Christmas Plans

CHAPTER 6

POV : Amelia

Mel knew something had happened the moment Adrian set foot in her library. He was actually happy. Not faking it for his father or other. 
"Who did this to you?" She asked in a grave but humorous tone. He smiled and sat down in the chair beside her. 
"I went on a date." He sounded excited. She was happy for him but she realized it would bring nothing but trouble. 
"Let me guess, it was with your cute apothecarian." He nodded and she sighed with a roll of her eyes. 
"His name is James, but he insists I call him Jamie. I stopped by Clara's house on the way to his shop and bought flowers for him. Did you know how talented she is?" Mel nodded. "She gave me this small but lovely bouquet full of all these flowers. She was smiling as she made it so I assume they had some kind of hidden meaning behind them. He looked so happy when I gave him the flowers. After, we went on a ride to the waterfall in the woods, do you know it?" She nodded again. "After awhile he said he knew the place and that he grew up there. We told each other things about ourselves and we went to this lovely meadow with two deer in it. They walked away after a bit, but he told all theses animal facts while we sat there. He told me all about all sorts of animals who enter same-sex relationships. He has this way of making me feel at ease around him. Saints, I think I might be in love." Mel shook her head.
"This is only the first date. There is no possible way you could be in love already. Besides, I want to be the one to get a partner first." She smiled. He smirked in a knowing way.
"Uh huh. And did you actually talk to her? Did you ask her on a date?" She blushed and looked away. How was he able to read her so well?
"Fine, I will ask her tonight. I need to check on the flower arrangements anyway." He smiled. 
"She still has a week and a half to get them done." He said, teasingly. She stuck her tongue out and walked away. Her cheeks flushed with the thought of asking Clara out. She shook her head. How am I possibly going to ask her out? she wondered. She could go over and ask for a bouquet for a lover and then ask her out with the flowers. She nodded to herself. She would do that. She bumped into someone and cursed under her breath. 
"Sorry." She mumbled as she looked up. Her breath caught in her throat. 
"No, I'm sorry. I walked right into your path, even as I saw you coming." A young lady about her age with sleek, black hair and light, intelligent eyes was in front of her. She felt her face flush. 
"No, no. It's my fault. I was lost in thought." The girl smiled. 
"My name is Lady Christine Baldwin. I came early for the winter ball. I just wanted to see the village where The Prince lives, but I got distracted by the beautiful doors to the library. I went in and now here we are!" She smiled broader than before making Mel weak in the knees. "And who might you be?" She asked, snapping Mel out of her daze. 
"Oh, yes. I am Amelia. I am the librarian here. Most people call me Mel, though." She couldn't hold the eye contact and looked down at her shoes. 
"Well then, Mel, I hope we get to see more of each other. I am staying at one of the winter cabins near the edge of the woods, if you ever want to visit." She gave one last smile and ran off. Mel was frozen in place. Saints alive, heart. What are you doing to me? she thought, angrily. She shook it off and got back to her pacing to the timing of her thoughts. She would go to Clara's after dinner as to not interrupt. She would ask for a lovely bouquet, for someone she wants to ask on a date. She nodded along. She would then pay and then ask her on a picnic in the woods. Adrian had already taken James to the waterfall, so she would have to one-up him by taking Clara to stargaze by Lover's Lake. The lake was super reflective making the night sky endless and it has the natural shape of a heart, hence the name Lover's Lake. She smiled at the idea. But now for Tamara. Clara won't do anything if she has no one to watch Tamara. She paced for a little while before coming up with an idea. She ran out through her secret passage to the kitchens then to the stables. She grabbed her horse,  Belly, and began her ride. She would go to James's shop to see if he can watch Tamara. She thought it was a brilliant plan. When she arrived at James's apothecary, she walked right in. 
"James?" She called out. 
"Be right with you." A voice from another room called out. She looked around at all the different plants and herbs. Flowers and succulents. She heard some thunking and a boy with brown hair and blazing blue eyes stepped out carrying the largest pot she had ever seen. It was at least twice his size and he seemed to be carrying it with ease. "What can I do for you?" He smiled as he set the plant down and Mel's tongue seemed to become mush in her mouth. She took a breath. She was going to do this. 
"Could you watch Tamara tomorrow night?" She asked. He looked surprised, which she expected. 
"How do you know Tamara? Why? Do you know Clara?" She breathed a sigh at all the questions. 
"I am planning on asking Clara out tonight. I watched Tamara at the castle. She is the best florist around." He smiled at her answers. 
"Sure. If she says yes I'll gladly watch Tamara. How long would I watch her for?" 
"At least until the moon is high. I want to take Clara on a picnic then stargazing. Lover's Lake has beautiful flowers as well." James seemed to straighten at this information. 
"You are taking her to Lover's Lake?" She nodded. "I suggest you tread lightly then. Lover's lake has quite some significance to Clara." Her eyes widened in amazement. 
"I never thought of that. I knew many couples went there, but if you think it's a bad idea..."
"No, no, no, no, no. I think it is a great idea. I am just saying, that is where she thought someone was going to propose to her, but they never ended up doing that." She nodded, solemnly. 
"Don't worry. I am going to ask her later tonight." He nodded. 
"Don't wait until too long after dinner. She closes hours after the sun sets. So once it gets dark you'd have to wait until tomorrow."
"Thank you for your help! Also, congrats on the date." She smiled to herself as she walked out. Now, wait for dinner. 

