Chapter 5: A Missed Opportunity

“Please, Mr Miles!” Netra begged on her knees. “Give me another chance. I know I got here too late, but I passed the test already. Please let me speak to the owner.”

“I’m sorry, Netra.” John Miles, the old supervisor at the mill, shook his head. “There’s nothing I can do. We already selected another candidate. You should’ve been here on time for the interview.”

Netra’s heart dropped. It was past sunset when she finally reached the mill. All the workers were leaving. Luckily, Miles was still there in his office. He was a kind old man who had known Netra since she was a child. Deep grey eyes welcomed her from under bushy, white eyebrows. Multiple lines marked his mellow face, deepening each time he smiled. White, thinning hair and a short moustache made him seem years older than his age. Wearing a neat black suit and tie, he exuded discipline and punctuality. He could not overlook Netra’s tardiness even once.

Getting down on her knees, she tried to make valid excuses about why she was late. But she couldn’t tell him about the wine stains that wouldn’t wash away no matter how many times she scrubbed, or about Mrs Smith’s notice that she would have to cut a day’s pay as penalty. Netra was close to bursting into tears.

“If I could just meet the owner,” she entreated.

“Please go home, Netra,” he said kindly. “You can always try again next time.”

“I beg you, Mr Miles! This is job is truly important to me. I can work really hard. Give me one more chance.”

Miles stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Get up from the floor, Netra,” he said, “and sit down on that chair. I have something to tell you.”

Complying to his instructions, Netra wondered what he was going to say. To her surprise, he called an assistant and ordered tea and biscuits.

“You like milk tea, don’t you?” he asked once the assistant had taken the order and left.

“There’s no need for this, Mr Miles,” she said.

“Come now,” he smiled. “Don’t be like that. I’ve known your father for years. And the night is quite cold. A nice warm cup of tea will be just the thing. Anyway, our cook in the mill kitchen makes excellent milk tea. You really must try it.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, smiling ruefully.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. “Netra, you know there are more positions coming up soon. Maybe in a month or two. We’re always hiring more spinners here. Why don’t you wait for some more time and try again?”

“Mr Miles, I work as a laundry maid. And I already passed the test yesterday. Waiting another month is too much for me.”

“I’m afraid that’s all you can do for now. We can only hire one candidate this time. Our mill owner has a strict hiring policy. Do you know who she is?”

“Miss Kahini Winter,” she replied, mechanically, “the Baron’s eldest daughter and official heir. She owns half the businesses in this town.”

“Miss Kay,” he said, “as everyone likes to call her. I could let you meet her, but I’m sure her answer will be the same. Take my advice, Netra. Go home and wait for the next opening. You already passed the spinning test once. I can put in a good word for you so you don’t have to take it again.”

Netra gulped down an enormous lump in her throat. She couldn’t let Miles see her cry. He would tell everything to her parents and they would worry needlessly.

“Have you tried applying to other stores in town?” he asked suddenly.

Netra felt a metallic taste in her mouth. “No one wants to hire me, Mr Miles,” she stated. “You know that.”

“Yes, I heard all about that.” He stroked his beard again. “It seems the Baron wants to make things difficult for you. Many store owners are afraid of him. That’s why they give in to his cowardly demands. Can’t really blame them. Lord Winter owns this whole town.”

“My parents are afraid of him.”

“I think your parents are afraid of what could happen to your future. Not the Baron.”

“Are you not afraid, Mr Miles?”

He laughed. “Of course I am! But my employer, Miss Kay, is not afraid of him. So I can be as fearless as I like.” The tea and biscuits arrived at that moment. Miles waited for Netra to sip her tea and nibble her biscuit before asking the next question. “What I should really like to know is why YOU are not afraid of the Baron?”

“Pardon?”

“As far as I know, you’re the first person in years to stand against him and his family. Your story even impressed Miss Kay.”

“Mr Miles, I am the first girl to reject Mr Kai’s marriage proposal. Are you saying his sister finds that impressive about me?”

“She respects your courage, Netra. But never mind that. I should think every young girl in town dreams of marrying in to the Winter family.”

“Every young girl in town dreams of becoming Mr Kai’s bride, too.”

“I’m sure your father must’ve asked you—are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I am! Thank you for the tea, Mr Miles. I’ll be leaving now.”

Picking up her cloak, lantern and tiffin basket from the floor, Netra stood up to leave.

“I hope I didn’t offend you, my dear,” Miles said.

“Not at all. I wish you goodnight.”

“Take care on your way back. Good night!”

Netra left the office and walked out of the deserted mill. The crisp night air made her pull her cloak closer. Under the cover of her hood, she let her tears fall down her cheeks.

No Spinner Netra.

Back to Laundry Maid Netra. No celebration tonight.

Once again, her dream was out of reach, and all because of that incorrigible Kai.

Did he know she had an interview today?

Maybe not. But he must have known the sheets would turn to waste; that she would have to work extra hours; that Mrs Smith would cut her pay any way.

How could she marry such a vengeful man?

He was the main reason she lost her apprenticeship six months ago. When she rejected Kai’s proposal, his father, Lord Winter, took it as a personal insult.

How dare a mere farmer’s daughter reject his only son?

The Baron forced the boutique to cancel her apprenticeship. Unfortunately, no other store could hire her after that, since her apprenticeship was incomplete. Like Miles said, people were also afraid of angering the Baron. He would never allow Netra to get a decent tailoring job in this town. If anyone tried to help her, they would face his wrath.

Thanks to Miss Kay’s benevolence, she secured the laundry work in the castle. Luckily, neither the Baron nor Kai tried to kick Netra out of there. Perhaps they respected Miss Kay’s decision. Or perhaps they wanted Netra to work as a laundry maid for the rest of her life. It was an option mainly reserved for the illiterate young women. Netra was well-educated, and trained as a professional apprentice seamstress. Doing laundry was like a demotion. Yet, she had worked sincerely all this time.

Unfortunately, Miss Kay did not own any of the boutiques in town. She had never invested in the textile business. Therefore, when she opened the mill a couple of months ago, Netra felt overjoyed. She believed this was her chance to secure a proper job.

Once again, Kai had ruined her plans. She had always known he was an arrogant jerk. Now he was proving to be a bona fide villain.

Bitter and morose, Netra retraced her steps to Pamela’s home.