She was awoken by Marianne, her new maid, who had spent last night upon a trundle bed beside her own bed. In fact, since she had chosen Marianne from the three maids presented by Mrs. Moore, Elle had not had more than ten minutes free of her company. The woman was cheerful and energetic, which had seemed to recommend her when compared with her more subdued competitors, but after nearly twenty-four hours in her company, Elle was beginning to wonder if she had made a serious error in judgment. The woman was driving her batty.“Now, I have rung for your bath, and tea is on its way. Here now, let me help you out of bed. You must be fairly faint with excitement, yes?”Elle rolled her eyes and suffered Marianne to lead her to the bench in front of the vanity, where she began to brush Elle’s hair.“We’re going to wash it today, aren’t we?” Elle asked, looking in distaste upon her powdery locks. She had had a basin of water in which to wash her hands and face every day, and there was even a toothbrush and some toothpowder that tasted foul, but no one had made mention of a proper bath until today.
