A talk with Margie

"Quit doing that, that is total blackmail! You know I can't resist that look." Janice glared whilst staring at Bessie who still had the 'puppy eyes' look on.
"Okay fine!" She huffed, then climbed down from the bed slowly. She waddled towards the closet and tossed her robe on.
"You know it's weird to see you talking to it. I mean, it can't understand whatever you say but you make it look like it does." Margie said whilst staring at the little creature that was sprawled beside the pillow.
Janice shrugged as she tied the belt of the robe around her, "I feel connected to it. Even though we can barely say a word to one another, I think we understand each other. Don't we Bessie?"
The puppy leapt on the bed, yapped, and wagged its tail.
"See, that's my girl," Janice said with a grin. "I'll be back, let me get you something to eat."
She waddled to the puppy, stroked its fur, before waddling out of the room.
Margie shook her head before gazing at the puppy who stared back at her in return.
"I'm not Janice and I won't fall for the look." She mumbled more to herself than to the animal who continued staring at her.
Margie had never had a pet before because of her demanding life whilst she wasn't married and she didn't think she could keep one now she was married.
But, she feels drawn to Bessie. Despite trying to ignore the way she stared at her with its large brown eyes.
"Ugh!" She groaned as Bessie whined. "You are irresistible."
She picked the animal up and began to stroke the ear. She heard it whimpered and whenever her hand stopped stroking, it would let out a soft protest.
Margie sighed. She had berated Janice for talking to the animal whereas she was doing the same.
She understood what Janice meant by her feeling connected to the little creature because she felt the same way. However, she wondered if the warm feeling within her would be enough reason for her to get a little companion for herself as well.
**********
"My lady!"
Gracie leapt to her feet as soon as Janice stepped into the kitchen. She did a brief bow and the other maids present did the same.
She scurried towards Janice as she moved to the large table, filled with groceries in the middle of the room.
"You shouldn't be in here, My Lady. I'm sorry I took so long, I am about to bring in your meal." Gracie rambled.
She kicked herself mentally and let out a grimace for waking up so late. She had set an alarm the previous night but hadn't woken up when it went off. She had enjoyed having her husband-to-be arms around her and had forgotten she had a duty to attend to the next morning.
Also, it wasn't her fault because despite how long she thought she had taken to resume her duty, she had arrived on time.
She believed the maids who were in charge of the meal were rather slow.
"Well, this isn't about me. I can wait until breakfast is ready. It's about Bessie."
The other maid's ears perked up as Janice mentioned Bessie.
Ever since the arrival of Bessie, Janice had taken it upon herself to prepare its food. Even when they tried to help her in the preparation, she'd declined and said she didn't want to bother them.
At first, they had thought Janice would be like most royals and act in a snobbish way. But then, she stunned them. She was humble and very different from what they were often used to.
Maybe it was due to her upbringing, whichever it was, they liked having her as their queen.
"I made plans to do so after attending to you."
"Don't worry about it anymore." Janice dismissed. She rummaged through the cabinet and crouched to grab a pan.
Gracie stared at her in dismay and rushed to her side.
"The king is going to have my head if he sees you doing this!"
"Good thing he's not around." Janice beamed.
The other maid knew better than to argue with her. Since she would not let them help her either, they only watched her so she would not harm herself.
Also, they stared at Gracie who looked like she was about to burst into tears in pity. They believed when the King- Jules- got to know of whatever was happening which he would know even if his wife concealed it from him, she might lose her job.
"Don't worry Gracie, I won't slide and break my neck if that is what you are worried about." Janice nudged her slightly and she extended her hand to help her.
Gracie shook her head and did a silent prayer for the dowager queen not to surface because she did an inspection every morning. Even if Jules pardoned her for not firing her from Janice plea, she believed the dowager queen would do so.
The woman was cruel and she had seen her act that way a lot of time. She was cold-hearted. It was even surprising she had accepted the two women that had married her son since she had used her time to scour the whole of Cherview for a suitable bride by hosting weekly Balls.
"I'll carry that, My lady," Gracie said as Janice began to clutch the food she had prepared.
Janice nodded and allowed Grace to help her. Her back ached for having bent too much over the cooker and she didn't think she had anyone to complain to because she had opted to do so herself.
**********
"Well, I thought you would not come any longer, I was starting to get worried," Margie said as Janice stepped into the room followed by Gracie. She raised her brows as she stared at her friends' sweaty faces.
"Don't tell me, you went to prepare that yourself?"
"I'm sorry, your highness. I told her to let me but she didn't want me touching the food." Gracie apologized. Her face flushed, and she stared at the ground whilst twisting her fingers together.
"I've said it's not your fault." Janice rolled her eyes.
Grace nodded, even though she thought otherwise, she wasn't ready to argue with Janice. "But, it's my duty to make sure you are alright. I don't want to lose my job."
"You are not losing it as far as I am concerned. Besides, I am perfectly okay. Cooking that little meal would not make the baby slip out of me. Also, it isn't even in a sac."
Grace breathed out and a small laugh escaped her mouth at Janice's last statement.
"I'll bring your meal in soon. Let me prepare your bath."
"That'd be great." Janice grinned.
"You know she can actually lose that job if your husband is around. Also, she is very lucky that the witch didn't go inside the kitchen to see the Queen consort bending over a Cooker."
"I don't think she can do anything even if she comes in. It's my choice to cook Bessie's food and Jules would not dare fire her if he was around." Janice scowled.
Margie watched Janice clench her fists and mutter some incoherent words which she believed to be cuss words.
"Well, it seems someone is mad. May I know what he did again? I know he is d**k but you need to know he cares about you. He hasn't acted this way towards anyone before. I am certain of that."
"How would you know? You are not always with him and he is even acting strange."
"How strange?"
Bessie whined, its cold snout nudged Janice's hand.
"Sorry, I forgot about you!" Janice carried Bessie towards the bowl she had set on the table where she often put it to eat. "Enjoy your meal."
Bessie licked her hand and went on eating.
"So, what did your husband do again? I thought you would not have any problem anymore."
"Alas! I thought the same but that is wishful thinking." Janice sighed.