On the outs (1)

Rafael looked up at the balcony where his mother was calling for him. He regretted letting her take the room that was so close to the training grounds. He did not realise her plans when she first asked for it.

He looked to her left at Delilah who he wasn't surprised to see. After each trip, she had a way of suddenly arriving at his home.

Rafael frowned when Annalise came into view. His mother already had Annalise by her side. He didn't need the maid who seemed to get into trouble a lot, hovering around his mother. The two did not seem like a good mix. His mother loved when there was someone to go along with her antics.

"Yes mother," Rafael replied to his mother's words. He had been blocking them out from the moment she mentioned resting. The training was what took his mind off other things.

"Do not sass me, Rafael. I can hear it in your voice. I am coming down there," Beatrice decided since Rafael needed a bit of convincing to take a rest. By convincing, Beatrice intended to take hold of his hand and lead him to his bed. 'It was so much easier when he was a child and clung to me,' she reminisced.

"Excuse me for a moment ladies," Beatrice said, excusing herself.

Delilah looked over her shoulder at Beatrice leaving to speak with Rafael and then looked back at Rafael who was no longer interested in who stood on the balcony. "He's not going to make you his woman," she said.

Annalise looked up from the ground to Delilah. What was it with these people thinking she wanted to be with her employer? Did she need to walk around with a sign saying she did not want Rafael?

"Did my words anger you?" Delilah asked, keeping her eyes on Rafael. "It is the truth. I have seen many like you try to get close to his mother in order to get close to Rafael. You won't change from being his maid. I am warning you now."

Annalise tried her best not to laugh, but as always, she could not stop herself. It was funny how she had done nothing to make Delilah think she wanted Rafael, but the young woman held some sort of anger toward her. Had becoming Beatrice's maid started this madness with the women going insane? They'd be surprised to know she actually wanted Rafael dead.

Delilah did not take too kindly to Annalise laughing at her words. She was being honest about Rafael never going to take the maid as his woman. Many have tried and failed. There were only two maids she heard talking about Rafael sleeping with them and though she did not want to believe their words, anything was possible with men.

"Beatrice's liking you does not mean you can laugh in her guest's face. You should know your place," said Delilah.

"Forgive me. I wasn't told of the rule that we cannot laugh. I will try to do better next time. For the last time, I have no interest in the young master. I must admit he is a handsome man," Annalise said, looking down at where Rafael stood without a shirt. It was a glorious sight, but she had no other interest in him. "But I have other things to do that are better than chasing after him."

Delilah didn't believe Annalise's words. The maid had to be after something. They all were. She especially did not like the smile that started to grow on Annalise's face.

"Though I must say if all of you keep claiming I have no chance with him, I might just join the fun and ruin your days," Annalise said to tick Delilah off. It was her way of shutting up this conversation about Rafael.

Delilah's eyes widened at Annalise's response. How did it go from her not wanting to be with Rafael to this? Delilah didn't like the game Annalise was playing. Annalise acted and said things out of her place. This type of maid did not belong at Beatrice's side. She believed Annalise would one day embarrass Rafael with her behavior.

"I should get some snacks for you and Mrs Callahan before she returns. I will be back as fast as I can," Annalise excused herself.

Annalise knew she had sealed the deal with Delilah not liking her, but it wasn't like she wanted to be friends. Delilah was always going to assume anyone near Rafael or his mother wanted him. The young woman would never be nice to her.

'He must already know that she holds feelings for him. If he has never made a move, why is she going out of her way to warn a random maid about not getting with him? There are plenty of other men out there. What is wrong with everyone in this house?' Annalise wondered.

Annalise touched her forehead as she left the room. She could not take much more of everyone assuming she was part of the group of women who wanted to sleep with Rafael. She was annoyed by the low opinion many had of maids, but then again some of the maids she worked with did not help clear those opinions.

"At least I get a little break from working," Annalise muttered. She looked at her hands which were starting to show how much Mavis worked her. It would only get worse from here on out.

Annalise sighed and continued her walk to the kitchen to get the juice and snacks before Beatrice returned.

When Annalise entered the kitchen, there were maids standing around talking to each other, some who helped to clean up now that breakfast was over with, and the cooks moving around vegetables that were bought early in the morning.

All of the knights were back so there were plenty of mouths to feed. Soon there would be more cooks hired to handle feeding the army of men under Rafael's command.

"Jonah, some treats for Mrs Callahan, please. She has a guest," Annalise said, going near the chubby man who had stains all over the front of his white shirt. He was a mess but she had to compliment him for his tasty food.

Jonah leaned on the counter with a wooden spoon in his hands, pointing it at Annalise. "I'd bet my good spoon that it's Delilah," he said as he was used to this.

Annalise smiled. "Lucky you. You get to keep your favorite spoon. I take it that she rushes to be here each time the young master returns from his travels."

"Like a moth to a flame," Jonah replied. He was starting to feel sorry for her, but then he always remembered he shouldn't be feeling sorry for the rich. They had it easy to move past their troubles while he ate his away since he did not have the money to buy things to make him happier. "We've got some fresh cake left over. I had to fight a few knight's away from it. They didn't know what they were in for," he said, showing off his muscles.

"Of course, they doubted you, but quickly learned," Annalise chuckled as she played into his ego.

"Someone is extra happy today. Must be because she acted like a dog to become Beatrice's maid."

"Why me?" Annalise sighed, looking away from Jonah to two of the maids in the kitchen. "Was that truly the best you could come up with? You watched me enter, thought of a jab, and truly believed that was it?"