After she gazed at his face for a few seconds, she pulled off his shoes and laid him well on the bed.
She went to freshen up when she had covered his tiny body with the blanket.
When she was done, she laid down to catch some sleep.
She didn't sleep for up to an hour when a loud knock at her door awakened her from sleep.
Joanna groaned and sat up on the bed. She stood up and walked to the door when she had made sure that the knock hadn't disturbed Anthony's sleep.
"What's it?" Joanna questioned the maid at the door.
"Old Madam told me to inform you that it's time for you to perform your duties…,"
"And what goddamn duties are you talking about when I barely had any sleep," Joanna lost her cool and shouted.
"She told me to relay her orders to you and I have done my part," the blonde lady replied.
"If you have a problem with her orders then you can go confront her yourself. Don't make things difficult for me," She stated rudely.
The maid bowed and she did this with reluctance. She left without Joanna asking her to do so.
[The old hag never changed. She doesn't know that she is digging her own grave by constantly testing my patience]
She glared at nothing in particular.
Joanna returned to her room to get changed afterwards. She exited her room when she was done.
From that moment until it was bright outside Joanna did nothing else other than working to the bones.
She wasn't allowed a moment of rest despite her hard work.
Joanna was about to conclude her chores and go upstairs to freshen up when Grandma Cora made her way to the sitting room.
"Good morning, Madam Cora," Joanna greeted. But the elderly woman ignored her greetings. She proceeded to the couch at the centre table.
"My legs feel so sore," she mumbled and lifted her dress so that she revealed her legs.
Soon she raised her head and peered in Joanna's direction.
"I just said my legs are sore so stop standing there and come over to massage my legs," she commanded.
"But why should I be the one to do that?" Joanna challenged the old woman.
"Did you say something?" Grandma Cora raised an eyebrow.
She glared at Joanna. She expected Joanna to repeat her words but Joanna proved to be smarter.
"I will go get the ointment," she informed her. Joanna swirled and moved to the shelves at her right-hand side.
[I was standing on my own when you asked for it. So just see how I will deal with you this morning]
Joanna grinned. She stretched a bit and carried the white ointment bottle at the topmost of the shelf.
She proceeded to where Grandma Cora sat afterwards.
"Where does it hurt?" Joanna squatted and took the woman's right leg in her hand.
"All over," she blurted.
"I will grant your wish, don't worry," Joanna muttered. She massaged the woman's legs as she wanted.
Even though it was obvious that nothing was wrong with her legs, Grandma Cora used this opportunity to waste Joanna's time and also make things difficult for her.
"I said be gentle. Can't you hear any more?" She growled and kicked Joanna's right shoulder hard. Joanna fell on the floor with her butts first.
"Are you planning to break my legs or what?" She shouted.
"I will be more gentle," she responded and resumed what she was doing.
Joanna was still massaging Grandma Cora's legs when Anthony in his uniform ran down the stairs.
"Good morning, Granny," Anthony greeted. Even though nothing else in the room caught his attention, the sight of Joanna kneeling in front of his Grandmother did.
"Morning, sweetheart. My grandson looks so handsome," she complimented. She stretched her hand and stroked his face.
"Does Grandma's legs hurt?" he asked.
"Yeah, I sat down at a spot the entire night because of a certain somebody. I bet that must be the cause of the pain," She said, her murderous glares focused on Joanna.
"If that is the case then let me massage your legs. I promise, you will feel a lot better after I massage you with my magical hands," He said playfully.
He bent and tried to lift her leg but the old woman caught him and made him stand on his feet in time.
"This job is meant for servants only. But you are the heir of this great family so don't you ever do that again," Grandma Cora scolded.
She lifted him and made him sit beside her.
"If the job is meant for servants then why are you letting Big Sis do it…,"
"So, is my boy ready to go to school huh?" Grandma Cora abruptly changed the topic. Anthony, whose attention was concentrated on Joanna, didn't say a word.
He tilted his head and gazed at the woman by his side.
"Grandma, can Big Sis send me to school today?" He asked.
"I would have loved to do that but unfortunately I need to freshen up and get ready for my morning classes. I can't send you to school today," Joanna replied before Grandma Cora had the opportunity to.
"And who in this house will let you leave for your useless school when you haven't completed all the tasks for this morning?" Grandma Cora snapped.
"I have cleaned and done all my morning chores…,"
"Did you say you have done all your chores?" Grandma Cora interrupted. "As far as I know you haven't prepared breakfast…,"
"Vinnie was getting ready to prepare breakfast. Also, that isn't part of my job…,"
"Say one more word and I will make sure you can't open your mouth to talk for three days," she threatened.
"Grandma, Big Sis…,"
"Go to your room. Breakfast will be ready before it's time for you to leave for school," She said and urged him on.
She watched the reluctant boy stand up and walk to the stairs. Grandma Cora returned her gaze to Joanna's face after she had confirmed that Anthony was in his room.
"Don't even dream of setting your legs out of this house if you haven't prepared breakfast," she stated sternly.