117 Sad Fate

"Get up!"

Louisa jolted awake, her head bouncing off the pillows. Eyes alert, she could not believe the person she saw. Doing her best, she tried to recall how their presence there in time was even possible.… That was all wrong. The person whose features had marred into a scowl had no business being by her, much after hauling the blanket away like that. They had yanked the double sheets off her face exposing her to their hot-as-larva flaring breaths and their heated cheeks. Madam Eloise was very upset. The question was, why?

"Did I startle you yet?" Eloise muttered, with a stain of sarcasm in her voice. "No? Get up. It's almost eight. Work mustn't slack because you are too lazy."

Louisa asked, "What work?" Though her eyes were wider than her full face, she merely sat up on the bed and crawled her legs into a yoga pose. "And yes. Seeing you as the first thing in the morning does startle me. I can not even lie about that."