So Many Bees

The lady was talkative. Not something that Ella enjoyed, typically. But for the moment, she seemed more than happy to lay on the ground, and simply listen. Her minders were silent, watching Ophelia as she dropped the needles and shears, much too near to the woman on the ground.

When Ophelia decided that Ella must be Malachai's younger sister, amusement lit in the younger woman's eyes, though she didn't correct her. And neither did the minders tending to them both. When she declared she'd be happy to pen a letter, Novella rolled over and settled on her knees in a fluid motion, as if she was used to not having the use of her hands. And while her minders went to retrieve the requested items, Ella's were pulling her away from the house-guest. To her credit, Ella shuffled willingly backwards, gaze locked on the stranger.

She was still holding the hair ribbon, fingers studying the craftsmanship. No. They're afraid of me. She tossed her chin towards the minders beside of her. But Father tells them what to do, and they're more afraid of him. She answered, when asked if they didn't quite get the dictation correct. They want to be done as quickly as possible. She wasn't angry, and there was no malice to her words. Simply facts being shared at an opportune moment.

Your craftsmanship is nice, she eventually stated, offering the ribbon to a minder to return to the house-guest. Will you teach me more about the plants? She knew enough, but clearly this woman could tell her even more. And it'd be more fun than reading in a book.

What Ella didn't respond to, or acknowledge, was simply because she had no desire to do so. And the corrections that never came, was again, simply for her own amusement. Perhaps the other lady would talk to her Father about her, and she'd be allowed to witness the ensuing confusion.

@Ophelia Jolfy