Attrition

Chapter 2 - Boudoir of Indulgence

Chapter 2

A black Bentley rolled down the mile long driveway, after passing through the grand iron gates.
  Senga marvelled at the beauty of her potential new home. Purple wisteria and cherry blossoms lined the yellow gravel path, infusing the breeze with their scent. Welcoming the weary traveller to the estate.
  As they pulled up to the huge Japanese heritage manor, nestled only half an hour drive from the city,  Senga clencher her hands resting her knees. Nervous, she laughed at herself: wondering what she had gotten herself into. She didn't even notice the tear rolling down her eye until she felt the stinging from her makeup mixing with her sun cream.
  Quickly she searched around the small black velvet clutch for her mirror. Hastily using the puff inside to perfect her make up before the car stopped.
  She had opted for a base so natural, the untrained eye would barely be able to tell if not for the bold red velvet lip. Orange blush,  applied just below the temples, stopped just at the apples of her cheeks: giving her burned caramel skin a warm glow. Erasing the sickly yellow she insisted she saw, whenever she looked in the mirror. Finally finished by a dark brown shadow blended in the outer corner of her lash lines, to sharpen up her features.
  Senga took one final look at herself in the mirror and put it away; grabbed the long strap of her bag and slipped it over her shoulder.
  Click! The car had stopped and both sides of the doors were opened by two tall manservants with white gloves.
  She stepped out.
***
At the door the head butler saw two cherry red kitten heels hit the ground. Between the straps, he could vaguely see white cotton tights appear.
  As the door was fully opened a young woman exited the car and came into view. The tall, but slightly wide, young woman adorned a white round collared shoulder length dress, red beret and a single pearl laced on a black choker. Much to his surprise the dress was boldly printed with red poppy flowers.
  Somehow...the whole outfit gave the impression of a power suit.
  Without letting his eyes ever leave her, he walked down the stairs to greet the important guests. He watched as she thanked the person holding the car door in their native tongue and respectfully waited for her father to walk around the car and join her. Only walking towards him after her father, behind him but to his side.
  Her father on the other hand, was casually dressed but smart. Understated.
  Bowing deeply to his master's honoured guests he led them up the stairs and through the double door entrance.
  " Boudoir of Indulgence Estate is where all the working and young members of the family reside. Boudoir Manor, the main building we are in, is reserved for main family members. The original home was built over one hundred and fifty years ago but it has long been renovated and redesigned by the various Madams of the home," introduced the butler proudly as he led them past the double stair lobby and to the main parlour. He was speaking in perfect English. "It was named in honour of the several Madams, who care for the future heirs and their husbands here. Therefore Madams are the highest authority here, unlike in the ancestral home. There can only be one owner. Even the master cannot override her," he laughed to himself.
  He was about to continue when he was interrupted by a slightly deep femenine voice, "How many masters are there currently residing in boudoir manor. "
"In response to the honoured guest's question, currently there are two masters and sixteen young masters." Upon saying this he couldn't help but gaze upon the reactions of the honoured guests. Butler Tanaka arrived at the first door on the left in the lobby and paused.  
  Most people, no matter the status would marvel at the splendour of the home or at least the number of the masters. Not many had the honour of being received in the main building.
   However, neither party had any reaction. Not the ones he was expecting anyway. The girl looked down and seemed to be admiring her red velvet gloves, meanwhile her father appeared to be bored out of his mind: checking his watch, as if to say he had better things to do.
  Well seasoned, the butler didn't allow any of his expressions to leak; respectfully knocking on the door and opening it after getting the go ahead from inside.
    In fact the butler was sorely mistaken. Senga has been stunned at the number of children, she pondered what type of women could produce such a fruitful bounty. Given that she had been warned that her dream of a large family was not easy, potentially impossible, she couldn't help but wonder. Although she admired such a woman, to her own great disappointment: she couldn't help herself from feeling envious. Knowing it was neither the time or the place, she ruthlessly dug her nails into her hands, crudely waking herself up.
  As for her father, Jéremié, he only spoke French and his African native language; despite the fact his daughter only spoke english. The pair shared a weird communication style that relied fifty percent on one another's broken understanding of each other's language and the other on mere conjecture.
   At the speed the butler was talking, he didn't pick up a single word.

***
Character: Jéremié     Ethnicity: Black African         Age: 67                      Nationality: French                  

Note from the Author: Thanks for reading so far, please comment. Senga's sense of fashion is...bold, so to speak. She always looks elegant but stands out at the same time right? Always dressed for the occasion. Jéremié is more of a free spirit, he just does whatever he wants, for better or worse. Neither of them will do anything they don't want to.
Empress Black