A/N: Hey everyone! A new chapter, finally. I'm sorry it's been so long, but my great aunt has been really sick. She was in the hospital for a while, but she's getting better. Also, I had various problems with my laptop. I just got Windows 7 so hopefully, these problems are over. Hope you like the chapter...

Maria POV

Flashback

Then, Rachael caught sight of Robin.

"Robin!" She exclaimed, "Is that you?" She crossed the room in three strides and threw herself into his arms, kissing him soundly.

End Flashback

Robin stiffened in shock. He pushed her off of him and took a step away from her.

"What are you doing Rachael?" Rabin asked, wiping off his mouth.

"Kissing my fiancée." she simpered, placing her hands on his chest at looking up at him slyly through her lashes.

"Your fiancée?" Robin and I asked in unison.

"Yes. Of course."

"I believe you are mistaken. He's not your fiancée." I said coldly, stepping forward and looking at her with disdain.

"Yes, he is. And who are you?" She asked me, smiling at me thinly, but glaring at me.

"I am Maria Meriwether, Moon Princess of Moonacre." I said holding up my head with pride.

"Rachael, there seems to have been a misunderstanding." Loveday said, coming up to us.

"No. There hasn't been, Loveday. Robin and Rachael have been betrothed since birth." Coeur du Noir said. Then he said something that stopped my heart. "As Robin well knows."

"WHAT?" I shouted, turning to Robin. He flinched at my fury, but at least he had the decency to look embarrassed.

"Princess..."

"Don't call me that!"

"Maria, please listen to me." He begged me, grabbing my hand. I pulled it from his grasp.

"Flirt! Heartbreaker!" I slapped him as hard as I could on the cheek. "I can't believe you. You have the nerve to tell me you love me when you're already engaged!"

"Maria, I do love you. I... Father said that he would have the engagement broken."

"Oh, he did, did he?" I turned to Monsieur Du Noir, as he seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on. I was surprised to see that his eyes were cold and hard when they looked at me.

"Monsieur Du Noir. Would you kindly explain to me what Robin is talking about? He does not seem to be making sense."

"Certainly." Coeur said, walking up to Robin and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Robin and Rachael's mothers were best friends, and Rachael's father is one of my best men. Before the children were born, the ladies were convinced that the children were a boy and a girl, and that when they grew up they would marry. Unfortunately, both ladies died in childbirth. We men decided to honour our wives wishes and have the children betrothed. When Rachael was old enough, she was sent to London to be educated as a proper lady. A year ago, I sent her a letter saying that she should come home, because they were both of age and could marry."

"Thank you for explaining so clearly what Robin neglected to mention." I said, curtseying formally. "Rachael, I apologize for my behaviour. I was clearly misinformed."

"It's perfectly fine. I know I would have reacted the same way if some girl walked up, kissed my man and announced that they were engaged." Rachael said, waving a hand dismissively and smiling at me. I must have been mistaken earlier when she had looked at me so angrily. She seemed like a sweet girl.

"Robin. I expect you to talk to your father and repair the situation. In the meantime, Rachael, would you like me to show you around the Valley?" I offered, "I'm sure it must have changed a lot since you were last here."

"Why, that would be lovely." Rachael said, grabbing my arm and looping it through hers. We walked out of the Great Hall together, and before the doors swung shut, I could hear Robin arguing with his father. I showed Rachael the forest, before taking her to Moonacre Manor.

"I know that when you were young, you probably weren't allowed on these grounds, but the old feud is over. You are welcome to come over any time you like, I know how lonely it can get in a castle when you're the only one your age." I said to her, pausing at the door to the Manor.

"Thank you, Maria. I just know that we shall become great friends" Rachael said. We walked into the manor. My Uncle Benjamin met us in the entrance hall.

"Maria! I thought that you were still at the Du Noir castle." He said in surprise. "If I had known you would be bringing guests over I would have had Marmaduke Scarlet whip us something. And who is this charming young lady?" Uncle Benjamin asked, looking at Rachael, who instantly sunk into a curtsey. "Oh don't bother curtsying¸ please. I'm not much for formality" Rachael's mouth opened in shock, and straightened.

"This is Rachael, she just returned to the Valley. We have been awaiting her arrival for weeks." I said to my uncle.

"Ah, yes. Loveday did tell me about that." Uncle Benjamin said. "Welcome back to the Valley Rachael."

"Thank you sir." Rachael said.

"I was just showing Rachael around." I explained to Uncle Benjamin. "I'm just going to show her the manor, if that's alright.

"By all means!" Uncle Benjamin said. "Just be sure to stop by the kitchens - Marmaduke Scarlet would never forgive you if you didn't." With that he wandered off into the library.

"The kitchens?" Rachael asked in shock, turning to me.

"Yes, of course. Marmaduke Scarlet is our cook, and a dear friend."

"You are friends with your cook?" Rachael repeated."That is not proper at all, Maria. At the Mayfair Academy that I attended for the past years, we learned never to associate with those of lower class than you. Especially not your servants." Rachael tilted her nose in the air and sniffed.

"Well, here at Moonacre, we do things a bit differently than in London. You will eventually become used to it." I said, a bit sharply. I didn't like people insulting my friends. "Now come on. I'll show you my room." I said, forgiving her instantly. In London, things were different, but I was sure Rachael would settle back into Valley life soon. I reached for her hand and pulled her up the stairs.

On the landing, we ran into Wrolf, our pet black lion. Now, ever since I came to Moonacre, I don't think I have ever heard Wrolf growl or roar at someone, but he did now. He was staring at Rachael and growling, and I could have sworn he was glaring at her. Rachael screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Wrolf!" I shouted. "This is Rachael, and she's my friend. Now be polite." He stopped roaring, but he was still growling at her.

"Maria." Rachael asked shakily. "What is that?"

"This is Wrolf. He's out pet lion." I responded. "I'm sorry about the growling, he's usually friendly."

"Usually friendly?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes." I said.

"He's a monster!" she shrieked. "It's horrible. Get it away from me!!" Wrolf gave a roar, and this time I didn't reproach him.

"He's not a monster, he's my pet!"

"I don't care. Get rid of it!!" she cried out. Wrolf gave one last growl and stalked off down the stairs.

"There, he's gone now. Let's go." I said stiffly. We continued up the stairs into the tower. When we reached my door, I stopped and pointed to the portrait of the first Moon Princess. "That's the first Moon Princess. Her painting appears every time a new Moon Princess arrived in the Valley. It arrived the same day I did. It's a very special painting. She sometimes shows me things about the future."

"Maria, please." Rachael said patronisingly (she seemed to do that a lot). "Paintings don't move, let alone show you the future. Be serious."

"I am being serious." I protested. "It showed me where the Moon Pearls were hidden."

"I don't believe you. If you found the pearls, then where are they?" She asked

"I threw them back into the sea to save the Valley from the curse."

"Sure you did, Maria."

"I did." I said indignantly.

"Maria, I don't see how we can become friends if you are going to continue to lie to me." Rachael sighed.

"I am not lying." I stated firmly. "If you cannot, or will not, believe me then we have nothing more to say to each other."

"Maria, don't be that way!"

"What way? You come here, kiss my boyfriend, claim to be his fiancée, insult our traditions and behaviour, and question my morals. I think it is high time you left, Rachael." I said, staring at her coldly.

"Why – I have never been so insulted in my life. Monsieur De Noir will be hearing about this, I can promise you that." With those final parting words, she stormed down the stairs. I could hear her slamming the door on the way out.

"Good riddance to bad rubbish." I thought to myself, entering my room and lying down on my bed. But there was still something bothering me. What if Robin wanted to marry Rachael?