ANDREW BLACK

Chapter 13

Merlissa Highmore

Merlissa watched the roses in the garden with rapt attention as though if she blinked, they just might disappear. At this point, she was willing to do anything if it would keep her from engaging in any form of conversation with Maureen and her minions. One more day she had pleaded with her aunt even after being left alone for the whole day after the arrival of the letter that night. She appreciated the thought, but she still needed time to regain her strength to engage with anyone and much to her dismay the Boones were still here. Which unfortunately meant more Maureen and her minions.

Ever since the idea of marriage to Prince Daemon had been brought up chatty Maureen had suddenly become chattier. Much to Merlissa's horror, she had moved on from talking about dresses and shoes to re-decorations that had to take place once she moved into the castle. After several seconds of listening to Maureen talk about weddings and dresses, she had turned to the garden for an escape but even the birds were nowhere in sight today and unfortunately for Merlissa, it had only been about five minutes with Merlissa meaning she roughly had an hour and 25 minutes more. She sighed in exasperation.

"Are we boring you Merlissa?" Minion one (Marguerite) asked, gaining Merlissa's attention.

"Of course not," Merlissa lied, turning to face them with the warmest smile she could muster.

"But you are boring me," her cousin Audria said feign a yawn as she set her cup down on the table picking up a biscuit and nibbling on it. "Can we just stop talking about a hypothetical wedding, wait till he puts a ring on your finger at least," Audria said pointing to her bare finger, Maureen rolled her eyes.

"Well, there would be soon," Minion two (Miranda) said defending her cousin.

"If we reach that bridge, we'd cross the bridge, till then..." Audria trailed off shoving the rest of the biscuit in her mouth then to spite Maureen and her minions she smiled, a full-blown grin revealing the chewed chocolate crumbs in her mouth, mushed with her saliva.

"Disgusting!"

"How un-ladylike."

"And you call yourself a princess." The last remark was Maureen. "Anyway," Maureen said turning to face her minions, "Two weddings in the fall, so excited!" she gushed.

"Two?" Merlissa and Audria asked both puzzled.

"Yes! Mine to Daemon Highmore and Nathaniel Hogan to Loretta Harold," Maureen said a little too cheerily. Merlissa felt her heart drop to her stomach as her hand holding the small cup trembled. She could feel Audria's gaze on her, but she avoided making eye contact because if she did, she just may break down in front of Maureen and her minions.

"N-na-" Clearing her throat Merlissa she tried again but the lump kept rising in her throat. So, she just kept quiet. In fact, she held her breath because the slightest movement could trigger the tears welled up in her eyes to fall. She had the pressing urge to sniffle, but she couldn't, not in front of them. Not in front of anyone. She had heard bits of gossip slip from time to time but why did hearing it from Maureen's mouth still choke her? Maybe it was because it forced her to believe the wedding was real, that her nameless – not, no hers anymore- that the nameless man was tying the knot with another. Another and not with her.

Are you okay Merlissa," Maureen asked looking concerned. "Did you not receive an invitation, given your history I should think you would re-"

"I did," Merlissa forced out quickly. Shutting her mouth immediately after before her body took this as a sign to release the waterworks. Her hands shook harder pouring the tea on her dress. Thankfully it was fully patterned so the stain would go unnoticed by most.