Reining Red

Chapter Four

Now Amelia was a waitress, it seemed as if it was more difficult for Timothy to get in touch with her. Occasionally, he would send for some tea, and Amelia would fetch it for him, but it was rare and he no longer visited her down in the kitchens.

Amelia did not complain. She loved having the chance to roam the castle and she finally got to see Timothy's chambers. Compared to the dorm she shared with the other maids, his quarters were much grander.

Unlike the rest of the castle, the rooms he and his father shared were not a pristine white, but heavily curtained and the dark walls draped with tapestries. They were set far up, at the top of a tower, with a high ceiling and mahogany doors leading to smaller chambers. The main room served as a workshop, littered with different materials and thread, needles protruding from pin cushions and models displaying half made clothes. Over stuffed arm chairs crowded around a fire place, where orange flames feasted on charred logs. It was in one of these chairs where Timothy's father was napping.

Amelia set the tea tray onto the spindly table next to him, and knocked on Timothy's door.

"One minute!" Sounded his deep voice. Amelia knocked again impatiently, a smile crossing her face as she did so. Timothy had no time for impatient people, and knowing this, she teased him.

"Hurry up!" She spoke to the closed door, "I'm coming inside now!"

She pushed open the door, and Timothy's father gave a loud snort as it slammed behind her. Timothy was leaning over his bed, pulling the covers up.

"You are so annoying, Amelia," he complained, "I was just tidying up."

Amelia held her hands behind her back and walked up to him, a slight skip in her step. His room was impeccable, everything lined up perfectly, from the unfinished hats on the shelf to his perfectly creased curtains. She smiled at him, and he knew then that she believed him. She was constantly suspicious, and Timothy could not blame her; after being abandoned by her own mother six years ago, he did not question her untrusting attitude.

That wasn't it, though. He understood her, he knew her, and with that glint in her sapphire eyes, he knew that she was the same.

"Here," Timothy took one of her hands and lead her over to his shelves. "The Red Princess is coming soon, and I've made her a head dress." Amelia watched as Timothy carefully opened a small, wooden cabinet with an iron key. "I suspect she has the same hair as you, and I want to make sure the colours compliment each other."

Timothy laid the hat upon her head, and a wide smile spread across his face. "That's great," he murmured, "perfect. One moment," he picked up a large, wooden board that was leaning against the wall and span it around to face Amelia.

She looked into the mirror and felt the hat with the tips of her fingers. White, silk and lace roses sat upon the base, and a short veil brushed against her forehead. "How wonderful," she said in awe.

Timothy removed his master piece from her head and placed it back in the cabinet. "I wanted to make it white, to match the rest of the palace," he said as he pocketed the iron key.

"It's truly beautiful," Amelia replied.

Timothy blushed ever so slightly, and looked as if he were about to speak, but decided against it. The pair stood in silence for several second.

"I should be going," Amelia announced as she made her way to the door, but Timothy, as if acting on impulse, grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Only inches apart, he leant down and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her. Amelia, first shocked, soon fell into the kiss, and allowed their friendship to fall into something much deeper.