Chapter 1
"Princess Vanessa, Princess Jessamine! Your mother would like to see you both. If you allow me I will let her in." announced the servant in an eager to please tone. "Thank you Dalia, do let her in." responded Nessa in her usual calm and collected voice. She looked up from her half-completed embroidery and smiled as mother entered the room.
"Hello mother! We were not expecting you back so soon. We thought your excursion to the tailor's would take longer." said Nessa politely.
"May I ask why you have come back so soon?" I inquired further.
"Well it is nice to see you too Jessamine!" she answered sarcastically, "I had hoped that you would have
learnt some manners whilst I was gone! But I see that that is not the case! Vanessa, darling, how are you? I hope your sister was not too much of a burden. I know from experience that it is not always easy to put up with stress when one is pregnant."
"I do not cause Nessa stress!" I cried out indignantly, "And as I see I am clearly not wanted here, I shall take my leave. Do not expect me for dinner tonight; I will be joining Sam at the tavern. Goodbye mother, bye Nessa!"
Mother's indirect stab at me had hurt, although I hadn't let any of my emotions show. I had learnt long ago not to show what you are really feeling at court. I rapidly gathered my belongings but as I shuffled towards the door Mother stopped me.
"Actually, Jessamine, your Father and I would like you to attend dinner as we have something we would like to discuss. This invitation is of course also extended to you and your husband Vanessa."
I was incredibly tempted to decline but Vanessa's pleading eyes stopped me from doing so. I frowned and nodded, escaping the room quickly. As I made my way out of the palace and into the busy streets of our capital, Calterra, I could not help but wonder why mother and Nessa were so adamant that I join them for dinner.
I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering aimlessly around the market, occasionally buying a few petty trinkets that caught my eye. When the abbey's clocks tolled six times, I returned to the palace rushing to my chambers to get ready for dinner. I found one of my newer dresses, and hastily slipped it on, leaving my lady's maid to do up the corset before running as fast as I could in a gown down the long marble corridors to the great dining hall. Taking a deep breath to compose myself I signalled for the herald to announce me and I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the raucous noise that was synonym to the dining hall.
"Her Highness Princess Jessamine Dumont of Sarrayda!" The heralds clear voice cried as the oak doors creaked open. I was met with nothing but silence, hesitantly I opened my eyes and was met with a rather peculiar sight. The usually bursting hall was empty but for Mother, Father, Vanessa and her husband.
My eyes widened and I hurried to my seat.
"You are late, daughter," said my mother in a reproachful way, " as usual. Would it have been too much to ask for you to come on time. "
"Aveline, dear, don't be too harsh on your daughter, the poor girl is obviously exhausted!" intervened father as I sent a grateful glance at him.
"She is your daughter too Marc! If she were not gallivanting around the city unchaperoned or riding that blighted horse of hers all day long, she would not be so tired! Although, come to think of it, I would not be surprised if she came in late just to spite me!"
"Mother, father, this is not the time or place for this conversation, let us just enjoy our supper." pleaded Nessa with a sigh.
I immediately regretted coming in late, for then Vanessa would not have had to witness such bickering, though God knows mother would have found something else to reproach me about. Nessa was always tired and emotional lately; the pregnancy was really getting too her.
