Yes, I know I'm extremely slow with updating. I tend to forget and, when I haven't forgotten, I just don't know what to write.
Nevertheless, I've attempted to continue. It's not much, but it's been far too long.

Every time Riella passed a clock, she glanced at it to check the time. She felt anxious about seeing Jacob again and she didn't want to end up being late somehow. She was hoping that she'd find out what he wanted from her soon, but she also enjoyed speaking with him. Until that time came, she kept herself busy with random things. She'd scrub the floors, do laundry, and help wash the dishes. One person even got their own break since Riella took one of their chores for the day. She felt that she needed to make up for what she hadn't done that morning, and she wanted also to make time go by faster. It usually seemed as if it did when one kept busy.

Bridget had eyed Riella a few times when the two passed in the hallway. The woman never did seem to like her for some reason. That fact always bothered her. Riella wasn't of a lower class than Bridget, nor could she remember ever doing anything to her. Still, anyone could tell that the older woman treated her as a lesser being. She didn't seem to do that as much with anyone else. Bridget especially seemed to be showing this attitude even more today. It made Riella uneasy. What was the deal?

Now, when Riella was heading to her room to dress properly, Bridget stood waiting at the door. The feeling of uneasiness mulitplied and she gave the woman a questioning look. Bridget smiled in a "you don't know what you're getting into" kind of way, then frowned. "Meet me in the kitchen, at midnight."

"Why?"

"Just do it, girl. You'll find out when the time comes." With that, the older woman left and Riella went into her room, confused.

She soon got changed into the dress from that morning and walked down to the dining room. It was a few minutes until 7, so she sat down and waited at the table.

The clock hit 7 and a few more minutes went by. Then another few, and another, and so on until it'd been a little over an hour. Riella sighed assuming Jacob wasn't going to show up. He must have forgotten or just decided to leave her waiting. As she started out of the room, she heard a noise outside. She went to see what it was and opened the door.

Jacob stood there and began smiling, hiding something behind his back. "Sorry I'm late. I wanted to fetch something before coming home and the store was closed, so it took a bit longer than I expected."

"Oh. It's okay." The girl gave him a curious look.

"I somehow managed to lose my key and..." He walked around her keeping his front toward her. "Well, I'm actually glad you didn't already go to bed or something."

She continued looking at him, wondering what was going on. "Are you okay, sir?"

"Definitely. And please don't call me sir." He laughed. "I'm not that old, am I?" Then, Jacob kissed her and handed her a box.

"Uhm..." She stared at it, more confused than ever, before looking back to him and taking it.

He told her to open it and so she did, finding a beautiful dress with earrings and a necklace. "Oh my..."

She was bewildered. Why did he bring her this? Further more, why had he kissed her? It was all too much. Especially since she barely knew the man. Yet, she was also filled with another feeling. Happiness, excitement, and... dare she think love? He seemed so sweet. No man had ever given her anything or treated her in such a kind way.

The two went into the kitchen and had dinner, before Jacob asked Riella to try the dress on. After she'd done that, then showed him while admiring the reflection of it in a mirror, she put the previous one back on and they talked about different things. Finally, the conversation died down and she took the chance to ask a question.

"Why did you kiss me earlier?" She chewed on her bottom lip and looked toward the floor.

"Because..." He stood from his seat, walked over to her, and pulled her face toward him. "Je t'aime. You're unlike any other woman I've known. I wanted to show you how I felt." At that moment, he kissed her again and she kissed back.