Mariana returned home after working whole day at the shop. Four days had passed since she had last been to the palace and she was working hard on the princess's dress.
She could see no one in the front sitting room. Keeping her satchel on the table, she moved towards her aunt's room.
"Aunt Penny?"
She entered and found her sleeping
on her bed. Mariana frowned. Her aunt never napped till this hour. It was sunset. She rushed towards her .
"Aunt Penny", she touched her face and found it to be really hot." Oh dear".
Hearing her voice, her aunt opened her eyes. "You are back, Marie?" She blinked and looked at the window. "What time is it?"
"It's seven, aunt Penny. But leave that. You have a fever". She touched her aunt's forehead and her throat, finding it burning up.
Her aunt tried to sit up. "No dear. I am merely tired. After lunch I slept and-"
"Do not get up. Stay." Mariana haulted her movements to get up from the bed. "I'll get the physician".
"There is no need dea-"
Mariana rushed out ignoring her wprds. She was really scared. Her aunt and her cousin were her only family. She couldn't bear anything happening to them. She had already lost her mother and father. And seeing aunt Penny this weak made her throat heavy with a lump.
She scanned her house looking for Voilet. Where did her sister go? Now she was scared even more. Her aunt was down with fever and her little sister was missing.
Rushing towards the door, Mariana ran to the gate and collided with a small body.
"Voilet! Where were you, darling? I was worried". Giving out a relieved sigh, Mariana caressed her cousin's little face.
"I was at Olivia's house, Marie".
Her cousin usually played there at her friend's house but never until this hour.
"You must come home before dark, dear"
"I'm sorry, Marie. I did not look at the time. Why are you so worried?" A frown marred her tiny forehead.
"Aunt Penny has fever. But don't worry. Everything will be alright. Run to the physician and get him here". Voilet's eyes widened as she nodded and rushed to do her work.
"Be careful!" Mariana yelled after her.
And Then she went inside the home . Litting up the fire in the kitchen, she warmed some water amd took it to her aunt's chamber in a bowl.
"Have this, aunt Penny. You will feel better", she helped her aunt sit up and made her drink few sips of warm liquid.
Placing the blanket carefully back over her aunt, Mariana rushed back to the kitchen and started preparing the broth. She added meat, vegetables, salt, pepper and some herbs in the water and set it to cook.
"Mariana", she heard Caelen's voice and saw him with Voilet and Mr. Whit, the physician.
"Caelen", she rushed towards him and held his hands. Having her friend near made her feel strong betwwen the distress she had for her aunt.
The physician examined aunt Penny as they stood near the bed.
"It is weakness, nothing serious but make up to it as soon as possible". He gave them a medicine to add to her aunt's food twice a day.
Mariana breathed a sigh of relief hearing it was nothing much than weakness.
"Take care, Miss Mariana. And send for me whenever there is a need". Mr. Whit smiled kindly.
"Thankyou sir", Mariana said gratefully.
Taking his payment he left.
Closing the main door, Mariana sighed. Her aunt had been having these fevers since last year. She had consulted three phisicians and everyone of them had predicted only weakness. But Mariama was still scared.
She and Calen stood in the sitting room and Voilet was inside with aunt Penny.
"Thankyou for being there", Mariana said to her friend. "I was really scared".
Caelen smiled. "Do not worry. Everything will be alright". He raised his hand amd touched her cheek gently.
Mariana startled as he had never touched her like this before. She met his eyes and he was lookimg intently at her. Slowly, he leaned forward and Mariana took a step back.
"I need to stir the broth".
He looked embarrased. "Yes f-f-ine. I'll go home. Send Voilet to fetch me if you need anhthimg".
Mariana nodded and saw him leaving. She didn't like him watching her the way he'd had now. It felt foreign and something utterly misplaced.
She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts and began preparing dinner.
Mariana and Voilet had their dinner with aunt penny, in her room. They laughed and chatted and spent some good time. After seeing her aunt relaxed and regaining her energy after dinner, Mariana felt better.
They were laughing over something Voilet had said when they heard a knock.
"I'll see it", Voilet rushed to recieve the visitor.
"Must be Caelen asking about my health", aunt Penny said and Mariana gave a nod.
Voilet rushed back in the room and handed a note to Mariama.
"They said it's for you"
Mariana looked at the royal seal on the note and asked, "Who brought this?"
"Two footmen with pretty clothes". Voilet sat near aunt Penny.
Mariana looked at her aunt who shrugged and said, "Open it".
She opened the letter and read it and worry pinched her brows.
"Her Highness wants me to meet her tomorrow and discuss the jewellery that would go with the dress".
"Then why do you look worried, dear?"
"I can't leave you alone, aunt Penny".
"Oh pshh", her aunt waved her hand. "I'm feeling better, already. And besides I'm not a child, Marie."
Mariana wasn't least bit convinced. "I'll write to Her Highness to poatpone the meet. She'll understand".
"No dear. Such excuses conveys unprofessionalism amd lazyness. It might not prove discipline. You must go".
"Yes, Marie", Voilet chirped. "You can go. I'll look after mama, I promise".
Aunt Penny kissed Voilet's forehead and Mariana smiled.
"See, I have the best daughters in the world". Aunt Penny raised her other arm amd Mariana rushed to engulf herself in it.