabeth swan ( pirates of the caribbean ).
Watching the other as her head tilted one way, and then the other, it was fascinating. He didn't know why but the movements were interesting. Taking in the sight as she seemed to contemplate his words. The male never meant any harm by it. It seemed unfair to have to wander around the ball with a tray in your hands, offering tiny treats to guests and watching them enjoy, all while you were not allowed to taste them yourself. It felt sickening in his stomach.
Her whispered question had a hand raising, a single finger crossing an ex over the left side of his chest. ❝I promise, I do not mean to get you in trouble or to make it feel as though this is a trap.❞ He swore to the other, this quiet promise, attempting to keep the words away from the other guests to keep from drawing attention. The insistence had the male offering a single firm nod before reaching out to take one of the treats. ❝I shall have one, but only if you have one as well.❞
the corner of her mouth quirked at the gesture, twitching with hopeless amusement as she pressed her teeth into the pillow of her lower lip to bite back a grin; to withold the loud, attention-grabbing sound of laughter that wanted to spill. " pity, i am quite fond of a challenge, " she mused, the soft-spoken promise enough to win her over ( though she had already decided she was going to sample one with or without his observant gaze ). stepping closer to the table, so much so that the bones of her hips were practically rested against the elegant table cloth, she nudged the tray towards him with the tips of unpainted fingers.
daniela then looked expectantly between him and the tray, wondering if the gesture would be enough for him to realize she had accepted his bargain. however, to further ensure the man knew she had decided to agree, the maid lifted her own finger and crossed an ' x ' over her right bosom. " i promise , my lord, that if you sample one . . . i will sample one as well . " her other hand, however, had disappeared and was now tucked behind her back ; pointer and middle twisted together as she crossed her fingers.
the invitation to the queen's diamond ball was open. alice knew she was permitted to be in attendance but this knowledge did nothing to ease her discomfort. she was concerned members of society would instinctively know she was not one of her own. she expected them to be able to sense her callouses and toil. this fear was why she kept to the fringes of the ball. she had rarely started conversations that evening and hoped she would not be asked to dance.remaining unseen was second nature to alice ; she had spent years learning how to blend into the furniture.
alice hovered around the various food tables. she was enjoying a rare opportunity to feast and she thought the food tables were the safest place for her to be. she assumed she would be less likely to be bothered if men assumed she was eating. she was also able to watch and observe while stationed at a food table. she watched as an older staff member berated daniela. alice frowned at the familiarity of the interaction. she loathed when people assumed they were her betters simply because they had a higher station. "i hope the ball has been treating you well." ,she greeted with a nod. "i can barely manage the earl's soirées. i reckon i would faint at the stress of a ball this size."
one would believe that a fellow maid interacting with another would result in some kind of immediate camaraderie, an unspoken social contract that bonded them both due to being of lower status, and yet — it was different when you worked for the royal family. it was like walking a very fine line, and daniela was horrendous at balancing atop it, often going overboard to ensure those who shared her stature didn't associate her with the pompous nature of those in which she worked for. " it has , " daniela lied through an artfully practiced smile, continuing to poke and prod at the trays, only to find herself displeased with how she had altered the arrangement, working backwards to return the platters to their original positions.
" it is not for the faint of heart, that is for sure , " daniela mused with a soft laugh, shaking her head. no — she wouldn't wish the stressors that came with being relied on by the queen upon anyone. " her majesty is always most grateful for our assistance in ensuring she is a gracious host. . . yet it doesn't make the pressure any less weighted. the earl's — " daniela looked back up, a mischievous, nosy glint in her gaze. " pray tell, what are the earl's soirées like ?? i can't say i've ever attended one myself but, it isn't often i am dismissed of my responsibilities here. " or that she'd even be WELCOMED to such an event.
Considering the difference in status, he should not have been surprised by her hesitance and reaction to his jump to a conversation. Many maids he came in contact with often gave him nothing more than a nod or a shake to their heads if he dared attempt a conversation, dare blur the lines of formalities. It was unfortunate. Ellis enjoyed traveling not simply for the adventure of it but for the conversations. The passion behind words and the way souls could slip out in mysterious ways; how different and yet alike people could be.
