The curse of Heavengate

Walking towards his study, Aaron found his granny in the corridor looking down at the garden through the open wall.

Standing beside her, he leaned down and saw Amy talking with other two men who looked absolutely besotted with her.

"You played dirty, granny. Amy won't like this".

His grany looked up at him. "I merely invited the guests. They happened to have sons". The smirk she had on her face betrayed her victory and she left the corridor with her maid.

Aaron looked down at his sister happily chatting with the princes. But he knew his sister was polite. She would never talk or behave rudely with someone. But marriage wasn't somethimg she was fond of. And if any of the princes proposed, she would - without any thought - reject him

Shaking his head, he thought his sister was likely to kill their granny in the next few days.

Mariana was in the back room of her shop, collecting details of the princess's old dress when Caelen entered.

"Hope I'm not causing a disturbance".

Mariana looked at her best friend. "Not at all. Sit. I was just about to have lunch".

He nooded. "Yes, that's why I came. But the shop is bustling with customers, I thought you wouldn't have time to spare".

Mariana took the scissors and cut the last bit of remaining threads from the bodice. "Customers have gathered but I told Mr. Roberts to inform them that we won't be able to fulfill their demands for another two months".

Her shop was always bustling with people. But ever since people came to know that she been appointed by Her Highness, they wanted their dresses made only by her. Most of them were ready to pay whatever she aksed for and no matter how much time she needed, they were ready to wait. She had already booked one hundred and fifty dress orders and even readying those within two months were a bit wholesome.

Hence, she and Mr. Roberts decided to take no more orders for another month. And half of them didn't know about the suit she had been appionted to design for the heartless king. Or even men would add to her customers line.

She would be busy with the princess's and the king's clothes and Mr. Roberts would concentrate as much as possible to other customers.

"You should perhaps appoint some helpers now. You are capable of easily paying them", Caelen said eyeing the stack of fabrics on the chair.

"Mr. Roberts too, suggested that. But I would prefer to wait. Because I would like to train my helpers first with a bit of my skills, and then let them handle the customers's responsibilities".

Aunt Penny also offered to help but Mariana had strictly prohibited her. She needed to recover first. Mariana was capable of handling everything else.

Caelen nodded again. After wrapping back her work, Mariana frowned at Caelen. Her best friend had never spoken this less in front of her.

She smiled kindly at him. "Is everything all right, Caelen?"

Caelen looked at her, his expressions looked like an amalgamation of shyness and nervousness. "I wanted to ask you for lunch tomorrow".

"Sure, you can come here".

He shook his head. "No, not like that. I want to take you to an inn. There is something important I would like to discuss with you".

Mariana's heart stopped. They had never been to a formal lunch before. And no matter how important the matter was, they always discussed it playfully and laughing in her home or his. This offer from Caelen invited various uncertain thoughts in Mariana's mind. After all, there were very few matters which men discussed with women over lunch.

"I-I don't think I would have time to leave the shop", Mariana tried to refuse politely.

"It won't take much time. Just an hour perhaps.". He walked over the table to stand near her and took her hands in his. "Please, beautiful Marie. One hour?" He requested.

Mariana looked at his hands holding her tightly. She didn't like him being so touchy as he had been recently. But how was one to reject their best friend? Besides there were many number of things he would want to talk about. His business, her business, his family, his future plans. It might not be necessary that he precisely wanted to confess to her about his heart or feelings.

Keeping all those thoughts aside, Mariana nodded her head. His eyes shone with satisfaction. "I'll pick you tweleve, then?"

She nodded again.

She kept thinking Caelen was not so unthoughtful as to ask her a big question at this time when she was busy with the golden opportunity in her work. He cared for her that much.

She mustn't worry. Few uncertain thoughts can't change the truth amd reality of their friendship.

The next morning, Mariana readied herself to go to her work, wearing a regular gown and tying her hair in the chignon. She prepared the breakfast of toast and sausages and bellowed her family.

All three of them were enjoying their breakfast happily. Voilet was happy and devoured her favourite sausages. Aunt Penny's health looked much better now and Mariana was grateful for that.

She thought about her lunch meeting with Caelen today.

"Caelen asked to take me to lunch today. Did he say something to you?" She asked her aunt.

Her aunt shook her head. "Outside?"

"Yes. He said he wanted to discuss something with me".

"No, he didn't say anything to me, dear."

Mariana breathed a relieved sigh. If the important thing was something about his feelings, then propriety dictates that Caelen should ask her aunt's permission first. And he was every bit a gentleman. Since her aunt didn't know anything about it, she was sure the matter was different.

"You should have worn something better then, dear?" Her aunt said.

Mariana had donned a regular peach gown which wasn't very lavish. She didn't pay much thought to dress differently to meet Caelen. He was her best-friend. A tiny thing as a dress would not really matter to him.

"It's alright, aunt Penny".

She finished the breakfast and headed to her work. Her mind was all occupied with Caelen. She hoped the talk with Caelen would get over soon and she would be free of this anxiety.