Aaron watched her as she climbed the stairs. That damn beautiful dress hugged her every curve to death. He as well liked her hips sway when she walked. But today, the view was deadly. The way she had clutched her skirts up not only gave him the gorgeous peek of her stockinged ankle but it also tightened the narrow flare of that dress around her hips even more. The bottom swayed gracefully in a way that made Aaron's mouth water.
Fuck! She was hot.
He wanted to punch Nathan hard when he saw his lips landing on her fragile skin. Even he hadn't done it yet. But that was understandable, Nathan had always been pleasing and attractive to woman just like him.
But now, as he watched Miss Mariana clutch that ferret, he wanted to fight with that damn weasel too.
Urghh! She looked lovlier today. That green dress suited her complexion and her eyes. She looked like a forest nymph.
She had dissappeared into the corridor leading to the family chambers. He ran a hand through his hair. His reaction to her needed to be leashed as soon as possible. She was beginning to hold a power on him.
Mariana breathed in intense relief when she turned to the corridor. She had felt the king's eyes on her back on every step.
She caressed Ross as she thought about the king and walked forward. The next moment, she collided with someone.
"Ouch!"
She heard a breathy voice.
Mariana looked at Ross and made sure he was alright. Then, she turned and saw a blond woman, about her age, adorned with jewels. Rubbing her arm, the woman glared at Mariana.
"See where you are going!"
"Forgive me, I did not see you, milady."
"It's 'Your Highness' to you." The woman held up her chin.
Mariana bowed her head. She must be one of the guests. "Forgive me, Your Highness."
"Do not touch me ever again with that horrible creature," She pointed at Ross. "Or even without it for that matter."
Mariana frowned. Had the woman not been a princess, Mariana would have told her to mind her tongue. But since she was a princesss, Mariana merely smiled and said, "I would have never touched you, Your Highness, but I wasn't paying attention."
Her gray eyes widened.
"Miss Clifton!" Princess Amelia joined them. "Glad to see you again."
"Glad to see you again, too, Your Highness." Mariana smiled. How different and kinder she was than the other princesses.
"Is she your friend, Princess Amelia?" The blond woman asked.
And the princess looked at her.
Mariana smiled at the princess of Heavengate. She would have loved if she called her a frie.d but even her seamstress is a satisfying designation.
"Yes," the princess surprised Mariana. "My friend, Miss Clifton. Since, she is an accomplished designer and a seamstress, she is making my birthday gown as well."
"Oh, alright."
Princess Amelia turned to Mariana gesturing the other princess. "And she is Princess Priscilla of Caeroun."
Mariana curtsied again. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness."
Princess Priscilla nodded and turned her gaze to princess Amelia. "I'll see you later, princess Amelia." With one last glance at Mariana, she left.
"Ross loves to sleep on you," the princess of Heavengate smiled and gestured at the ferret.
Mariana looked at the ferret who had dozed off on her left breast.
"Just a moment ago, he was awake," Mariana said surprisingly.
The princess laughed. "Let us go to my chamber."
Mariana nodded and they strode together.
"Thank you for calling me your friend, Your Highness," Mariana said on the way.
The princess frowned at her. "Why are you surprised. I do think of you as a friend, Miss Clifton."
"Really?" Mariana blinked. She couldn't believe such a beautiful princess called her a friend.
They reached the chambers and they both entered inside.
"Of course, Miss Clifton. You have always been kind and helpful and everything a friend should be. Don't you think of me as a friend?" The princess folded her hands and raised her brows.
"I-I do, Your Highness," she rushed to explain. "Of course I have never seen someone kinder and sweeter and more humble than you."
The princess chuckled and they both sat on the chairs. Miss Harlow and an another maid Mariana didn't know were mending something behind.
Mariana smiled at Miss Harlow and she smiled back.
"Your old dress is all new, Your Highness," Mariana said placing Ross slowly on the nearby chair.
"So soon? Oh, Miss Clifton. Thank you so much."
"It's always my pleasure, Your Highness." Mariana handled the wrapped piece to the princess who eagerly unwrapped it and unfurling the dress, stood up to see it.
Mariana had mended all the tears and rips and had sewed the new pink coloured skirts over the old one. But then, she had again coverd the pink with a transparent purple silk. The pink through that silk matched wonderfully with the bodice. She hoped the princess liked it. If she didn't Mariana had planned to eliminate the trasparent layer so it was the same pink as before
"Oh, Miss Clifton. You are a magician," The princess turned to Miss Harlow. "Look Lydia."
Miss Harlow too, widened her eyes and admired the skirts. "Miss Mariana, it's lovely."
Mariana smiled happily.
"It's my same comfortable old dress but better. Fancier!" The princess sat back in her seat and squeezed Mariana's hands. "Thank you. It looks lovely."
"I am so glad you like it, Your Highness."
They talked a bit about the birthday dress and the progress of it. Then, a maid informed the princess that the dowager queen had summoned her.
Surprisingly, the princess groaned.
Was the dowager queen so bad?
The maid was dismissed and Mariana looked at the princess who looked so stressed and annoyed. "Is everything alright, Your Highness?" Mariana asked with concern.
The princess smiled faintly. "My granny makes me meet every eligible unmarried guest arriving in our palace. She wants me to marry soon."
Mariana chuckled in relief. "I can understand," she said with a nod. "My aunt wants me to marry soon as well."
"I can wager she doesn't make you hold hands with every man she liked for you?"
"No, she doesn't," Mariana said and they both laughed.
"I'll be back in a moment. Lydia, take care of Miss Clifton," the princess announced and left her chamber.