Mariana bid Mr. Roberts good night and left the shop for he would gather everything to close it as he left later. She clutched her satchel and moved towards her home.
The sun had set and the market which was so full of people during the day time was much less crowded and dark now. Most of the vendors and sellers have closed their shops or was on the way of closing them. Lanters hung from the shops and vendors which weren't yet in their homes. Even at this time there was always a bit of hustle-bustle in her village and she liked that as it made an alone woman feel much safer.
When she neared the corner of the street, she saw Caelen's shop closed and continued moving forward.
She thought about what Veronica had said earlier at her shop. 'You too must try kissing someone other than Caelen'. Did people really think she and Caelen were more than friends? It never mattered to her what people thought but if Caelen thought the same thing then she was scared because then he would have his heart broken.
Caelen had always been her best friend but she never harbored any different feeling for him. And the thought of kissing him felt wrong in her mind. His behaviour too, was very genuine towards her. Never had he made any indication of feeling something more. He had escorted her many times, brought them things from his shop, stayed for meals, sometimes stayed late talking to her aunt. But all these things seemed normal. Perhaps she didn't need to think unnecessary things just because people thought so. Caelen wouldn't want more than her friendship.
She was very engrossed in her thoughts and startled when she bumped into a person. Looking up she saw the person she was thinking about.
"What's going on in your dreamland, pretty Mariana?" Caelen asked steading her with a light touch on her arms.
She smiled. "Just thinking about Veronica"
He nodded. "Come, let me accompany you to home".
Together, they reached her home. The door was ajar. She invited Caelen in and they both were welcomed by her aunt sitting liesurely on the armchair before the hearth and closed the book she was reading.
"Good evening dears. How did the day go?" She asked from behind her large spectacles.
"Good", Caelen answered.
"I met Veronica. She came by to stop at the shop". Mariana kept her satchel and left the room to wash herself. Then she went to the kitchen and saw that the dinner was already made. She walked back to her aunt.
"Why did you cook, aunt Penny?"
Her aunt smiled. "It's no problem".
Mariana sat on the arm of the chair her aunt was sitting.
"I told you I can cook it when I return back from the work".
"You don't have to do every work, Marie. Caelen stopped by earlier with the meat chops and I just cooked them. Nothing much".
Caelen raised his palms up in a defensive gesture. "No need to lecture me. There was a delivery nearby so I dropped some for you as well. Not much fuss".
Mariana sighed. There was no use scolding him.
"Shall we eat then?"
"Oh yes". Aunt Penny stood up.
"You all can enjoy your dinner. I'll eat at home", Caelen said.
"How's Veronica?" Aunt penny asked after taking her seat at the dinner table. Mariana called for Voilet and started to set the table.
"She is so happy. Says she loves the town. There is a butler she fancies".
Voilet hurried to the kitchen and kissed Mariana's cheek before sitting at her seat.
"So she will be the next to marry amongst you then". Aunt Penny gestured to Caelen and her.
Caelen chuckled. "I'm sure she fancies more than one guy".
He helped her with the hot pot of the meat chops and set it on the table. Mariana too, took her seat and Caelen stood behind Voilet's chair, resting his elbows on the back of her chair.
"She said she even saw the king", Mariana said while serving Voilet.
"Does he look dangerous?" Voilet asked curiously.
"She said he was very handsome".
"He must be" , Aunt Penny started to carve her meal. "I once happened to see the queen, his mother, and she was magnificient".
"Father said His Majesty has done far greater works for his age. Various laws he implemented to ensure the safety of our kingdom", Caelen said.
Aunt Penny gave a nod. "Oh yes. Even the thought of employing people from the villages. Earlier they used to hire only from the town. But king Aaron gave various oppotunities for the villagers. Many benefited from that. Even Veronica". Aunt Penny ate a delicate morsel.
"It was king Aaron's doing?" Mariana asked surprisingly. She had thought just people of the mansions wanted them. She was so busy handling the shop last few years, she hardly had any time to pay attention to other things.
"Oh yes. He ordered to bring willing people from the villages and train them to work at the mansions. People from the town were much educated so they were appointed in paper industries and such. This way people from both towns and villages got vast employment", Aunt Penny replied.
"Is he married?" Voilet asked with a mouthful of meat. How her sister managed to chew such a big piece of meat, Mariana could never guess.
"Not yet, dear", aunt Penny replied.
"Can I marry him? I'll be a queen then". Voilet's eyes were huge thinking of being a queen.
Everyone chuckled.
"You are too young for him, dear", aunt Penny said.
