The next morning, Mariana found that she slept till late hours. She came down hurrying and on the stairs, she started screaming. "Aunt Penny, why didn't you wake me up?"
When she entered in the kitchen, she saw aunt Penny frying bacon.
Caelen sat leisurely at the dining table and they both looked towards her.
"Oh, there is no need to worry, Marie", aunt Penny waved her hand which held a spatula. "You needed that sleep after a long day and for today. I've prepared breakfast. Just go get ready, eat and off to your work"
She exhaled and smiled. "Okay".
When she looked at Caelen, she found him starting at her body with strangeness. Looking down, she realised she was in her thin white nightgown and didn't wear a dressing robe. Feeling uneasy she rushed upwards. "I'll be down soon".
After having her bath, she chose a full sleeved beige gown she had sewed herself and a matching coat to wear. Tying her hair up in the same way as yesterday, she had a final look in the mirror. She looked radiant and confident. Taking her satchel she rushed down.
Voilet greeted her as soon as she descended the stairs.
"Thank you, Marie", she hugged her waist. "I loved the magic lantern."
Mariana chuckled and hugged her tighter. "Did you even play with it yet?" She asked about the gift she got for her little cousin. The magic lantern was supposed to be enjoyed at night where one could place various picture cards in it and then view the large image on the wall through the fire lit in the lantern.
Voilet left her waist and looked up at her. "Yes. After mama gave it to me, I went to my room, shut the doors and windows closed, making all room dark and looked at the cards". She hopped and clapped her hands
Mariana pulled her cheeks lovingly. "I'm so glad you liked it".
They took their seats on the breakfast table.
"How was yesterday, Marie", Caelen asked.
"Amazing. I hope we finalise today", Mariana said with sparkling eyes. She thought his gaze on her nighgown earlier was merely a moment's thing.
Aunt Penny gave her the plate. "Mr. Roberts came by earlier, dear", she informed Mariana. "He said Mrs. Faircloth wants her order ready by tomorrow. So he would have to stay in the shop and work. He won't be able to come with you".
"Oh. Yes, there was some finishing to be done on Mrs. Faircloth's dresses". Mariana took a sip of her tea.
"So we thought it could be me or Caelen who would accompany you".
Mariana looked up from the cup to both of them. "There is no need, aunt Penny. I can manage with Mr. Lawrence and I don't have to carry any trunks today. You don't need to exert yourself".
"I can come", Caelen offered. "I can stay in the carriage while you meet the princess".
Mariana wanted to say that bringing a man with her as a friend all the way to the palace might not make a good professional impression but she didn't want to upset him.
"Thank you, Caelen. But there is really no need. Besides, I don't think the palace guards would let anyone else other than the coachman to stay in the carriage there".
He gave a nod. "Alright, then. But send for me if you need anything. Mr. Lawrence is waitinv with the carriage. Good luck again for today". He touched her arm encouragingly and left.
"I want more bacon, mama", Voilet screamed emptying her plate.
"Coming", aunt Penny said from the kitchen.
After finishing the breakfast, while leaving the house, Mariana glanced at the ruined parasol she had carried yesterday. She chewed her lip thinking about the blue-eyed man and then shook her head to clear it. She was going to work. She could afford no distractions.
Mariana reached the palace within three hours for now Mr. Lawrence knew the way.
After entering, she was again seated in the parlor and then after waiting for few minutes, the butler came back to inform her that the princess would meet her in the back gardens.
She nodded and took her satchel before following the butler.
She looked around to the servants on the way for if she could find the blue-eyed man but did not see him. Mariana thought perhaps it was a good thing for the way he stared at her made her a bit concious.
They passed through a large set of doors and Mariana was immediately greeted with sunlight, fair ground and lots of people.
At some distance, she saw those people were the soldiers of the kingdom who were training. They were in vast numbers. Some were practicing with swords and some were training manually. At much larger distance, she found some soldiers running and when she looked on her left side very far, there were the sets of rifles kept.
