Mariana reached the palace and the butler now guided her towards the princess's chamber.
Mariana was worried to leave aunt Penny alone. Voilet was just a child and couldn't do much. But her aunt had insisted she didn't want Mariana to miss the opportunity. So, Mariana was in the palace.
She had thought of asking Caelen to take care of her aunt but the moment she experienced with him last night stayed in her mind as a stopping door. She couldn't make up to go see him without being awkward. So she didn't tell him anything and took her own carriage this time. But she knew he would stop by to ask about her aunt's health. He always did.
She ascended the stairs holding her skirts up. The lavender gown she was wearing today was one of her favourites. Though it was old, Mariana couln't think of any other dress to wear in between distressing over her aunt's health. And hence, she chose favourite and a comfortable gown to wear today.
Even if Mariana had walked here before, she couldn't help admiring the beauty of the palace again. Every few distance of the corridors were beautiful stools that had pretty vases and the wall had simple but adorable paintings hung. Sometimes a flower, sometimes a boat amd as Mariana saw now, a beautiful tree.
After walking few steps, the butler brought her to the princess's chamber amd after thanking him, she knocked the door.
"Come in", the princess said from other side of the door.
Mariana opened the door and peeked inside to see many people sitting. Her Highness, Miss Harlow, the Lady daisy clutching the ferret and another two women sitting on the sofas and chairs decorated around a very pretty tea table.
"Miss Clifton! Please do join us". The princess welcomed her with kind eyes and happy smile, wearing her favourite coloured dress. How could a womam be so rich, so powerful and yet so kind, Mariana wondered.
She entered the room. "Good morning, Your Highness, Lady Daisy, ma'am, she nodded towards the two women who were not yet introduced to her. One was a middle-aged woman and one looked almost the princess's age.
"Do have a seat, Miss Mariana", the princess gestured at the place near her on the sofa and Mariana sat.
"These are my jewellery designers. They wanted to ask you about the dress to match the ornaments I would wear at my birthday ball".
"Of course, what would you like to know?" Mariana smiled and asked the two women.
Before they could say anything, the ferret jumped down from Lady Daisy's lap and climbed up the edge of the sofa and jumped over on Mariana's lap.
"Oh dear!" Mariana startled but caressed the fur of the ferret the next moment.
The princess chuckled and Lady Daisy smiled. "He choose his seat very wisely, Miss Clifton".
"Yes", the princess added. "At night he is with aunt Daisy, in the morning with mother. After his meals, he prefers me and during meals, it's only Aaron".
Mariana's heart skipped a beat hearing the king's name. His blue eyes, his intoxicating scent and his warm feel filled her with warmth. And this reaction made Mariana worried about herself. She had never reacted like this to any man. Even Caelen's touch yesterday felt odd. But the king's nearness made her feel something else. Something much different than Caelen's.
She blinked and paid attention to the two woman asking her the details about her gown. Stroking Ross's back, the name being informed by Lady Daisy, she answered every question the jewellers asked about the gown.
She suggested them the white diamonds and sapphires to include in the princess's jewellery. The thought of beautiful sapphires brought an image in her mind of extremely pleasant sapphire-paired eyes of a man. Again, she got rid of that thought, trying to concentrate on her work.
After about an hour, the princess's jewellery designers left her chamber and lady Daisy stood up too. "I will be with Amanda. She wanted to discuss the candles". She looked at Mariana. "You don't have any problem with Ross, Miss Clifton, do you?"
Mariana looked at Ross sleeping soundly on her lap. "I absolutely do not have a problem, lady Daisy but", she looked at the princess, "I believe I'm no longer needed to the designers, Your Highness?"
"Oh yes, the work is done. I really appreciate you coming, Miss Clifton", the princess said smiling kindly.
Mariana was about to pick Ross up to give it back to lady Daisy when Mr. Jasper knocked at the door. He entered with a servant holding two large bouquets filled with flowers of possibly every colour in the world. He placed them on a table at the wall of the chamber and left.
"The flowers you asked, Your Highness", Mr. Jasper smiled at the princess.
The princess stood up and went near the table to examine the flowers. "Thank you, Jasper. I wanted them to look and choose one for the ball. Do you have a suggestion?" She asked him, raising her eyebrows.
Mariana eyed the bouquets and found it really enchanting. How can someone select one from it? Perhaps they must decorate the room with all the flowers.
Mr. Jasper scratched his chin, thinking with all the concentration as if he was planning to send which guards to fight the war.
"I actually like doffodils, Your Highness".
The princess nodded. "They are pretty".
She turned her eyes towards Mariana. "What do you suggest, Miss Clifton?"
"Miss Clifton!"
Mariana opened her mouth to reply but jerked hearing Mr. Jasper exclaim her name. He must have just seen her.
He grinned. "How lovely to see you again!"
Mariana blushed seeing his enthusiasm on seeing her.
She smiled. "Lovely to see you too, Mr. Jasper. How do you do?" She smiled and caressed Ross's body in her lap.
"I'm really good". He looked at the princess.
"You must ask Aaron's opinion, too, Your Highness. I'll get him", saying this he rushed towards the door and stood there hanging his head out of the treshold.
"Aaron!" He yelled.
Mariana's heart skipped another beat, her caressing hand stopped near Ross's tail. She looked at the princess who looked like she was stifling a laugh.
Mariana frowned and looked at Miss Harlow who in return frowned and shrugged.
They all looked at Mr. Jasper's body which shook as if he was shaking his hand vigorously outside. He lurched back inside and grinned.
The next moment, the king entered the chamber.
Mariana clutched Ross's body in her arms and stood up.
"Why the hell were you yelling like that?"