One Golden Pocketwatch

FIRST, I NEEDED to find that anxious man’s pocket watch.

If Seralind was going to take a day off, it would have to be without Madame Whispet’s knowledge. Which meant that she’d need some money to keep up the appearance that she went to work tonight.

I figured that if I found and sold it, I could have enough that would satisfy Madame Whispet.

Well, no amount of money could satiate her greed, but at least it would get Seralind off of the chopping block!

The good news was that there were only a few places where it could be; the man had told her the watch was left in one of the guest rooms.

There were about twelve, or maybe fourteen, rooms in the house. Some would be occupied, which would also narrow my search. And since Seralind is going to the palace in only a few hours, I’d have to be fast.

I hope the pocket watch isn’t in an occupied room, or else I wouldn’t be able to get to it at all, I worry, exiting our bedroom. Seralind was running errands before getting ready for the palace, and the Madame had already left to enjoy the night. So, I was left to my own devices.

Patrons tipsily bumbled about the house, as it was getting filled. The sound of musicians outside allowed a moody ambience to settle over the house, as the door had been propped open to let potential patrons know to enter willingly.

I still had a couple more chores to do before bed, but tonight is as good as any to rebel.

I put on my good boots, little leather ones that are sturdy and I usually wear when doing harder work, and opened the first empty door to the guest rooms.

They were small, with only a framed bed, lit candles in the bedside table, and incense burning to keep it smelling of rich florals. Paintings hung loosely on the walls, a folding screen was propped up against the wall, and there were discarded pieces elements of outerwear and jewelry scattered about. A stained rug that I sometimes had to beat dust out of was askew over the floor. All the rooms were similarly decorated, as no one ever stayed for more than an hour at a time.

There were only a few places to look. I first checked under the bed, looking through the darkness for a glimmer of gold. When I didn’t see anything, I pulled out the drawers of the bedside table and checked the corners and scanned the floor, but it seemed the watch wasn’t there.

Room number 8, done! I said, mentally checking it off. No pocket watch, but I wasn’t discouraged yet. I had plenty more rooms to look through.

I hastily left the room and cracked open the next one, noticing how two of the ladies had entered with a patron, occupying the space.

They’re filling up already… I notice, closing the door behind me.

As I searched, it seemed to be coming up empty as well. However, the door peels open, and I hear giggling come from the entrance.

My head snaps up to see Marionne draped on a man’s arm, his arm on her waist and their faces flushed, probably coming inside to perform for the man.

Oh, no-!

“Ahh!!” Marionne screamed upon seeing me lifting up the bed’s mattress. “Esmeline!”

“S-Sorry!” I said quickly, darting between them out of the room.

I wasn’t finished looking around! I thought mournfully as Marionne slammed the door behind me.

I picked at my fingers, glancing around me, and another previously empty room had another lady and patron waltz right in, giggling and clinging to each other.

How am I supposed to have time to look when we’re so busy? I ask myself, the task starting to feel a little daunting. I don’t have time to wait until they're done either; Seralind will be getting ready soon, and I still need to complete the other parts of my plan.

No, I can’t think like that! I say, shaking my head to chase away those negative thoughts.

I’ll just go search for the empty rooms as fast as I can. It might be a little tedious, but I won’t know unless I try.

I take a deep breath and decide to look around for my next empty room.

Exhaustion slowly started to creep in as I had to double back on at least three rooms because I was interrupted halfway through my search. The ones I was able to look through turned up nothing for the watch, and I still had plenty more to go.

I dragged my feet over to a lone stool in the corner to rest my feet. My knees ached from dropping to them to check under the beds, and my hands were grimy from sticking them into ominous small cracks.

I wiped them on my apron, a wash of defeat and tiredness making me slump in my seat. I close my eyes, listening to the music and bustle of laughter. The incense fills my senses, and it makes me a little drowsy.

Maybe I was way in over my head, and I should just let Seralind leave.

The thought was like a whisper. It seemed all I could do was fail as of recently.

“What are you sitting there for? Aren’t you supposed to be winding down for bed by now?” Auna asks me, breaking through my thoughts. She was holding a giant wine bottle.

“I know, but…” I trail off, my worries already flaring up from the prospect of me not finding the pocket watch.

