Mildred never loved and was never loved in reply. Well, it didn't bother her. She enjoyed walking down the street, passing men unnoticed, like a phantom of an old maid. Mildred lived 200 years ago, her heart was beating in time with the Victorian era, and it was beating to become silent one day, without knowing true happiness. There were a lot of those young women then. Was it less than now? I do not know. But Mildred trembled at the idea of being ORDINARY. That is the reason for what she has done.
As the best female maker in women's fashionable attire, Mildred was asked by Mrs. Reed to create a beautiful hat, decorated with (dear reader, you can skip this passage, I won't be offended) purple lace, gold braid, big velvet bow, delicate black fringe, tiny blue rhinestones, a pinch of pink beading, scarlet camellia flower, artificial blueberries and a feather, preferably cisar`s. (Who said that the Victorian era was boring?).
Mildred had nothing to say to madam`s words. Later, they became bright recollections of Mrs. Reed, which reminded about her existence….and sudden death. And while the Madame, in her arrogant manner, listed all of the above, Mildred already imagined what kind of hat she would construct. An incredible project roared in her head, in this cauldron, which was covered with angel-like blond curls.
Every effort will be made to satisfy your request. – Mildred said kindly at last.
She bought all the things from the list (see above, my reader), but in addition to all - about a dozen of sharp (like piranha teeth) nails, and two beautiful silk ribbons, which were deep-blue as in the portraits of her Majesty, tight and soft at the same time. “God will punish me” – she thought and set to work. Yet it was her worst decision, there was no going back. Mildred feared that the excitement from her work would cause a fever and put her in bed. She also was afraid that someone would enter the workshop and take her by surprise. Mildred felt a tornado in her chest, her head getting chill and heavy, like a still kettlebell of a strong man in a circus (her father, now deceased, took her there once).
Done! Nails were expertly sewn inwards, disguised. The tapes were all in place. “God will punish me” – she thought again and fell asleep. Mildred wasn't tired of her painstaking work. The grim poverty, the mockery of rich ladies, the lack of a chance to change something in her life – there were the reasons. As I`ve already mentioned, LOVE was unknown to her. She believed in her smartness and imagination. Mildred wanted to make all the newspapers of the world write about her! What an intriguing title: a mysterious modiste-killer!
- Madame, do not rush to try on a hat. Put it on in the evening, before going out. It can reap a little at first, but in that case you should tape the ribbons tighter. – That was the instruction Mrs. Reed was given.
She could not even imagine that in the evening she would be found dead on the stairs of her house. Mrs. Reed just tried to put on her new hat… First, sharp nails dug into her head and neck, so she squeaked with pain, like a mouse. Unhappy, she tried to tighten the tapes even more firmly, and then, realizing her mistake, loosened them, so that the wounds opened and her chestnut brown hair turned red with blood. Meanwhile, Mildred went on a train to another city with the only thought.
"God will punish me".
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