Chapter 1
It had been exactly three years since the curse that was upon Moonacre had been lifted. The relationship between the two previously warring families had blossomed. Maria woke one morning to find her usual sugar biscuit and milk waiting for her on her bedside table. She smiled as she saw that Loveday, her Aunt, had laid out a beautiful sky blue dress for her on her dresser. Loveday had become like a mother to Maria; they shared everything between them including clothes, jewellery and of course, secrets.
Maria plaited her red curls into her usual side braid and put on the dress. As usual, the dress fit her like a glove, showing off her womanly features in an elegant way: she had grown quite a lot since that day where she defeated the Moon Princesses curse. She opened her small arch-shaped door and ran down the marble steps into the dining room.
"Maria!"
Maria turned round to see her governess, Mrs Heliotrope, standing in the hall way looking at her.
"Yes Mrs Heliotrope?" she replied.
"Maria, a lady does not run down the stairs as you have just done my dear girl!"
"Come Mrs Heliotrope, I'm sure Maria is just eager to have her breakfast that is all" said a man's voice.
Maria turned round to see her uncle, Sir Benjamin Merryweather smiling at her.
"Yes of course, Sir Benjamin, I am just concerned for Maria's safety, that's all" Mrs Heliotrope said, returning the smile. "Come Maria, let's go to breakfast".
The three of them walked into the dining room to come across Loveday, sitting at the table eating some toast.
"Ah good morning Mrs Heliotrope, Maria my dear I trust you slept well?" Loveday asked soothingly.
"Yes, very well thank you" Maria replied.
"Come come, wife, we must tell them of our plan!" Sir Benjamin said to Loveday.
Loveday smiled.
"You see, we have had an idea. You will of course remember that tomorrow is the third anniversary of the day which you, Maria, bravely lifted the curse off Moonacre. Well we were pondering the idea of having a ball here tomorrow, we will invite the DeNoirs of course"
"So will Robin be there?" Maria asked casually.
Loveday smiled at her knowingly. "Yes dear, I believe he will be. We have send Digweed off with the invitations"
Maria caught Loveday's eye and they both smiled. Maria had instantly become extremely close to the boy since that day three years ago. But now that they were both older, they had been flirting slightly with one another for a while now, whilst remaining the closest of friends.