Mariana was in awe. She had never seen a gun before or even heard its firing. But no one was practicing anything there, so she didn't think she would get to see someone shooting with it.
"This way, miss", the butler urged her to her right. There, sat the princess on a patio table under the shadow. There were two more
woman sitting with her.
Mariana stood beside the princess. "Good morning, Your Highness". It wasn't yet noon till few minutes. Mariana had looked at her pocket watch.
The princess looked up at her from the bunch of papers she was reading and smiled. "Oh, miss Clifton. So nice to see you again. Meet my aunt Daisy and my little cousin, Hazel" she gestured to the middle aged woman and a young girl who was fanning herself.
She greeted them. "Good morning".
The aunt nodded with a smile and the young girl nodded with her chin held up in a strict gesture.
"I was telling aunt Daisy about your work", the princess said.
Lady Daisy clapped her hands. "I loved the colour you suggested for our Amy".
"It was my honour, milady".
The young girl suddenly squeaked and stood up. "I am going to my chamber, Amy. Talking with someone else's seamstress doesn't suit my status". She snorted and left.
Mariana looked at the young girl walking away with a straight posture.
"Don't mind her", princess Amelia gave her a coy smile.
"Of course, Your Highness". The girl must be about sixteen, more or less. And Mariana knew those girls were naive, very much between childhood and adulthood. She did not at all mind her.
"Have a seat. Let us see what you brought today". The princess set aside the papers she was working on.
Mariana sat and fondled with her satchel to take out the stuff. "I hope you like it, Your Highness".
She placed the skirt's design she had sketched for the princess.
Lady Daisy craned her head too, to have a look and them widened her eyes. "This looks so regal, Amy".
The princess nodded. "Oh, it's beautiful, Miss Clifton". Her smile said she was genuinely impressed.
Then Mariana took out a palm-sized miniature of skirts she had sewed for the princess last night to give the princess some more understanding of her work. "It will be somewhat like this, Your Highness".
The princess gasped. She took the miniature skirts from Mariana's hands and held it delicately as if it was a precious diamond.
Mariana had sewed together eight petticots and over them, a blue fabric she had chose yesterday for the princess. She had sewed some silver threads on the hem to demonstrate a bit of her imagination.
"Miss Clifton, this is so pretty. I loved it". Princess Amelia seemed to be in awe.
"You will look like an angel, Amy", lady Daisy exclaimed.
"You must start sewing it soon, Miss Clifton. I can't wait to try it", the princess said caressing the miniature.
Mariana's eyes widened. "Am I to believe I am confirmed, Your Highness?"
The princess met her eyes with a smile. "Yes, Miss Clifton. Now it's your job to make me look the best belle of the ball".
"I will give my best to not disappoint you, Your Highness. Thank you so much".
Mariana was so happy. This work would be the greatest thing in her career. Between her happiness, she suddenly felt a heavy and warm weight on her lap. When she looked down, she met a pair of wide glossy black eyes and a brown body.
"Ah!" She stood up immediately, dropping her satchel. The princess stood up too with a worried face.
The brown body hopped on the ground.
"It's my Ross. It's my ferret", lady Daisy screamed.
The ferret jumped in lady Daisy's arms while Mariana breathed heavily.
"Are you alright, Miss Clifton", she heard the princess ask with concern.
Mariana nodded her head, unable to speak from her dry throat, as she heaved clutching a hand to her chest.
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" A tall man of about lady Daisy's age asked coming towards them from the practice.
"Yes, Charles", the princess said to him. "It's Ross again".
The man named Charles sighed.
Looked like Ross had scared many people before.
The princess and Mariana sat back in their seats.
"It's aunt Daisy's pet ferret", the princess informed her. "My aunt is very compassionate. Whenever she finds a wounded or helpless animal, she keeps them with her until they are well or get a home". The princess smiled at her aunt.
"That's really kind, milady" Mariana said as her breathing seemed normal. She bent to pick up her satchel.
When she straightened, she saw Mr. Charles went back to talk with a red-haired man.