Chapter 138: Fun (1)
"I have found you some water. I need to return the cup when you are finished," Annalise said, handing the cup over to Rafael. She looked behind him at the young woman frowning. "The lady seems to be sad. Even the dog looks sad."
"Is this your way of asking if I hurt her feelings? Grace will be fine. It will not be long before she walks over here so we do not end on a bad note," Rafael said and then he drank the water. The sweetness of the candy had long left his mouth, but the water was welcomed.
"Oh," Annalise replied, surprised that he was right as the young woman marched over to where they stood. She seemed to have unfinished business with Rafael.
Grace approached Rafael and held the back of his shirt. "I didn’t mean to come across as judgemental with what I said. It is just something that I do not see every day with a man walking around with a maid dressed up like this. It is only us ladies that do it and even then our maids are dressed in a uniform. I apologise for what I said. Please do not be angry with me."
Rafael finished the last of the water and gave the cup back to Annalise. He wasn’t upset with Grace since there was a line drawn between young ladies like herself and their servants. They weren’t seen as equals so a maid dressing up in fine clothing would have them losing their minds.
"You should return to your father before he starts to worry about you. I am not angry with you, Grace. There was simply nothing for me to explain to you. Do not overthink it. You look on the verge of crying and I do not need to have your father questioning me now. I will pay you a visit if you do not cry and return to your father’s side," Rafael promised.
"You cannot take back your promise. I will tell your mother if you do," Grace smiled as Rafael wanted. She turned to Annalise who looked confused by the conversation. "It is nice to meet you," she greeted Annalise to show she had no issue with the maid. "Excuse me."
"What is the purpose of the dog in her hands?" Annalise asked after Grace got far away to not hear them. The small dog did not look like it could hurt a fly.
"It is a pet. There are people who choose to take a liking to animals that would not have someone else passing out at the sight of them. You don’t seem to be fond of dogs," Rafael said.
"I happen to like dogs, but the one she has is just sitting in her hands and it is so small. It doesn’t look like it could protect her if needed and if I am not mistaken, there were bows in its fur like it is some kind of doll. If she wants something cute to dress up, why not just get a doll? I prefer to have a big dog," Annalise replied, shaking her head at the memory of the small dog.
Rafael looked around at the other women holding small dogs."They are more of a decoration to their dress than a pet. Most will hand the dog off to a maid when they return home and hardly look at it. Bigger dogs would remain at home. No young lady wants to be running through the market after a large dog that got away or trying to get the dog to behave."
"It is ridiculous to have the ribbons in the dog’s fur and carry it around like a bag instead of letting it get a chance to walk around," Rafael said, agreeing that it was treated more like a doll.