The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 143

Chapter 143: Chapter 143

The next day, Rose travelled in a carriage with Anna, Zayne, and Anna’s maid. The first few hours of her day were occupied with the dressmaker showing her fine dresses and then eating snacks brought by the butler.

Rose looked out the carriage window, taking in the sight of the lands around them. It was quiet here compared to where she had travelled before since it was all Victor’s land and many weren’t welcome to travel across it without permission.

"It is too hot," Anna muttered, fanning herself. She regretted the decision to come along for the family ride. "Father should tend to his business another day. The aunts will not leave."

"What are they like?" Rose asked.

"Father describes them as being loud but I find them to be lovely. They always come with gifts, treating me as if I am their daughter and our cousins bring news of other parts of the town. It will be fun to have them here again and then grandmother might bring the best gifts. I should get jewels from her," Anna plotted.

"You can take some of mine. I never had any interest in such things," Rose offered, hoping this would make her closer to Anna.

Anna sat up, eager to list which ones she wanted but then she got over it. "It is kind of you but mother wouldn’t like it and they belong to you. You picked them out because they suit you. We’re a little different with what we like. I suppose it would be fun for us to share."

"I would like that," Rose agreed. "You can take any of my dresses that caught your eye as repayment for the dress I wore from you."

"It is fine. The dress mother allowed me to pick will replace it. You’ve got everything you need to start attending balls for the season. I have heard mother having the butler calling upon the shoemaker and all the good madams. You might need another closet," Anna said, a tad bit jealous.

"I don’t need so many. I am not like you or others to be concerned about wearing dresses once-"

"But you must me. You are now Lady Rose Ambrose and there is a certain way the family is expected to act. You must care about these little things now even if it sounds ridiculous," Anna said, hoping Rose would not embarrass the family.

"Mother is held to a certain standard among the women here. I want to live up to that to make her proud. That is why I have been planning who I want to marry and who I am friends with. I want to be in the best circles like mother to not disappoint her so I hope you would care about it too. Please," Anna pleaded.

Anna had seen a daughter ruin herself before leaving the mess for her mother to clean up. It was something she never wanted to do. There was plenty of attention on the Ambroses which meant there wasn’t a moment when they could mess up when they were out in public.

"I think they should have waited before taking you around," Anna spoke honestly. "I do not dislike you but I am just worried that there is much you have not learned. You might not be ready to face the town. Forgive me for saying this."

"You have said nothing wrong as it is the truth. There is a lot that I must learn," Rose admitted. It wasn’t any secret that she lacked proper training to present herself as a lady. She might have the look but everything else was not there. "I will need help from mother and from-"

"Me," Anna finished. She sighed, taking a moment to think before she spoke again. "We got off on the wrong foot. It was awkward for me to return home to a sister and I will admit that I threw a bit of a tantrum over a misunderstanding but I don’t dislike you. All of this is just so hard to get used to and I need a moment before we be close as we once were.:

Anna continued, "I have not lost all memories like you but it has been some time since we were together. I might not be so useful in telling you what you used to do. I am more than happy to share what I remember."

"Thank you," Rose said, happy to move forward with Anna.

"Now," Anna turned her attention to Zayne. "What is it with him and how long will he be glued to your side? You are no longer his maid, something I hope does not get out like the brothel. Though we are Ambroses, a lot of the women here will gossip about you being there. No one will believe you did not have any customers. I did not."

Zayne glanced at Anna, seeing her panic when their eyes met and looked away. She was suddenly a little too chatty.

"If you cannot tell me about your relationship then so be it," Anna quickly spoke. "I am no longer curious."

"Good," Zayne’s response startled the three women.

Rose palmed her face. She once liked Zayne being scary to keep outsiders away but she didn’t want him to scare her sister. "He is nicer than he appears. I think he was given a scary appearance to scare his enemies out at battle. The more you speak to him the more you will enjoy his company."

Anna didn’t see such a thing happening. Rose could keep Zayne all to herself. For now at least. Once he was spotted walking around the town many of the other curious women would flock to him and then Zayne might grow bored of chasing Rose if she was not careful.

"We are here, Milady."

Anna sighed in relief as she could not take another minute of having to avoid Zayne’s gaze. She had acted like a child for a moment and now it felt like he was out to get her.

Anna exited the carriage first with the help of the coachman and her maid. Now that they had arrived, she would have her mother to speak to so she could escape Zayne.

Rose was the last to get out because of where she sat. She reached out to the coachman to step down just like Anna had done but another hand came before. Rose stared at Zayne’s hand for a moment and then accepted it.

Rose was puzzled by Zayne. He told her to prepare herself for today and she did. She prepared herself so much that she could not sleep last night. This was the first time she had stayed awake because of something not caused by her old fears.

’What was I to prepare for?’ Rose wondered. ’He has not done anything.’

Zayne let go of Rose’s hand after she was safely out of the carriage. He tried not to smile or smirk to give away he was enjoying every bit of Rose overthinking. She would never be able to guess what he had in mind and he could toy with her for so long that she might just burst with curiosity to then ask why he had done nothing.

To court Rose too much might make her uncomfortable but what would happen if he left her alone, allowing her to think about his actions and why he did nothing?