The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 172

Rose sat by the window to watch as Anna’s suitors were welcomed inside the gates. She couldn’t tell from where she sat but there seemed to be gifts or flowers in their hands.

Rose’s quiet time was disturbed by the maid dropping the plate with the slice of apples Anna had been eating.

"Forgive me, milady."

"It was only an accident," Rose replied, not thinking anything of it. "You are the one who tends to my room. Thank you."

"It is my job," the young maid said, her head bowed to avoid Rose’s gaze.

"Yes, but it feels nice to be complimented for your work. Let me help you," Rose offered since she had nothing to do.

"Oh!" Hailey panicked. If Emmett were to pass by and see the young lady helping her, he would scold her for the next few days. Hailey bent down to pick up the apple slices before Rose could help her. "It is fine, milady. This is my job."

Rose wished she could voice that she was once a maid so this was not new to her but she knew it might start a wave of gossip should the maid speak. Rose was only embarrassed of her time in the brothel, not working as a maid.

Rose remained in her seat after noticing the maid panic. "What is your name? It would be wrong of me to see you in my room and not know your name."

"It is Hailey," Hailey answered, placing the last apple slice back on the plate.

"It is a pretty name. Hailey, do you know if it is important for a young lady to have a trusted maid by her side? What are those maids used for?" Rose questioned.

Hailey stood up as she thought about the answer. "We are there to do anything you need. Hold a parasol when it is too hot, fetch something for you, or hold your bags when you shop."

"I can do all of those things," Rose muttered. What was so important about her hands that she needed someone else to do so many things? "Do young ladies like myself cook when they wed?"

"No," Hailey shook her head. "You will have cooks to do that. When I marry, I would do the cooking."

"What is so important about my hands?" Rose asked, showing Hailey her hands.

"If you mean about you not having to lift a finger, it shows the difference between you and me," Hailey said, knowing her hands were not the prettiest because of the work she did.

"Oh. I am starting to wonder if my mother has plans of making you my maid. You have been in my room and even now, you were the one they sent to clean up while I am here alone. If it is true, I hope we get along well. Other than my family, I don’t have anyone to speak to," said Rose.

"The butler and head maid have spoken of picking someone to be your maid. I was never told that I was considered but even if I am not, I will gladly do what you need. Some ladies use their maids to do their dirty-"

"I will not do that," Rose interjected before Hailey made the offer. "I think it is wrong to use others to do your dirty work. Then it will be you who finds yourself in trouble if the lady who sent you feigns innocence. It is cruel."

Rose was reminded of Kiara sending her maid to ruin her dress at the festival. It was a horrible thing to do and Rose never wanted to stoop so low.

"I need someone who can help me learn about others in town. I have been learning about the Ambrose family but I know nothing of who resides nearby. I will pay you for your time in helping me. If it goes well, I shall pick the one who becomes my maid," Rose said, wanting it to be her choice.

"You are kind. I will do my best to aid you. Excuse me," Hailey said, going to the door to see who knocked.

Rose wondered if it was her mother since she had said not to allow any suitors to come to her.

Hailey returned with a smile like there was good news. "You are asked to go down to the front doors as there has been a delivery for you."

"I have already informed my mother that I do not want to see any suitors," Rose replied, uninterested.

"I believe it is not something you would want to miss. I must keep it a surprise," Hailey said.

Rose thought it over and knew her mother wouldn’t place her to sit with anyone after she turned down meeting suitors. "Very well," she decided, standing up to see what came for her.

Rose left the room and went down to the front door where the butler was telling two men where to place boxes. "Emmett," she addressed the butler. "What are all these boxes?"

"Gifts from Mister Hamilton to you. It was a request he sought for me to do the night before he left," Emmett answered. He had to use the family name to get everything delivered in time so the surprise would not be ruined.

Rose recalled her mother speaking of Zayne wanting to spoil her. Rose didn’t think it would be so much that it would create a pile by the door.

"Should I have it taken to your bedroom or to another room for you to go through?" Emmett asked, stepping to the side as Rose first inspected the boxes. It was quite the gift to court her.

Emmett glanced at another suitor for Anna entering with flowers and maybe a few treats. He couldn’t tell if Zayne’s gift for Rose had come at the right or wrong time. It could make the suitors think their gifts to the Ambrose girls were small and have them come again with far more than flowers and treats.

Zayne’s gifts had the maids giggling amongst themselves which meant the news of this might spread to others in town. Emmett noted to speak to Madeline if he should warn the maids not to speak about the gifts.

This could present Zayne in a new light and have others anticipate his courtship with Rose or it might make others question why the Ambroses allowed a man courting their daughter to stay in the same home as her. It depended on what the Ambroses wished to portray.

Rose opened one of the boxes, wanting to get a glimpse of Zayne’s gifts to her. She laughed as she took out a scope he once explained to her that it was used to see what was ahead of them at sea.

’What an odd gift,’ Emmett thought. When he saw the list, Emmett wondered if Zayne realised he had placed a few things for himself on there but from how the lady smiled, it seemed that it had been for her all along.

"Please take them to my room carefully," Rose said, placing the scope back in the box.

She knew others might not understand her interest in such things since Valerie spoke of the sea as something a woman should not be interested in but Rose still enjoyed it. She didn’t need anyone to understand what occurred between her and Zayne.

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