- The Prouds 266
red and white dress, put on her makeup, and wore her
nicest perfume, then called her maid, Melanie.
“Go and call Jarvis,” she said. “I need him to do
something for me, and if he asks you why I did not go to
him, tell him that I am ill.”
Melanie nodded without arguing although she knew
that her lady was up to something, as she was not really ill.
Besides, why would she wear her most beautiful dress and
put on makeup? But that was Melanie’s personality. She
obeyed without questioning even if it resulted in evil.
As Florrie was sitting to her mirror putting on her
makeup, Melanie went out to Jarvis.
She said, “My Lord, my lady, the princess, wants
you inside.”
He thought then asked in wonder, “Why didn’t she
come out to me, then?”
“She is ill and could not leave her bed,” lied
Melanie, driven by her blind obedience.
“Very well, I shall go in and see what she wants,”
he said in good faith.
He entered his brother’s house slowly until he
reached the bedroom. The maid followed him without him
noticing her and hid to watch because she knew that the
princess was, definitely, up to something suspicious.
He entered his brother’s bedroom and found the
princess putting on her makeup in front of her mirror,
wearing her nicest dress, and looking her best. He was
fascinated by her beauty as he had never seen such beauty
or even a fraction of it. He wondered why she was putting
on makeup.