Latch closed her eyes as she brought up the collar around her neck. Faux leather against brass bits that would accentuate the darker color; threading the strap through its intended place, Latch breathed in deeply as she slipped the small metal rod into the first loop of the leather. Giving a firm tug, she felt the collar tighten, albeit remaining loose to keep her from being strangled.
Stepping away from the dresser, Latch slowly walked across the room, pulling at the collar a little. That would have to take some getting used to for this job. Stopping before a mirror that was a little taller than her, Latch, examined herself thoroughly, smoothing out her dress and loosening the frills of her skirt. Adjusting her apron and her tail, making sure the latter was poking out comfortably from the back of her skirt.
Crossing her hands over her apron, smiling, Latch blushed as she thought she looked like a proper maid, save for her wild mane. Looking into her eyes, she squirmed as she thought about the implications of the collar - she was owned, as a maid and servant to her employer. She just hoped that with this job, he wouldn’t ask anything risque of her while dressed up like this.
Bowing her head, stooping a few inches, Latch held onto the sides of her skirt as she practiced her bowing. “Good afternoon, Master. How may I serve you?” She said to herself, standing patiently before the mirror. “Shall I begin cleaning or cooking, Master?” She further rehearsed.
While her voice wasn’t the most feminine, it having a slight scratchiness to it that she’d noted other tomboys had. She looked the part, and sounded the part of being a maid. A perk of being raised from her family in Manehatten. Turning away, Latch walked over to the little makeup stand that was within this dressing room, taking the duster that she was generously given (along with the rest of her outfit, by her employer). Slipping her hand within the loop, Latch sighed. She was ready.
With a soft clack of her shoes against the floorboards, Latch stepped out into the hall of the manor. Surprisingly, her employer had been standing outside, admiring some of the paintings he’d acquired. Turning, he smiled as he saw Latch in full uniform. “Ah, there you are. I’d thought you were nervous or hesitant about this job and were having second thoughts, given how long you in there.”
Latch bowed in greeting almost immediately, mid-speech of her employer as she was before him. “I did for a while, Master. But since you were so generous, and have been willing to hire earth ponies in your service, I decided to serve you as dutifully as I can.” Standing straight once more, crossing her hands over her apron, she’d swore she saw a hint of amusement - a smirk, flash briefly on his muzzle.
“Already versed in manners, I see. You shall start with cleaning my study, Latch, as that’s the room that requires the most cleaning as of now,” he addressed to her. He smiled down at her, showing a bit of pride at already having a maid so well-mannered.
“Of course, Master,” Latch said as she bowed her head respectfully, raising it after a few short seconds. This was going to be by far her smoothest job to date it seemed.
Edit: Now with story.