❝The size certainly is not your fault.❞ Truly, he did not care much for the size difference. Though he had an itching theory in the back of his mind that the Queen was playing a trick on them with these proportions. Each year it felt as though they got smaller. ❝In all candor, I find it difficult to place complete trust in the palate of Kings and Queens. Pray, why not indulge in a sample? I vow to keep your secret.❞
her momentary ire bled into a more wholesome amusement at his words, blowing a rogue lock of long, chestnut hair from her face as she cocked her head one way, than the other, at him. was he . . . challenging her ?? daniela were not herself if she were to turn down a challenge , and even if that hadn't been his intention , his invitation to break the rules and his ' vow ' ( empty as it was ) to keep it secret was just as, if not more, tempting than the decorated finger treats themselves.
leaning forward, perhaps a bit boldly, daniela allowed her fascination and playful outlook at the matter at hand to bleed into whispered syllables. " is this a trap, my lord ?? are you looking to get me in trouble ?? " yet, despite the accusatory question, the maid grinned. chocolate eyes found themselves dropping to the tray between them, the hue of the frosted pastries matching the irises that laid upon them. " i must insist you try them first. . . " she drawled, expelling a dramatic sigh as she straightened her spine once more and returned a comfortable, respectable distance between them despite the table acting as a clear and concrete divide . " your pallet is far more refined than mine, my lord, as i will undoubtedly say anything on this table taste good given as what i have to hold them to in comparison is rations and table scraps. "
"Are you sure?" Priscilla gave her a look, eyebrow lifted. They both knew between the two of them, there was hardly anything happening at this ball that they didn't know about, and Daniela could say she had no business surveying anyone but that did not mean it wasn't happening...nor that she wasn't getting close to a few in particular. "You know, I almost didn't notice you clomping your way across the floor, you must be taking lessons in grace from someone." There was plenty behind the words, but Priscilla didn't take it further, not now, it would have been inappropriate, and she was nothing if not the picture of appropriate. "Only two? Time certainly does fly, perhaps not as quickly as I thought." It was easy to pull her leg, to say things on the tip of her tongue knowing that Daniela wouldn't say a word about it, if anything, she'd serve it back. "Marriage is hardly something you are seeking, no? Spinsterhood doesn't appear to scare you like the others."
she couldn't help it, grinning at the flesh stretched over boney fingers as she folded them into the fabric of her apron, biting the inside of her cheek to withhold the brash laughter that wished to come in response to her friend's words. " priscella , " daniela hissed through her teeth, though her grin remained ever present, resisting the urge to swing her un-ornamented wrist towards the lady's bodice and strike her playfully in the ribs. " i am the picture of grace, lady cavendish . . . you should know that the ton actually uses me as a token of inspiration for their darling daughters so they may impress the queen with their decorum. "
the maid then lifted a hand to her mouth to catch her heightened amusement as it spilt from smile-stretched lips following priscella's words, turning her face away from the woman as she breathed her laughter into her palm. " me ?? marriage ?? " daniela just about wheezed in reply, fighting for breath. yet, her heart quivered — thinking about the language of love and the ways in which a stranger's for another spoke to her. maybe in another life she were fit for marriage but, as it were now, she opted to accept her un-wedded feet and let the dream of being courted live within her fantasies instead. " no, no — i much prefer the life spinsterhood would provide me. the queen's linens are enough to keep up with, let alone adding a husband's to it."
A ballroom surrounded by pretty dresses and fake smiles. It was certainly far from an enjoyable night to the male himself.
The way the chandelier glimmered above him had caught his attention for too long. For quite some time, the male found himself leaning against the ballroom wall, head tilted, colors locked onto the chandelier as it slightly swayed due to all of the movements in the hall. A part of him wondered if it would come crashing down. Smash into a thousand tiny crystal pieces directly in the middle of her Majesty's magnificently extravagant ball. Oh, how Whistledown would salivate as such a dramatic event.
Ellis could imagine the disastrous looks of mamas as they rushed their daughters out to keep their pretty dresses from being ruined. How dare their ladies be seen as anything less than porcelain perfect? His attention was only pulled away at the sight of another.
Not a debutant in a pretty dress, waving a dance card in his face. But someone with something far more precious — food. It had colors drawing down to the plate, a single brow raising against his features at the sight. ❝They are exceedingly diminutive. It seems each year, the portions grow ever smaller.❞ Ellis' gaze lifted to find the features of the other, offering a slight bow of his head, a gentle gesture. ❝Have you indulged in these? Do you like them?❞
it wasn't that daniela loathed conversation, it was that she loathed useless prattle about things that didn't matter. things such as empty and full dance cards, or the opinions on what one thought of the young, vulnerable ladies being launched into a cruel and unforgiving society. so, when the nameless man — well, he wasn't nameless; she knew him to be the youngest davenport, lord ellis — across the table took their eye contact as a means of opportunity for conversation, the irked maid took pause. her movements halted, and her lips rolled together into a fine line, eye brows lifting as if surprised the other had looked at the likes of her and found her fitting for conference.
