After having her stomach full and hearing the voice of the carriage, Mariana kissed her aunt's cheek and ran out of the house. She greeted Mr. Lawrence a good morning and was about to board the carriage when she heard Caelen's voice.
Looking at him running, she stopped.
He came to her, his chest heaving. "Did you think about it?"
Urghh! He wanted to speak of nothing else. "I've told you-"
"Alright, you need more time."
Mariana frowned.
"No, Caelen. As you have said, I have taken some time and thought about it. And my answer till stayed the same. I am not going to marry you."
"You think again, Marie." He smiled and it irritated her. How could he just go on smiling amd pretending he didn't hear her.
She was about to yell at him that she had already said a no, when he saw Mr. Lawrence looking at them. She cleared her throat and spoke softly. "Caelen, I did not ask you for the time. I've told you I am not going to marry you."
Caelen merely smiled faintly. "You will, Marie. You just don't realise that you like me."
What on earth was he saying?
"You think about out future. Imagine me as your husband and you will see that we are perfect together."
She opened her mouth to tell him that she didn't ever imagine him as her husband when he silenced her with his palm raised.
"We will talk later when you come back. Have a nice day," he said and after smiling, ran back to his house.
Mariana exhaled. He was purposely ignoring her rejection. She would have to do something to make him accept it. At first, he was so voilent. Lord knew how he would behave when she rejected him after taking few days.
Just a moment later, Veronica came into her view and she called out to her. "Veronica!"
Veronica looked at her, smiled and came to her. "You look good, Marie."
She looked at her dress wity fascination.
"Thank you." Mariama smiled. She wanted to ask her what Caelen meant yesterday when he'd told that Veronica too, encouraged him.
"But I think it would look better on me. Perhaps you can lend me this one day," Veronica said.
"Of course." So much for a praise. "Did you know Caelen proposed to me yesterday?" She whispered to not let anyone else hear that.
"Oh yes!" Veronica clapped her hands and Mariana shushed her placing a finger on her lips.
"Congratulations," Veronica started to whisper too.
"No, I haven't accepted it."
Her friend widened her eyes and whispered, "Why not?"
"First tell me what did you say to encourage Caelen for proposing me?"
Veronica looked at her confusedly and shook her head. "I did not say anything. I was talking with Gregory in the market one day. Caelen just joined us and we all chatted for a bit. Then, Gregory said his family was thinking about his marriage and the next moment Caelen said that he was going to marry you."
"What?"
"Yes. Even I thought about how that was possible, since you told me that you two were merely friends."
Mariana nodded her head. "It was very unexpected for me."
"You don't like him?"
Mariana chewed on her lip. Should she tell Veronica about her feelings?
"How are you both?"
They both turned hearing their friend, Martha's voice. "Good morning," she chirped.
"Good morning", Mariana replied and looked at Veronica. Thankfully, she was quiet because Mariana was confused about telling them.
Martha looked at them both with observing eyes. "Are you both hiding something from me?"
Mariana sighed. "Get in the carriage. I want to tell you both something."
Martha and Veronica eyed each other with confused gazes and entered the carriage.
"Just a minute, Mr. Lawrence," Mariana told her coachman.
"Of course, miss."
She too, sat in the carriage in the small space beside Martha and closed the door.
"What's going on?" Martha asked curiously.
"Caelen proposed me."
Martha gasped and then before she could say something Mariana held up her palm and stopped her. "Don't congratulate me. I'm not going to marry him."
Martha wrinkled her brows. "Why not?"
That question also irritated her. Were women supposed to accept any man who prosposed first?
"I don't love him that way, Martha. I never wanted to marry him."
"But why? He is so nice to you. He always helps you, brings you gifts and likes you so much."
"That doesn't mean she should marry him," Veronica said.
Mariana felt nice hearing that. Whenever she thought about Caelen's help, a guilt occured in her heart for rejecting him. But she was glad Veronica agreed to her.
"Veronica, Marie is not like you. She doesn't love anyone else."
"So then she should love him?" Veronica asked sardonically folding her hands.
Mariana stopped them both. "Please, let me finish."
They both went quiet.
"I never wanted to marry Caelen," Mariana continued. "I told him so the moment he proposed me. But then, he reacted a bit aggressively. He is not ready to take it well. Says he'll wait for me until I say yes."
Veronica placed a hand over hers. "You just tell him what you want, Marie. No need to think further," she advised.
"Why not?" Martha asked in disagreement. "He is a nice guy. He'll take care of Marie. He does a lot for her."
Mariana frowned. Caelen did actually care for her very much.
Veronica let out a huff. "He was aggressive, Martha. What if he turns out to be a bad husband?"
Yes. What if?
"He won't," Martha waved a hand. "He loves Marie. Even Gregory wanted to propose her. But Caelen had told him to stay away as Marie was his."
"What!" Mariana and Veronica screamed in unison.
Gregory was one of the richest farmers in the village. His mother and aunt Penny were good friends but never had he shown any interest in Mariana.
"I can't believe this. How can he spread such rumours!" Mariana was really hurt now. She didn't like Gregory either but Caelen had no right to make decisions for her!
"That is so romantic, Marie. He doesn't want anyone else to have you." Martha smiled.
"That's rubbish," Veronica screamed at Martha amd the, turned to Mariana. Touching her hands to hers, she said, "It is unnecessary possession, Marie. It is not a good signal. He wants to make you his forcefully without letting you decide."
Mariana agreed with Veronica. A lump rose in her throat seeing Veronica's support. She never thought her to be the one to think practically.
Martha sighed. "Don't give wrong ideas to her, Veronica."
"Please, Martha. Let her decide. It's her life." Veronica looked at Mariana again. "You must do what you want, dear. Do not listen to everybody's advice."
Hostile gazes were exchanged between Veronica and Martha.
Finally, Veronica averted her eyes. "I have to go now, Marie. I have to make the breakfast. See you later. And trust me, you need not marry just because someone had helped you once."
Mariana gave a nod and smiled and then, Veronica climbed down the carriage.
The next moment, Martha huffed. "She is just jealous of you, Marie. I think Caelen is a good choice for you." Saying this, she also left.
Mariana knocked the carriage roof twice and it started to move. She was hurt. How could Caelen keep saying things about her and himself without her permission! She should probably go to him at this moment and condemn him at once.
But again, she just wanted to skip the torment. He would again react forwarding his anger and she wasn't ready to face it just now. She knew she would agree to whatever he say and then the easiness would drag for one more day. Saying a 'no' to him and him accepting it would take a really long time.
Burrying her face in her hands, she decided to talk to him when she returned. Until then, she could decide in what words she should tell him properly.
As soon as Mariana climbed the front stairs of the palace and entered, she saw Mr. Jasper coming towards the door. He offered her a bright smile when he saw her.
"Good Morning, Mr. Jasper," she greeted.
"Good morning, Miss Clifton." He stood in front of her and clasped his hands behind him. "Did you bring His Majesty's suit?"
"Oh, no. It's not ready yet. I am here for other errand of Her Highness." She clutched the satchel in which she had neatly wrapped the princess's dress in the paper. "Where are you upto?"
"We are to meet the council."
Did 'we' indicate him and the king?
"What do we have here?"
Mariana and Mr. Jasper turned to the source of the voice.