The Forgotten Princess Rose
Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Chapter 180

"I know how you love to be in control. How this family must look so perfect for you and because of that, you judge my daughters so much and compare them to Anna but they are wonderful, mother. They are talented, precious, and all that I could ever ask for," Karen said.

"I know that I have never matched what you wanted in a daughter. Andrea succeeded in that for you so you come to use me to go against Madeline. I have long accepted that I cannot please you so all I want is for you to love my daughters," Karen pleaded, tired of her mother’s controlling ways.

Karen continued, "You have always said that Victor is smart so I believe if Rose is not his daughter he knows and he has accepted her. I will not meddle to reveal to a child that the man she thinks to be her father is not. Think of Rose."

Valerie shook her head, disappointed with Karen. Her daughter was acting like she asked her to commit murder. "I have only asked you to help me get back inside the manor. I only needed you to take me in your carriage. I do not like to be lied to."

Karen smiled as she knew all too well how much her mother did not like to be lied to. "I know, mother. It is unfortunate how your children have lied to you over the years. How we have kept each other’s secrets. In a way, hiding from you has made us close. We may tease each other but I am quite protective of those two."

Karen stood up as she was finished with their talk. "I cannot let you stay here because I don’t need you to ruin my daughter’s confidence. They have more than I once did and I don’t want to see their light dim because of you. They are not Anna. They will never be as perfect as her," Karen admitted.

Her niece was special and wonderful in many ways. As Anna’s aunt, Karen was proud. She would not have her mother get in her head to push her daughters to be like Anna or better.

"You dislike Madeline not because she has lied to you but because she has stood her ground with you many times. You cannot control her which I think is good. Too many of us have to deal with overbearing mothers who love their sons too much and I can’t come to you because it is like looking at my husband’s mother,’ Karen confessed.

She felt like her younger self finally revealed her emotions to her mother. Karen had always been afraid of her mother which was why she spoke in secret about her mother to her siblings.

If she didn’t start to speak up like Madeline did then her daughters would forever have their heads bowed while they listened to their grandmother’s criticism.

"I am happy to see someone not giving in to become what their husband’s family wants and that Victor was raised well to support her. I have two nieces from my brother and until Victor says otherwise, that will not change," Karen decided.

Valerie opened her mouth to speak after her daughter’s foolish rambling but Karen did not want to give her the chance to speak.

"It was wonderful to have you over for dinner but I must ask that you leave. As you said I have much to do with my daughters so I am afraid I cannot entertain your interest in Madeline and Rose. I can only advise you not to do something stupid. Victor loves them dearly," Karen reminded her mother.

They could question Rose’s birth but they could not question Victor’s love for the girl and Madeline. Karen would not lose her brother over something which did not concern her. She couldn’t think of a man in town who would raise a girl who did not belong to him.

While some might call Victor crazy should they know, Karen thought highly of him. After all, the women were expected to turn a blind eye to their husband’s bastards. It was due time they saw a man put up with it.

Karen did not wait for her mother to respond and started to leave the room before her mother could make her feel small and convince her to take her to the manor.

Once out of sight from her mother, Karen leaned on a wall to take a deep breath. As grown as she was now with a family to look after she felt like a little girl in front of her mother. Andrea and Victor wouldn’t believe she dared to speak up.

"I must warn Madeline," Karen said, starting the search for a servant to send out with a note.

At the manor, Madeline watched from a distance as Rose continued to speak with Alexander.

"You are watching her so intently that it must be hard for her to speak to him freely," Anna said as she went to her mother’s side. "You don’t need to worry about her being stuck on who to pick. She loves Zayne. She has not said the word love but I know it. This one was too late."

"Is he?" Madeline wondered. Until there was a wedding, Madeline didn’t think it was too late. "There isn’t a spark between them. I don’t see him as late. He was never one to be considered. Your sister has many tales to tell."

"She does. If only we could tell that she has a former captain and a prince pining for her. It was meant to stay a secret but Rose is worried for Zayne. I don’t see why when the man is so big but she worries. Is there anything we can do for her? It will take a moment for her to get letters from him," said Anna.

"I was thinking about the other home-"

"It is too dangerous to go there. Rose will have to wait for when Zayne is done with his duties in the palace. The time away from him will help Rose to know if she loves him. I know it sounds bad to keep her here when we have a home closer to where he is but it is safe for her in the manor," said Madeline.

Taking Rose to Zayne meant taking her closer to the palace and there was the possibility of war around the corner. They could not take Rose there to distract Zayne at this crucial time.

Anna didn’t understand why they couldn’t go when the home was used many times in the past. The visits were short and their guards increased but they had been there before. It would make Rose happy to be near Zayne so why couldn’t they go now?

’Is there a war coming?’ Anna wondered. She had noticed all the weapons the guards around the manor were carrying. There couldn’t be war since Rose was from this land and the man who claimed to love her couldn’t possibly want to destroy their kingdom.

"Are you keeping secrets from me, mother?" Anna asked since she sensed there were many things she wasn’t told.

"I am," Madeline replied honestly. "But they are secrets kept from you to keep you safe. In time I will tell you but for right now, please keep close to your sister. Danger is around us."