The manor had beautiful gardens and orchards. I particularly took interest in the gardens. It glittered in the sun light. The yard was mowed clean, bushes trimmed and flowers bloomed.
There was a birdbath surrounded by daises and every morning, sparrows hopped in and out splashing like tiny drama queens.
They had different species of flowers; orange blossoms that the bees adored, Jasmines that lined the pathways, white roses and peonies that smelled like luxury and romance, lavender bushes along the fences, a beautiful Magnolia tree in the center. I imagined all the perfumes and scented candles I could make with these.
A tiny bee landed on a lavender bloom pausing as if curious about my presence. I held my breath not wanting to scare it away and I watched the dance of its wing against the purple haze.
I found a bare patch in the bushes that must have been overlooked by the gardener. I watered them.
"Thank you for your beauty and scent." I would speak to the flowers while picking them. "Please grow strong for your next bloom"
Father said flowers hear when you speak.
I would take them to my room, and mix their beautiful petals with melted wax I scrapped from my beside candle and they became scented candles. My room that once smelled bare, danced with the scent of Jasmines and peonies.
One morning, the maid cleaned the room as I stared out the window. I had already taken a bud from the peonies, taking another would hurt them. I would try Lavender.
"Miss..." she called. "I hope I am not overstepping."
I met her gaze, her fingered twisted her apron.
"I have been noticing petals on your bedside," she began. "If you don't mind, what do you use them for?"
My heart hopped, in my days of staying the manor, never once had a worker spoken to me beyond formalities.
"Um..." I hesitated a bit, wondering if she could be trusted. "I make them into scented candles"
"Scented candles?" her eyes widened. "Those are expensive in the market."
I smiled at her amusement, I never imagined the machine-like maids could be curious.
"Yes," I smiled. "My Father is a perfumer, He thought us to create perfumes and scented objects."
"They smell beautiful" she said. "I knew the cleaning soap could never have smelled this good."
I chuckled.
Then quieter she asks "Could you please... make a perfume? For me?"
"I could" I replied. "But I would need sweet almond oil and maybe a bit of rum, I don't have that here."
She pressed her lips as if thinking then replies quickly. "I can bring some."
"There would be some leftovers in the pantry.", she says quieter.
"Would that be any problem?" I asked.
"They wouldn't even notice; the food supplies are restocked every week and there's always enough."
"Thank you." I smiled.
She was about to leave when she turned around, "Miss... if you don't mind, what is your name?"
This was the first time my name was asked since I arrived.
"Elara" I replied. Maybe the people here were not so hard.
"You have a very beautiful name Miss Elara... I am Grace."
"Please just call me Elara."
Grace gave a curtsy, "Okay Elara."
I returned the curtsy in humor, "Okay Grace."
I think, I had made a new friend...
I returned from dinner that night and true to her words, Grace had dropped a bottle of oil and rum.
I spent the night crafting a Jasmine perfume oil.
I crushed the jasmine petals with a smooth pebble till their scent bloomed. I put the crushed petals in a metal plate with the oil and heated them over the flames of the beside candle. The aroma filled the room rich and floral weaving into the faint scent of my linen.
The next morning, I handed the vial of Jasmine perfume oil to Grace.
"I like how the petals are sprinkled in it." She had the excitement of a child.
She sniffed it.
"Oh my... this is so good." Her voice heavy with excitement. "It smells like the manor in the early morning hours."
"It is Jasmine perfume oil," I replied. "You should apply them on your pulse points for greater effect."
"I can't wait to wear, it" she squealed. "Maybe today might be the day my crush notices me"
I laughed. Grace was a sweet and free spirited, just like daises and I really liked her
***
I was in the garden at dusk, the scent of Gardenia and Tuberose at its peak. I pruned the flowers while humming and whispering praises. One scent caught my attention.
It was rose but stronger, richer and more sensual. I had never smelled anything like it, except in a perfume father once made while abroad. I followed the scent, it was distinctive and easy to pick up.
There in the sunset a sea of blooming roses. Not white, not blush— Blood Red. I heard of it in stories but I had never seen nor smelled anything like it.
The garden was isolated from the others, everything about it screamed restricted.
"I wouldn't linger for long," I told myself. Just a sniff, or maybe a stem of rose and I will never cross the boundary. I was starting to imagine how great it would smell with Jasmines, or Rosemary or even Cinnamon.
I observed from afar, there was no one around. There was a small gate that guarded the flowers, it was open but every bit of it screamed at me to leave.
"Just for a minute..." I brushed off the feeling of uneasiness.
I went through, the scent enveloped me, it was deep, fruity, spicy, warm all at once. I giggled in excitement.
I knelt by a bush, inhaling the deep red scent. The sunset painted the petals in an ethereal glow. My fingers brushed lightly over them, their delicate texture dancing across my skin.
"You look divine." I whispered. "It would be my honour to preserve your scent into something beautiful,"
When I felt like I had gotten permission, I drew my hands gently to the stem, tracing my finger tips on each thorn till I reached the base. I took out a pruning shear and cut it.
"Thank you." I kissed the bud.
The bushes behind rattled and I felt a presence behind me...
My heart stopped.
I rose to my feet and turned, my gaze met with a man. My soul sank.
He had the same build, the same face, the same cold stare. It was the Master of the House.