Three Peach Roses

Alone

Chapter 11

After a merry dinner with the King that night, filled with laughter and new friendships, Marianne got ready to visit his rooms. 

"Do not forget why you are doing this. You will not care for this man." Magnolia said quietly, her cool fingers gently undoing Marianne's plaits. Marianne coughed and hastily agreed.

"No of course not. I only wish to serve my family. This is my duty. You know that." She said. Magnolia started to brush Marianne's hair, softly as she would a child's.

"You may have fooled the others with your talk of smothering but you cannot fool me." Marianne had forgotten how observant Magnolia was, it was as if she could read her mind.

"I do not wish it," Marianne mumbled, speaking of her growing affection for the King, "I repress it, I deny it as much as I can." Magnolia was silent for a few minutes as she finished brushing Marianne's hair. 

"You can have affection for him as a man. That is something you cannot fight, but you cannot see him as your King. The only rightful heir is our Brother." She said. Marianne nodded.

"Now go to him and forget your duty. Just for a little while." Magnolia whispered, she hugged her young, naive sister quickly then sent her to the King.

Marianne lay next to Dimitri on a fur rug next to the fire, a blanket pulled on top of her. He lay half asleep as Marianne watched the flames; the orange glow lighting her skin golden and making her soft caramel hair shine. She felt content. She closed her eyes and felt herself back in Polzen, over looking the ocean and feeling nothing but comforting, numbing peace. As she opened her eyes and looked upon Dimitri, she felt the exact same emotion and she knew what she was feeling. She loved him.

At sunrise Marianne returned as quiet as a mouse to her bedchamber to find her siblings up and waiting.

"Well, did you?" Mahogany asked impatiently. Marianne shifted, uncomfortable standing in her dishevelled nightgown.

"Yes."

"And did you look around his things?" Harry asked. Mahogany rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Of course she didn't Harry! She can't do that straight away." Marianne coughed.

"I didn't look around everything but I did see this letter on his desk." She said, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper from her robe pocket.  Harry grabbed it eagerly and scan read it. He smiled broadly and threw the letter to Marcus then swept Marianne up into a hug and kissed her forhead, laughing.

"Marianne you clever girl!" He said, his arm around her waist. Marcus started laughing too and tried to pass the letter to his twin but Mahogany snatched it. She did not smile.

"This is an important letter. He will notice it is missing and he will suspect you. He will suspect us." Marianne's smile disappeared into a scowl. 

"His desk was very messy. And he has replied to it already." She said sharply. Magnolia was shocked, she has never heard Marianne sound angry. She always seemed to be too wet and emotional to express fiery anger. Magnolia instantly went in to calm things down. She put her hand on Mahogany's shoulder. 

"It's okay. We can work with this." She read the letter over Mahogany's shoulder.

"Ah, so King Dimitri is raising the taxes and lying about why. This is good. What shall we do about it?" Magnolia asked.

"Well, we tell everyone of course!" Harry said, his voice bright with excitment. Mahogany walked over to the window in silence.

"But how? We can't let Dimitri know we have it." Marcus said. Everyone was quiet as they tried to think of a way. Then Mahogany spoke.

"There is a new board in the centre of town and almost everyone looks at it everyday. We will put it up there in secret then trust that word of mouth will spread it like wild fire." Mahogant spoke with so much authority that her silblings could do nothing but nod.

Magnolia and Marcus walked arm in arm through the rose garden, their heads close together. They had always been close as brother and sister. Marcus was the perfect match to Magnolia's coolness as he was a bright and happy person with a quick wit. He always looked upon things with positivity and encouraged her to do the same. She trusted him with her life and often went to him when she was troubled. 

"Marcus you have to help me." Magnolia said quietly.

"Sister, what is it?" Marcus asked.

"It's Sir Thomas. My fiance. I don't know how to get out of my engagement ." Magnolia said matter-of-factly in a calm voice. Magnolia was a person who rarely broker her calm persona. 

"Just tell him Father said no or that he is planning your marriage to a man in France or Italy." Marcus said lightly. 

"Yes, I'll do that. But will you come with me? He may get angry."

"Of course! We'll find him now."

Magnolia found Sir Thomas in his chamber, which he had barely left since his fall from the King's friendship. He knew very well that if he ran into the King they would probably have an argument and he would be thrown out of the Palace. He was hanging on by his fingertips as it was. Magnolia knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Thomas asked, his voice slurred.

"It's Magnolia." Thomas smiled and got up unsteadily from his chair. 

"Magnolia, my love, come in! Come in!" Magnolia opened the door and sniffed, a look of disgust on her face. Sir Thomas' chamber was dark and stuffy and stank of the staleness of alcohol. 

"Sir Thomas, I need to talk to you. And to introduce you to my brother, this is Marcus." Magnolia said. Thomas just about managed to shake Marcus' hand.

"What is it, my love?" Thomas asked.

"My brothers have informed me that my Father is planning a marriage for me." Magnolia said briskly.

"To a French Lord." Marcus added. He watched Thomas like a hawk and kept protectively close to Magnolia.

"What?" Thomas asked.

"I am contracted to marry somebody else so I cannot marry you." Thomas' head fell into his hands and he began to weep like a child. Magnolia stared at me. She hadn't expected him to be this emotional. She thought he was like a peacock, proud and confident. She thought he would fly into a rage and throw her out of his rooms.

"Sir Thomas, I am sorry but there is nothing I can do."

"But you love me!" Thomas wailed. Magnolia glanced wide eyed at Marcus, he shrugged.

"What do we know of love?" Magnolia replied. Thomas' head shot up, his eyes narrowed.

"So you lied!" He said, his voice raised.

"I did not lie!" Magnolia said, calmly.

"You did! You did! You're a lying whore! You only wanted my connections. You used me and now I am nothing and you don't want me!" Thomas raged, now shouting. Magnolia didn't see much point in arguing especially seeing as what he was saying was true.

"This is the end of our friendship, Sir Thomas. I suggest you leave the Palace and go home. You are completely alone here." Magnolia said. 

"I will destroy your life, as you destroyed mine. I know you are behind my downfall, you and your treacherous family!" Thomas leapt towards her, his face contorted with anger. Magnolia didn't even flinch as Marcus pushed him back to his seat.

"That's enough," He said "come on Magnolia we're leaving."

"Drink away, Sir Thomas," Magnolia whispered, pushing another bottle of wine towards him "for it is the only friend you have now. You are completely alone." Magnolia and Marcus left Sir Thomas in his dark, cold room. Completely and utterly alone.