"Marie will marry him then".
Mariana stopped between stuffing her bite in her mouth. She thought of the negligee Veronica talked about earlier and her cheeks felt hot. Why would she want to seduce the king?
"See, she's already blushing". Voilet's voice pulled Mariana out of her dirty imagination.
She blinked and shook her head. "He's not going to marry me. I'm a commoner".
Aunt Penny looked at her seriously. "But I want you to marry soon, dear. I don't want you to be the last to marry in the village or atleast in your little gang. Caelen is a boy, he doesn't count. But you and Veronica must get a groom this year".
Mariana looked at Caelen and wondered if his heightened colour said something about his thoughts now. She wasn't sure what to speak about her marriage in front of him.
She did want to marry of course. Like every girl, she too, dreamed about a loving husband, lots of chubby babies and a safe, peaceful home. But she wasn't ready to leave Aunt Penny and Voilet just yet. Or atleast, she wanted to earn much to appoint them a full time cook, a maid and a butler to take care of them.
Before she could voice out her reply, the heard a knock on the door. Caelen urged them to sit and went to receive the visitor.
A moment later, he entered the room with one of the girls in the village who, Mariana thought, supposedly worked at the palace.
"Miss Harlow", Mariana stood up to welcome her.
"Pardon me to intrude at this hour, Miss Clifton. But there is an important thing I would like to talk to you about".
"Oh, sure", she took Miss Harlow and herself out to the sitting room. "Please do have a seat".
Mariana and Miss Harlow sat in the armchairs near the hearth.
"I will leave you ladies to chat. See you tomorrow, Marie. Miss Harlow". Caelen nodded to both and left.
Mariana wondered what on earth Miss Harlow would want to talk to her about. They both rarely talked and knew very little about each other. Of course, Miss Harlow had purchased from her, but beyond that Mariana could think of no connection.
"As you know, I work as a maid in the palace". Mariana nodded. "Her Highness, Princess Amelia saw me wearing one of the gowns you sewed for me. The pink one. She loved the frills you made on the gown and she wants to have a look at your collection".
Mariana's eyes widened. Princess Amelia loved her work!
"Oh, Miss Harlow, you brought such a wonderful news".
"Oh my God!" Aunt Penny and Voilet rushed towards them. "Is everything Voilet said true?"
Mariana wasn't surprised Voilet was eavesdropping on them.
"Yes, Aunt Penny. Miss Harlow says the princess wants to see my designs".
Aunt Penny squeaked in shock. "Oh, That is great!"
"But, will Her Highness like my designs. Perhaps she would want to include them to her royal seamster's ideas. I mean, she must be having the best seamstresses in the kingdom at her service. Does she really need to have a look at the collection of a village seamstress?" Mariana babbled her thoughts out nervously.
"Oh, Her Highness is too kind. She really appreciates talent. You must show your best designs. She surely will buy from you if she likes them", Miss Harlow said.
Aunt Penny held Mariana's hands. "Oh Marie, you deserve it. Make the best designs for the princess", she encouraged her.
"Her Highness have it scheduled next week. You can prepare until then", Miss Harlow smiled kindly with her green eyes.
Mariana nodded and squeezed her hands. "Thank you for bringing me this wonderful opportunity, Miss Harlow".
Miss harlow waved her hand. "It's my pleasure. I will write to you about the day and time you'll need to attend".
Mariana and aunt Penny thanked her again and she took her leave.
"Oh Marie, I'm so happy. Your hardwork is paying off". Aunt Penny hugged her affectionately.
"I will give Her Highness my best". Mariana clapped her hands.
They all finished their dinner and retired for the night.
Mariana had been given the only biggest room in the house upstairs. Aunt Penny wanted her to have all privacy and space for her rest and work as well, like a personal workspace. She had a big desk at the corner of the room, a shelf to place the samples of fabrics, various sketches and designs she practiced were hung on the wall, the books guiding her work as well as entertainment were placed on the other shelf and Mariana loved this heaven.
She lied on her bed thinking. She was as scared as she was excited to meet the princess. Was she arrogant? Miss Harlow had said she was kind. Mariana thought she would have to wear the best dress herself and decided to ask for Aunt Penny's suggestion tomorrow.
How would be the palace? Would she get to see the queen? Would she get to see the king? The most handsome man in the kingdom.
Mariana sighed. If she got to see him, she could discover herself if he really was the handsomest.
Perhaps he was kind too.
Perhaps he would not pay her any attention.
Thinking about the king and wondering about her meet, Mariana slowly drifted to sleep.