Gritting her teeth in frustration, she slammed a hand on her desk. Then, she saw the charcoal sticks placed neatly on the corner of her desk. She picked up one and began rotating it between her fingers.
Princess Amelia's dress is almost ready. The only thing remaining to do on it was decorate it with the stones. However, the king's suit wasn't ready yet. She had the colour finalised, fabric purchased and design thought in her mind. She decided to sketch it on the paper.
Without waiting, Mariana snatched a paper and began sketching the design. She always drew first before sewing. Her original plan was just as the king had said. Finishing the princess's dress first and then proceeding on the king's. Now that she couldn't sleep and the princess's dress material was in her shop, she decided to work on the king's suit.
She began sketching the design she had in her mind. And while doing that, involuntarily she thought about the king. Broad shoulder, lean muscles, veiny wrists, hard chest, long legs, smooth cheekbones, thick, black hair, the mouth that always smirked and the gorgeous, most lovely pair of blue eyes. Mariana had always loved the colour of his eyes. Sapphire's dark blue, like a precious crystal, unlike any other blue eyes she had ever seen. Even the queen's and the princess's eyes were beautifully bright blue. But still, they couldn't compare to the king's.
A smile grazed her lips.
He was a really good man. Helpful, clever, brave and humourous. At least for himself he was humourous. He had teased her on many occasions. But when today, he realised Mariana thought badly of him, his eyes were dark. It was clear she had upset him. Had he waited a bit, Mariana was just about to apologise to him. But he was gone. The moment she saw him next time, she would apologise him, her decision was made.
She leaned one arm on the desk and placed her head on it. Her other hand drew his suit. She remembered how he had talked to the ferret today. A soft chuckle left her lips while thinking about his expressions when Ross was nibbling on his shoe.
Also, his smile was so adorable when he caressed Ross. She would apologise to the king soon.
Her king.
King Aaron.
"Aaron," Mariana said his name softly. The name really suited him. "Aaron," she tested the word again on her lips.
She didn't realise but thinking about the king had calmed her mind. It had lessened the burden of emotions she was feeling heavily in her heart.
"Aaron," she said again softly. Her lids turning heavy and her hand loosing her speed in sketching.
Slowly, the charcoal stick slipped from her fingers. Her lids closed and she saw his handsome face smirking at her.
"Aaron," she said the last time. But when she drifted in sleep, she thought about speaking his name. Aaron.
Aaron's eyes shot open. He was sleeping soundly and then suddenly, he felt as if someone had called his name.
He scanned the darkness in his chamber and strained his ears to hear again.
Nothing.
Perhaps it was just a dream. He sighed and lied down again. But couldn't sleep. Changing his positions, he tried again. But sleep wouldn't come.
What the fuck!
He was sleeping soundly just a moment ago!
After some time, he sat up on the bed, giving up every attempt of sleeping. Rubbing a hand over his face and hair, he stood up, strode lazily to the window and looked up at the sky, wondering what woke him up.
He sighed also wondering who had gotten his share of sleep now that he was wide awake.
Mariana woke up when she heard aunt Penny knock on her door.
"Get up, Marie. Come down to breakfast."
She raised her neck and realised many things at once.
Her neck ached like devil. She had slept all night at her desk. She had drooled all over the sketch.
"Ah," she rubbed her sore neck.
Then, she replied to her aunt. "I'll take a bath first." She wiped her face with her hand.
Then, she stood up, snatched a kerchief from her cupboard and began wiping the half drawn sketch of the king's suit which was now grossly wet.
Fortunately, she felt fresh. Every ache in her body and stress she had felt was gone.
When she had bathed and eaten her breakfast, she very sweetly gave a sloshy kiss on Voilet's cheek who instantly wiped it off . Then, she hugged her aunt from the back who was surprised to see how different her mood was from the last night. Ironically, Mariana herself was also surprised.
She left the house, striding to her shop, when she met one of the neighbours, Mrs. Faircloth. Greeting her happily, Mariana squeezed her hands.
"You must start taking orders soon, Miss Clifton," Mrs. Faircloth said in her high nasal voice. "I want to sew some gowns for me and my daughters."
Mariana smiled fondly. "I will start it instantly when I am done with my present orders, Mrs. Faircloth."
"Okay. See you later, darling," the woman walked away gracefully.
Mariana reached her shop and went to the back room to work on the princess dress. She had wore the dress on her mannequin. It looked beautiful, the large royal blue gown with eight layers. Her entire back room shimmered from the lovely colour. A pride for her work rose in her chest and Mariana smiled. She had sewed it in three days.
Now, she began working on the glitters and diamonds she had bought from the market.
Deciding to work on the larger diamonds first, she began threading them together and sewing them. They were extremely delicate thought pointed at some angles. Every bit of her concentration was needed as she handled them. Hem of the dress was what she decided to start with. Placing the mannequin on a tall stool, she began working.
Sometimes, she haunched on her knees and sewed. Then, she stood up and bent. Her body molded the way as the dress demanded. But this was the thing she loved. Every problem with any human or any thing vanished away as soon as she held threads in her hand.
After working for hours, her back was stiff from constant bending and sitting. Great! First neck and now the back.
"Marie?" She turned around and saw Martha.