Betrothed (NOT UPDATING ANYMORE)

Chapter Eight

Terrence was just as busy as everyone else. He was escorting me to the kitchens and as we passed he greeted every staff member by name. I was impressed to say the least that he knew everyone's names by heart.

I stopped walking, turning around and frowned. He sighed. "What did I do now?"

I tapped my chin, scrutinising him. "Did you learn everyone's names in the castle just because I yelled at you?"

Terrence straightened his posture and his cheeks were a little red. "Maybe I did it because I wanted to."

I shook my head. "No no, that's not it. You certainly did it to impress me." Terrence opened his mouth, but I shushed him. "You can deny it all you want but before you do," I looked up at him and gave him a genuine smile. "It warms my heart that you learned all the names of the staff members, just for me."

Terrence stayed quiet after that and it seemed that I had shocked myself as well. For heavens sake, I actually complimented him. And I did it on-on purpose.
This was too much for me to bare.

He still followed me into the kitchens and we both greeted everyone there. I helped scrub the dishes as there were mountains of them everywhere and the poor girl who was doing them kept getting yelled at. So that's where I went and helped. Terrence even joined in and had a nice conversation with the young woman. I was in my own world washing the last dish when the young woman, who said her name was Abigail, thanked us both for helping her.

"Please, it was fun I enjoy working and helping out whenever I can." I gave her a smile and Terrence offered to take me to my rooms.

Suddenly I was very nervous and I had no idea why. My heart wouldn't stop pounding in my ears and I couldn't stop fumbling with my hands. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down my nerves. Daisy was walking beside me her tail wagging and tongue sticking out.

I stopped before my door and looked at Terrence. I leaned in and brushed my lips against his cheek. "Thank you. For all you've done for me."

I opened my door and without another word I slipped through and closed it softly. I took a deep breath and heard him start to walk away. He stopped and I backed up as he opened he door. He looked at me and smiled slightly. "I'll see you in the morning, Princess. Goodnight."

oOo

The night of the ball came quickly and before I knew it I was being pampered and dressed.

"I could've done all of this myself you know." I said to Paula and another young woman named Bethany.

"Please this is the least we can do after all you've done for us." Paula said as she pressed my hair into long curls.

I frowned as Bethany fawned over my cosmetics. "What do you mean?"

Paula and Bethany paused before they slowly went back to doing their job. "The Prince. He hasn't been lashing out at any of the staff lately and has been helping out a lot more around the palace. Especially with our safety."

Paula nodded. "He also stopped flirting with the young maids and every pretty thing that walks through the palace doors."

"On top of that he's stopped sneaking out of the palace."

I rolled my eyes. "He hasn't changed that much has he?"

They both looked at each other again and smiled. "Well if he doesn't keep his eyes on you the entire night and is always looking at some other girl, then you know he hasn't changed." Paula smiled at what Bethany said and they finished dolling me up.

They both pulled out a mirror and I placed my hand on my heart. My ball gown was gold with a green vine like pattern that was intertwined with leaves all along the skirt. The sleeves went up to my elbows and the bodice was decorated with vines that curved around my breasts up across my collar bone and down to the sleeves.

Bethany had lined my eyes with kohl, making my eyes seem greener. They had placed gold specks around my eyes making my skin shimmer when I moved in the light much like my dress. My lips were coated with a dark red paint that pulled everything together.

I smiled in the mirror and looked at Bethany and Paula. "I look amazing thanks to the two of you." The both smiled back. I had a sense that what Bethany said was correct as Terrence's eyes were glued on me as soon as I was announced into the ball room.

oOo

My heart hammered as I noticed that the whole ball was coated in silver and gold. It seemed that was his theme. I looked into his blue eyes and smiled as he took my hand and placed a kiss on it. "You look absolutely stunning Cassandra."

My cheeks heated up as I took him in. He was wearing a silver tunic with gold vines that mirrored mine. We matched, but at the same time we were different. "You don't look so bad yourself Terrence." His hair was combed back and tied at the end with a silver bow. I reached up without thinking and fingered it. "Your hair is so long."

He smiled and took my hand. "I suppose it is. Now would you like to dance? I wrote my name first on your card otherwise I would never have the chance to dance with you." The music started up slow and steady.

I rose my eyebrows as he placed his hand on my waist and held the other one in his hand. "Really now? I guess I never knew I was that sought after."

Terrence stiffened but smiled slightly. "Why is that?"

I shrugged. "Mostly because I already have someone."

He tilted his head as he spun me around and brought me back into his arms. "And who would that be princess?"

I smiled as I looked into his eyes. "Well he's a prince. Not a very good one, but he's trying to be a good one. He's annoying and wonderful to bicker with."

Terrence laughed his chest rumbling. "He seems like an entertaining person."

I smiled and leaned closer to him, resting my head on his chest as we swayed to the music. "He's a very wonderful person."

After the music stopped, Terrence had other ladies to dance with and I had plenty of gentlemen lined up. Even though we would dance with separate partners, we would always end up near each other. I would catch Terrence looking at me and he would catch me looking at him.

I had gotten down to the last man on my card when Terrence swooped in. "So sorry to interrupt but, may I?"

The young man shrugged and handed me off to Terrence. I sighed in relief and smiled. "That man is nice, but all the others talk about is themselves and their swords and horses. I enjoy horses, but not in the purposes they do."

Terrence chuckled. "Tell me about it. All the other ladies would just talk and talk and talk about clothes, jewels and well you. They all seemed pretty jealous that you get to marry me and they don't."

I scoffed. "They have nothing to be jealous over. They'll find the one for them someday."

Terrence grinned his eyes twinkling. "Are you saying that I'm 'the one' for you?"

I tilted my head and frowned slightly. "I thought it was pretty obvious."

Terrence swung me out and brought me back to him this time both arms around my waist, our chests close. "It is obvious. I guess our parents knew what they were doing."

I smiled leaning my forehead against his. "I guess so."