Half the day was spent, perhaps more by the time Victoria had dragged herself back to her home. The Armani Manor was hardly something to scoff at, a nice, large house, boasting two tall levels with many rooms and a small garden outside with an area designated for the possibility of an afternoon tea. An ornate, tall iron fence guarded the outside, as she flicked the latch open on the gate and was surprised to be greeted by Frederick.
"Frederick, what on earth are you doing her?" she inquired.
"Miss Millicent had seen you approach. She wanted me to greet you," the ghastly man said, bending over so she could see some of the rotting holes in the side of his head. Victoria made a face. No matter how often she was exposed to her Zombie valet, her servant, she could not get used to the fact he had worms crawling under his skin and he had pieces of his body just falling off.
Drawing in a breath, she simply nodded.
"Well I am home and well now,"she simply stated.
The zombie nodded his head.
"She was afraid of the shadow that was lurking behind you," the valet informed.
"Shadow?" Victoria's face twisted before she turned over her shoulder- but saw nothing. "Probably just the shadows playing on her old eyes."
Sighing, Victoria passed her valet. "Frederick, I'm going to retire for the night, but would like a fresh cup of tea and if dinner hasn't already been decided, I would like duck this evening."
"Yes, my lady," the man said, bowing to her, then looking back towards the woods just outside the road. He frowned, but turned around, closing the gate with a creak and followed after.
Once inside, Victoria unbound her bonnet, casting it aside and made off towards her room.
Her aunt was waiting for her at the top of hte stairs, but she ignore her, simply walking past.
"How was your walk?" the woman inquired, arms folded across her chest.
Victoria sighed, pausing only once before continuing.
"Tiresome. I would like to rest peacefully.. and quietly, before dinner. I asked Frederick to make duck."
Her aunt nodded, shaking her head and just let Victoria be. They could discuss what happened today at dinner.
Once inside her room, Victoria threw herself onto her bed and let another, long winded sigh escape her. She felt a fool, and troubled over everything. To think, just one man stood in her way of showing those at the counsel she was worthy-
and now any bit of her deserved title was being taken away- as if to be scattered to the four winds and never be seen again. Yes, it definitely was an unfortunate turn of events and as she lay upon her bed, she felt something press onto the mattress.
With swiftness, she pulled a dagger from her skirts and turned-
"Bernard!" she put the knife away with a sigh. "You silly cat, why on earth do you feel the need to startle me?"
But the black cat simply replied with a purr, moving forward as it nuzzled against her hand. Victoria found herself chuckling affectionately at the gesture.
"Well now, don't be so demanding now. I only have so much love to give," she teased her cat, scratching him beneath his chin. Shivering, she felt the wind pull in from an open window, but feeling too tired, she just let it be and dropped back onto the bed, allowing her cat to continue to purr beside her as she scratched behind his ears.
Afte ra time, she had nearly dozed off to bed, but found herself awaking with a start and grumbling, rubbing at her eyes sleepily before getting up from her bed and fussing over her dress.
"Bah, so constricting,"s he griped and moved towards her closet after fussing over a few loose strings on her corset. Now that the dress was loose, she felt herself breathing with ease as she sighed, and went about fussing through her selection.
She didn't want something so prudent, and let the dress finally slip away when she found another dress more appropriate-
A deep, ash colored dress with a low cut int he front and a collar that fit snuggly around her neck with a silver clasp.
It had a corset, but she'd call for the maid to tighten it as she began to slip on the dress in front of her full bodied mirror in the corner of her room and took a moment to admire herself, only to frown.
So she had a nice figure, most men would say, her breasts nearly bursting from the confines of such a dress...
but her face. She touched her cheeks.
It was too long and her lips, too flat nad her eyes, nothing too impressive. Her nose, might have even been a tad too large for her own liking and only at certain angles, angles that she began to strike in the mirror, made her feel like a pretty lady at all.
Sighing, she went over towards her desk and took a seat before it and began to spritz some perfume across her form, only idly staring at her face and not knowing much else to do with it. Make up and rouge could only do so much.... Sighing, she moved to rise, knowing her corset needed tightened up the back and that she ought to call a maid in to help-
All the while Frederick was informing the cook staff to have the duck and tea be ready soon.
"Yes, the food will be ready soon. And the soup and salad as well." A large, wide hipped maid swatted towards Frederick. "Now git yer decaying body out a' this kitchen before yer eye falls inta' the soup again!"