Mina wakes up the next morning

The next morning, Mina woke up naked in her own bed, her head filled with the most painful headache she had ever felt. She looked around for her clothes but she could see none. Which was just as well because for some reason, she just didn't feel like putting anything on.

Besides, she thought, it's not like I actually need to wear clothes. Lucy isn't all that conservative and the maids undoubtedly see undressed women all the time. As for the male servants, well, they rarely venture into the interior of the house, Lucy preferring to keep them busy with chores involving the exterior of the house.

Mina groggily got up and walked down the hallway, wondering if she should take a bath to wake her up. She stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the tub faucet, only to turn it off again when the sight of running water made her feel nauseous.

Oh, well, thought Mina. No bath for me today. Maybe tomorrow.

As Mina walked down the hall to the stairs, she passed Fifi the maid.

Fifi immediately stopped walking and stared at her.

"Is everything all right, Mademoiselle Murray?" asked Fifi.

"Yes, of course, it is," said Mina. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because you're not wearing any clothes, Mademoiselle Murray," said Fifi.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" asked Mina. "All those days of having to wear corsets and bustles are gone for good. Though I must admit I will miss the bustles a bit. Especially the times when you helped me dress up and you had to adjust my bustle so that it hung just right..."

"I see," said Fifi.

Mina started to say more but there was something about the cross hanging around Fifi's neck that made her feel funny. So she just stayed silent.

Fifi herself said nothing more, then walked off.

Mina then shrugged her shoulders and continued on towards the stairs.

She was halfway down the stairs when she heard a knock on the front door.

"Oh, my," said Mina. "I'm in view of the front door. I suppose I should be a bit concerned about that -- but for some reason, I'm not. Besides, this is Lucy's house, not mine. So it's not likely that any visitor would have anything to say to me."

Just then Tara the maid -- now fully dressed and wearing a black scarf around her neck for some reason -- came up to her and said, "I'm sorry, Mistress Murray. But we have a visitor demanding to talk to the lady of the house and since Mistress Westenra is still asleep..."

"You really think I'm dressed to receive visitors, Tara?" asked Mina.

Tara shrugged, then took off her apron and tied it around Mina's waist.

"Now you are," said Tara. "Now come with me."