" my apologies that the size of the queen's selection of delicacies aren't to your liking, my lord. " she wasn't sorry, not sincerely, a gleam of mirth in her gaze at the sight of him bowing his head. daniela cast a glance downwards at herself, palms moving to smooth the wrinkled fabric of her apron, a crease having settled between manicured brows. certainly he had not mistaken her for a lady — a maid was certainly not worthy of any sort of respecting acknowledgements. her pointed chin lifted once more, daniela's expression falling a bit more incredulous as he asked her if she had sampled any of the treats available, before having to laugh at the prospect.
" no, my lord, these dessert tables are for the queen's esteemed guests. i am but one of her maids, so these diminutive delicacies are not for the likes of myself." clearing her throat, stepping back from the table, daniela felt as if she had been caught in the act of a crime simply by entertaining conversation across the ornamented table and laughing at his implications. " — but her majesty selected the menu, so i have no doubt what she chose is nothing short of lovely. "
"It is indeed." He tried to correct himself but a sigh left his lips at the maid. "However." He began. "It is a bit excessive , is it not ? I have seen many times of how overwhelmed the diamond can become. a sheep thrown into a den of wolves. because once a diamond is named - the wolves circle and leave the others unnoticed." good for the others , if he was honest. "but that is just my opinion. I am sure the diamond will be beautiful."
dragging her tongue along the bottom row of her top set of teeth, daniela sucked in a breath, tightening her interwoven fingers and pressing the heels of her palms together. how badly she wanted to agree, but she knew better than the denounce the queen's taste to company she wasn't familiar with. company she couldn't trust. " maybe so , " she mused, chin tilted down in obedience, blinking almost dumbly at him. " — and perhaps it is not my place to comment on what the attentions of the queen provide , but i would think her one lucky diamond indeed, my lord, to have been selected by the queen. many a girl would slaughter said pack of wolves with their bare hands for the opportunity. "
and yet , the idea of herself being a diamond made daniela queasy. stiffening her spine and turning her face back out towards the ballroom, a subtle smile bloomed upon the maid's lips. " however, and i do kindly request that this confession go unrepeated, that i agree with you. i can't say i envy her, my lord, for i am quiet fearful of large dogs myself. "
❝ Careful, they would expect you to work with to broken legs. ❞ That was just an assumption on his part, of course, but he wouldn't be surprised ; in his experience, there was a true lack of empathy the higher in society you found yourself. There were exceptions to every rule, of course, he didn't much mind working for the Talbots, but then he didn't much mind tending to horses either. They were much better listeners than the human sort.
A sharp laugh escaped his lips at Daniela's next comment, the idea of him being an eligible bachelor, what with his age and his status . . . As much as they insisted this event was for all members of society, there was a very clear divide between them, just as he had expected. ❝ I fear the queen herself would see to my end, dare I so much as speak to her beloved diamond. Perhaps it would be best I leave early. ❞
daniela couldn't help herself; letting out a short, harsh, unladylike laugh and immediately lifting her palms to cover her wide-grinning mouth. heaven above , she needed to mind her manners lest the queen catch wind of her improper-ness and shift her duties from folding linens to shoveling the stables. her face was aglow, a humorous gleam in her eyes, as she collected herself and cleared her throat. " preposterous, " she replied once her wits were finally about her. " the queen rules with an iron fist , but she is not heartless. " if anything, the queen was one of the most compassionate people daniela knew. perhaps that wasn't saying much, given as daniela knew very few people as it were , but she knew the queen to be most loving — albeit a bit tough in her means of expressing it.
gliding around the edge of the table until she had joined everett on the opposite side, daniela kept a respectable distance and continued to busy her hands with the various plates and trays that ornamented the dessert table. " she need not worry about you, " daniela replied coyly, a lilt of a smirk twisting her lips. " — you're as harmless as poison ivy. perhaps a bit annoying, inconvenient, but by no means a true threat to ones wellbeing." then, casting everett a glance over her shoulder, the maid cocked her head to the side. " though, if you do fancy a break from the pleasantries of this ball , i wouldn't mind taking a walk in the gardens. they're most beautiful this time of night without the perfumes of high society drowning out that of the flowers."
One may look at the life Everett had led and assume he would give anything to be part of the higher class. It would be a reasonable thought but alas, it could not be further from the truth. From the moment he'd walked through the doors, it had only solidified how little he cared to mingle with the wealthy. While he would prefer steady income, while he wished his mother had opportunity to see the best doctors wen she fell ill, no part of him longed to be involved with . . . this.
Waiting until the man beside of him moved out of earshot, Everett cleared his throat in hopes to catch Daniela's eye across the table ; one of few people here tonight, he was sure, would not make him prefer the company of horse manure.
