George looked at his sister and took a slice of salmon on his plate to his mouth. Then he picked up the wine cup that Malee had filled and slowly swirled the cup around with his hand.
“Are you expecting an answer from me?” asked George after taking a small sip from the cup.
“No. I do not need it.” replied Georgia immediately. She knew better than most not to rile her brother when he was in that mood. Only their father could have controlled George, and he was at the house near the airport for the guests arriving that night. She took a few more slices of the salmon and wine from the cup till she could see the bottom. Mary softly nudged Malee with her hand, who nodded and took the wine bottle from the ice bin and refilled the wine cup. So, that was what she would do the following night, Malee gathered, refilling Georgia’s cup. Not a difficult task with Mary besides her as a lookout if she had forgotten.
The twins did not speak again after the first question and answer. They cleared their respective plates and then a few more subsequent dishes as the servants brought in. Malee saw fruits and ice-creams after the salmon and wondered who were those in the kitchen cooking. She didn’t think any of the servants could prepare them for those looked more like those dishes from those restaurants that she had seen through the glass than their usual dishes. Once the dishes were done, both of them put down their cups in unison. Mary moved to pick up the cup to refill but stopped after George had put up his hand. Mary placed back the bottle and turned back to place her hands on George’s chair.
Slowly, she pulled back the chair for George to stand without falling off on the floor and followed George out of the room, leaving Malee and Georgia.
“Try not to use your strength.” whispered Georgia as Malee placed her hands on the back of her chair. Malee nodded and with a deep breath, slowly pulled back the chair for Georgia to stand up safely. Malee followed Georgia to outside the room then up the stairs to the from of her door.
“You are not waiting for me to open it, are you?” asked Georgia. Malee nodded and walked to the front of Georgia and opened the door for her. Malee heard a loud sigh of relief from Georgia once they were in the room. Georgia looked at Malee and gave a soft smile.
“Well done. Now, come and prepare my bath.” said Georgia as she went into the bathroom. Malee followed her in the room without knowing how to prepare a “bath” but then she didn’t have a proper shower till a few weeks ago. So, there she was, standing with Georgia, who was looking at her.
“You know how to prepare a bath, don’t you?” asked Georgia. She couldn’t believe there was anyone who wasn’t familiar with the whole process of hot water and scents to purify the body and soul after a stressful dinner. Malee shook her head to another loud sigh from Georgia. How stupid could that girl be, she wondered? She walked towards the bathtub and signalled Malee to come closer to the tub.
“Listen. Turn that around. Once the water is here, fill in with..” and so on. Took a while for Georgia to instruct Malee with the steps, and hoped Malee could remember every steps for her not to repeat them again. It took a while for the tub to fill to the brim and for Malee to add drops from the several scent bottles in the order that Georgia instructed. How could anyone need to spend so much time and effort to cleaning its own body, Malee wondered? If it was up to her, she would go to the river and jump.
“Unzip my dress.” ordered Georgia after sensing the water temperature in the tub with her hand.
Malee went behind Georgia and unzipped her dress as told for the dress to fall on the floor, baring Georgia in the entirety. Malee whistled in her mind after looking at Georgia’s bared back.