“What is it, sweetie?” She asks me, crouching in front of me. The expression on Auna’s face made me open up a little bit to her.

“I’m looking for a pocket watch; it was left in one of the rooms, and I need it!” I tell her, “But it’s too busy, and I don’t have time to check them all.”

I look at the floor, already feeling tears well up in my eyes.

“Well, why don’t the girls look then?” Auna offers, her voice soft, “We’re all going to be popping in and out all night anyway; I’ll tell the other ladies to search for it when we’re going into the rooms.”

My eyes brighten at her idea.

“Really!? You’ll do that?” I say.

“Of course! Anything for you, cutie!” Auna says, cupping my cheeks and squeezing them together.

“Oh, thank you, Auna!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around her legs in a hug. She giggles, rubbing my back.

I felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, my previously dashed hopes being reignited again.

“Please tell them to look very carefully, okay?” I say, trying to stress the importance of this task.

“I’ll tell them that Miss Esmeline has demanded it! Trust me, they’ll be very thorough.” Auna jokes with me. I laugh, knowing she only wanted to try to lighten my mood.

She then disappears into the crowd, probably to spread the word to the other girls.

I think I can do this!

I let out a breath of relief, as now I had time to execute the second part of my plan more carefully.

***

“Will this be enough to take one person to the palace?” I ask the coachman, presenting him my precious jar of coins.

He only blinked at me in astonishment, looking at my jar before me, then at the jar again. I shake it for good measure, reminding him I asked him a question.

“W-Well, let’s see here,” he mumbles, taking the jar into his gloved hands.

I could have paid a farmhand to drive Seralind to the palace, but if they were going to let her in without questions, she needed to keep up appearances. So, I assumed that I would spend all the coins in my jar to get one of the fancy carriages that were accessible for the nobility to travel through the city.

Plus, it was almost completely filled, and I knew a few of the silver ones could get you a ride all around the city. So, I hoped that almost half an entire jar’s worth would be enough for at least one trip.

Tonight’s air was a little chilly, so I regretted not putting on a cloak to keep me warm. So, I was trying hard not to shiver in my dress or pet the coat of the beautiful horses waiting patiently hooked to the carriage.

The coachman doesn’t bother opening the jar; he only examines it from the outside. He then looks at me again without a word.

I started to get a little nervous, wondering what he was thinking. If it wasn’t enough, I didn’t know what I’d do. I might have to use some of the pocket watch’s earnings to pay for it, but then it would put Seralind at risk of getting in trouble with the Madame, which had been my first priority in solving.

“Where are your parents?” The coachman asks me carefully. I frown.

“They’re… at the palace,” I lied. The coachman raises an eyebrow at me.

“They’re at the palace?” He repeats.

I nod, doubling down.

“Yes, they work there! And I want to go visit them, but I don’t have a ride.”

“Don’t you have any relatives with a wagon? And why go to the palace when there’s plenty to do here at the festival?”

Stop asking me questions!! I don’t have time to argue with you! I think angrily to myself. I huff in frustration.

“I just want to go!” I say sternly. The coach narrows his eyes at me and crosses his arms.

“No need to give me attitude, little lady!” He responds.

I was at a loss for words. Getting upset with him wasn’t going to get Seralind to the palace.

“I’m sorry, I just… please, sir? Just tell me if I need more money.” I pleaded with him. I was tired from walking all the way here after searching the rooms at the house, and the time was approaching for Seralind to leave.

If I don’t get back before she does, all of this would have been for nothing.

The coachman thinks for a second, glancing around him at the nobility boarding their own carriages for the festival.

“Alright, yeah, it’s enough.” The coachman says, sounding hesitant. I, however, was overjoyed. I even jumped happily with excitement.

“Thank you, sir!” I giggle.

“But I’m only doing one trip, alright? I’m not going to wait for you all night; I have customers. So you’re going to have to ask your parents to find you a way back on your own.”

“Yes, sir!”

I make a mental note to give Seralind at least a couple of coins from whatever I make from the pocket watch, as it seems I don’t have a choice anymore.

“I’ll be right back, okay! Please don’t go anywhere!” I tell the coachman. He furrows his brows.

“Hey, wait! What-?” He calls after me, but I already race back down the street to the dancer house with newfound energy, hoping to receive some good news.