❝ Doesn't it cut up your peace? ❞ With a gesture above their heads, he held back a scoff, only so not to draw attention to them. He had been in expensive houses before, but this . . . was so much. The champagne, the suits and dresses, the endless rows of food. It was hard not to feel at least a bit spiteful. ❝ The chandeliers must be worth more than a year of thine pay. ❞
pleased to see everett opposite of her, daniela couldn't help but sigh in relief as his tongue immediately poked fun at the excessive decor, humming through tight-pressed lips as the corners quirked up into what could be labeled a smile. " i often look up at them and wish they'd fall down atop of me, " she quipped, eyes flickering to either side of them, checking to ensure they had no unwelcome listeners as they mocked the queen's hand-selected ornamentations.
straightening her spine, eyes moving towards one of the doors that lead to the courtyard, daniela met her companions gaze once more and tilted her head. she gave him a subtle once over, her smile ever so growing as she compared his attire to that of the company they currently kept. " i must say, everett, i did not expect you to attend tonight's festivities. the queen is most lucky to have such an eligible bachelor amongst the same crowd as her beloved diamond. "
"what a wonderful time , do you agree ?" the lord hummed softly from his corner , hiding away in the shadows away from the prying eyes of the eager mamas and their innocent and naive daughters. asif saraf was an eligible prospect. even if he shuttered at the thought. "i wonder what poor girl is this years diamond ?" he hoped it would be his sister - an easier thing to arrange a marriage. but also a harder time kicking out the unworthy.
tucking her tongue into her cheek, daniela spun on her worn heel to give the stranger a feigned smile, obediently folding her hands in front of her as she bowed her head in silent greeting. she chewed on her reply, sifted the unpleasantries through her teeth, before breathing out what could be interpreted as a soft laugh of amusement.
" most wonderful, my lord," the maid replied, her voice sickly sweet though her lack of interest couldn't be more apparent as it laced between her syllables. turning to look where his eyes tracked, she smiled. her amusement only bloomed at him pitying the diamond, unable to hide her amusement as she turned back to look at him once more, humor in her words. " you think the queen's diamond ought to be pitied ?? it's a grand honor to be selected by her heighness , is it not ?? "
Priscilla looked forward to the first ball of the season each year, though her experience with them was on the lower end of numbers. This year was different though, she found herself hitched already - or rather, to-be-hitched, and she wasn't sure if being on the sidelines was something she particularly wanted to get used to. The ladies looked like baby deers in the middle of the floor, dangling after more than a handful of cock-sure lords who hadn't turned an eye in their direction. It was all rather vexing...not being a part of it. "Quite a handsome group of debutants this season, wouldn't you agree?"
priscella was one member of the ton that daniela tolerated. tolerated is perhaps giving the other a lack of credit, because even though she wouldn't voice it — daniela liked her. weaving her way between voluminous dresses, fluttering fans, and linked arms ; the maid made her way towards the other with the grace of a barn animal. she twirled through the crowd, nearly twisting her ankle as she just about tripped over herself, biting the inside of her cheek to remain smiling as she caught the eyes of party goers and bowed her head apologetically to each one of them.
catching her breath as she slipped beside priscella, daniela wiped her clammy palms down the front of her apron, clearing her throat and lifting her chin to survey the crowd in which the woman referenced. she then scoffed, shaking her head, turning her eyes back down towards the backs of her hands which now proved themselves to be the most interesting things in the room. " please, priscella. must you ask me such base questions ?? i have no business surveying the debutants," the nickname for the bachelors and bachelorettes spoken in a manner that was nothing short of mockery. " — anyways, as i am but two years away from being what you lot call a spinster. "
all the glitz, all the glamour; the hushed whispers and cordial laughter. daniela couldn't stand it. even after all of these years her quick-to-quease stomach had yet to adjust to the absolute bafoonery that was high society, her disdain for balls not easily hidden as the music swelled and the talk of the ton translated to nothing more than impotent babble.
suctioned to the far wall of the ballroom, fingers twisted behind the small of her back and feeling the hard knot of her apron against her wrists, daniela frowned. it was uncouth for a member of the royal staff to act in such an improper manner, especially amongst company, but she couldn't help it. an elder staff member had swooped by, tutting her tongue at the young housemaid, reaching up to pinch and pull at a hollowed cheep to force a smile. daniela did so, against her will, mockingly curling her lips up into a wickedly devious grin before allowing the expression to fall all together once the elder had departed.
" bafoonery. " she huffed beneath her breath at the elder maid's back, eyes rolling as she peeled herself off the wall like vintage paper and dragged her feet towards one of the food tables to appear occupied. attentive.
catching the eyes of someone across the table, she offered a most insincere and painfully practiced smile. she knew better than to speak to members of higher class than her first ( it was one of the rules she actually did follow ) , turning one of the trays of finger foods so the side that housed more delicacies faced the other.