After she had eaten she rode to Clara's house, based on instructions she gathered from James after she realized she didn't know where she was going. She approached the door and knocked. A middle aged woman answered the door. She looked quite annoyed and she had thick makeup on her face. 
"How may I help you?" She asked. 
"May I speak with Clarice? I need a bouquet of flowers. I am also here on behalf of The Prince. I am to check on her progress." The lady nodded and disappeared for a moment. 
"Clarice, you have yet another visitor!" She heard the lady call out. A few moments later Clara appeared. 
"Oh, Mel, it is you." She closed the door behind her. She had Tamara in her arms and the baby was cooing. "I heard you wanted some flowers?" She nodded and followed Clara to the garden. Rows and rows of flowers were all over, striking Mel. She hadn't known what to expect, but this certainly wasn't it. A falling apart carriage shed and a garden. "So what occasion do you need the flowers for?" Mel looked around the flowers.
"I am planning on asking someone on a date. Could you help me with that?" She looked up to see the last remnant of surprise, hurt, and heartbreak on Clara's face before she turned away to inspect a leaf. 
"Who are you going to ask out? Oh, sorry that is rude for me to ask." She sighed. Mel wanted to shout out then and there that it was her she was going to ask out, but she refrained. 
"Umm... It's no one. So can you help me?" 
"Oh, yes. Of course. Would you like to pick out flowers or would you like me to?" 
"I would prefer you, if you don't mind." 
"Not at all. Now I am guessing you want something romantic, yet subtle?" Mel nodded as she took Tamara from Clara so she could work. Clara got her pruning shears and got to work. She put purple snapdragons and lavender. Waxflower and some black roses. She smiled at the purple and black tones. Mel loved it, but did Clara? 
"If you received this bouquet, would you feel happy and loved?" Mel asked. Clara looked up, surprised. 
"Of course. I always make bouquets with the intent of wanting it myself. If I could make myself a million bouquets I would." Mel smiled. Clara put some white accent flowers in and she went to her shed. When she returned it was wrapped all prettily. "Here you go." She traded it for Tamara. 
"Wait." Mel called out before she could walk away. "I didn't pay you." Clara looked exasperated. 
"What is it with castle people and needing to pay?" She asked. Mel laughed. She handed her three silver pieces and before Clara could walk away again, spat it out. 
"Will you go out with me?" She cried out. Clara turned around. Surprise eminent on her face. 
"Me?" Mel nodded. Clara broke into a smile. "Are you joking? You just said you wanted to ask someone out! You couldn't have possibly meant me." Mel smiled sheepishly.
"At least I was able to keep it hidden. So will you? Tomorrow night. I'll meet you here."
"What about Tamara." 
"I already asked it James would do it and he agreed. So?" Clara stood there for a long time before responding. 
"Yes." She whispered. Mel's heart bloomed with joy. 
"So tomorrow?" "
"Tomorrow."
"I'll pick you up around dinner time. Wear something you can ride in and eat in. And bring a coat or shawl, we'll be out late." She turned to go to her horse. She felt giddy with butterflies in her stomach. She actually did it. And she couldn't wait to brag to Adrian about her date tomorrow.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed and I hope this got you looking forward to the next chapter! Again I don't post on the weekends so I'll see you all on Monday!