The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Chapter 159

Rose worried for Daniel’s fingers as they were his life. She was the only one who knew that Zayne was no stranger to cutting someone’s fingers off.

"It was kind of you to ask but I must decline. I wish to look around a little bit more,’ Rose replied.

Daniel placed his hands behind his back. "I see. Well," he cleared his throat and avoided Zayne’s gaze. No one informed him that she was being courted by the outsider. "I will come again to see if you are ready to dance. It was wonderful speaking to you, Lord Ambrose."

"As with you," Victor replied.

Madeline covered her mouth with her hand to not let it be seen that she laughed. "You are talented at sending away suitors, Zayne. Daniel greatly treasures his hands so I doubt he will be back to ask Rose to dance. There are other things you can do to keep them away."

"I am aware," Zayne replied.

"You scared him. I would have turned him down myself. Do you have an obsession with taking fingers?" Rose questioned, keeping her hands to her side.

"Bring your hand closer and we can find out," Zayne responded, smiling while Rose couldn’t believe his answer.

"You didn’t need to send him away on my behalf. I was ready to do it. You rid me of that chance," Rose said though she didn’t mind that Zayne spoke for her. It came as a surprise to see someone wanting to dance with her so early.

"I didn’t do it for you alone," Zayne said, taking a glass from a tray held by a passing servant. "I did it for myself. Not so fast, Rose," he held her hand to stop her from getting a drink. "It is not for you."

Rose still tried to reach for one. "You have taken one and I have seen a few ladies with one."

"Rose, I think you shouldn’t have one," Madeline agreed with Zayne. "I also refrain from drinking on nights like this."

Rose pouted. She only wanted to grab one because Zayne kept saying it was not for her. When would she get the chance to taste wine? She knew Zayne was teasing her from his smile after he sipped the wine in his glass.

"I will have some at home and you can’t stop me then," Rose said, plotting her chance.

"Please do. I need to be entertained," Zayne replied, putting down his empty glass on another tray.

His enjoyment of the ball ended when he spotted Anna returning with the friend they met yesterday. The man she danced with followed the two women like a lost puppy.

"Lord and Lady Ambrose," Olivia curtsied. "I enjoyed watching Anna dance. No one could look away from her. I have much to learn from Anna when it comes to dancing."

"You flatter her too much. You’ll have her speaking about this too much after tonight. You are a talented dancer as well Olivia. I have heard of the long line of suitors you had lined at your door this morning. Your mother must be ecstatic," said Madeline.

Olivia basked in the compliments. Her mother and father were certainly happy. They were so happy that they spoiled her with a new necklace for the ball. "Oh, it is hard to read her at times to know what she feels. She won’t show her excitement until I pick a good husband. I am taking my time so I do not make a mistake."

"Excuse me," Victor informed Madeline. He stepped away from the women to speak to the young man Anna danced with. "Come along, Zayne. Let the women speak."

Olivia watched as Zayne left with Victor. Why did he need to leave when he was the only reason she came here now instead of dancing? "You look very handsome tonight," she complimented him as he walked by.

"My mother has been waiting patiently to have a word with you, Lady Ambrose. She wishes to ask how you are doing now that Rose is home. She thought it wouldn’t be right to show up unannounced at your home. She is right there by the pillar," Olivia pointed to her mother.

"I would like to speak to her but I cannot leave my daughters now," Madeline replied. Leaving Rose and Anna meant she was allowing someone to approach. She had already seen how her absence allowed Rose to be looked down on.

"I will take three steps to the right so you three can speak but I will not leave your side. I am my their escort," Madeline said and then stepped to the side where she could still hear the girls speak.

Since Rose wasn’t looking to wed Madeline hoped she could at least make some friends at the ball. While Zayne made for an excellent company Rose needed lady friends. Friends of her age and maybe friends that were her own not shared with Anna.

Madeline could take her to gatherings to meet other young ladies but Anna would be better at helping Rose settle in with the other women around their age.

"He is handsome," Anna gushed, looking at the man she danced with. "And he wore his uniform tonight. He was indeed rewarded for his efforts in the king’s army. If I were to marry him, I might get to visit the palace."

"He is handsome," Olivia agreed but she was looking at Zayne.

"Is it not silly to want to marry him to enter the palace?" Rose asked.

"Oh, there are other reasons why he would make a good match. He will not be in the army for long as he is the heir to his father’s estate and I have spoken to him many times in the past. I know of his hobbies and so far, there hasn’t been a scandal to his name. We have talked at other balls but this is the first time we have danced," Anna explained.

"I see. So, you will get to know him more before you think about marriage?" Rose questioned, wanting the best for Anna.

Olivia chuckled as Rose made her lack of knowledge evident. "If she waits too long she will lose a good husband. He has the means to take care of her as much as her father did. You know nothing. You make it easy to tell that you have much to learn."

Madeline stepped forward to take Rose away.

"Have I done something to you?" Rose questioned, unknowingly stopping her mother from approaching.

Madeline stopped and then slowly took back her earlier spot. As much as she wanted to move Rose, she had to stand by to see if Rose could speak up. Though she wanted to be there, Madeline couldn’t always be at Rose’s side.

"You two," Anna said, taken aback by the shift in the conversation. "What are you doing now? We are speaking about suitors."

"Speak honestly, what is your relationship with that man? Why do you keep him close when there seems to be nothing between you?" Olivia questioned, annoyed by Rose’s presence. She preferred the days when it was only Anna around.

Rose laughed as it was ridiculous Olivia’s dislike stemmed from her curiosity about Zayne. She was reminded of how the brothel women would get when fighting over the best customers. To see that such a thing happened in another setting humoured her. They were always so ready to attack each other over men.

"He is my friend," Rose answered.

"Then, I hope you will stay out of the way so I may court him. It is hard to approach when they are being so overprotective of you. I want him," Olivia declared.

"No," Rose replied, refusing to let Zayne be with such a woman. "It is not right for you to speak to me with such an insulting tone and look to match all because he doesn’t give you the attention you crave when I am near. He simply has no interest in you."

Rose gripped her dress as if pulling the strength from there to speak. "I like to be at his side and I shall not make way for you or anyone."