Chapter Two

After entering the Imperial Palace, Ashelynn and the Marquis were shown to their guest quarters. Ashelynn was relieved that her father's rooms were right across the hall from hers as she was still very nervous and feeling a little overwhelmed with all that was going on. As she entered her room she looked around. The first room she walked into was a small sitting room. There was a small round table in the corner and a plush chair next to it. On the opposite wall was a full length mirror and beside that a small vanity table. After the door closed behind her, she walked through the doorway into the bedroom and gasped. The room was beautiful. Across from where she stood long lace curtains were pulled to the side of two full paned glass doors that led out onto a small balcony. In the corner of the room sat a large canopy bed covered with the same white lace curtains that covered the two doors. The bed itself was covered with a white quilt with a blue flower design. The same type of design was painted along the walls by the ceiling. There was a full vanity opposite the bed, and a large closet that was open. She saw her luggage sitting next to it.

Just then a maid walked into the room from the other doorway in there that Ashelynn assumed led to the bathroom. They looked at each other. She looked to be about Ashelynn's age with light brown hair and big brown eyes. The maid realized she had been staring and blushed.

"Pardon me, My Lady. My name is Dorthe and I will be here to assist you during your stay. Is everything to your liking?" She asked nervously. Ashelynn smiled at her and nodded. Dorthe felt very nervous and shy around this beautiful lady who was going to be Lord Vayne's wife. Ashelynn walked past her and stepped into the bathroom and froze again looking around in awe. The bathroom alone was as big as her bedroom at home. Straight in front of her was a double sink with a long counter. Above that a mirror stretched the length of the counter. On one side was the toilet and on the other side was a full length tub. A couple of shelves lined the walls by the doors and held towels and toiletry items. The floor space in the middle was large enough to fit a full size bed.

Ashelynn turned around and looked at Dorthe who had busied herself unpacking Ashelynn's clothes and hanging them up in the closet. "Are all the bathrooms that big?" She asked incredulously.

"The ones in the guest rooms are and also the ones for the Emperor and his family."

"You could practically put another bedroom in there!" Ashelynn said, laughing. Dorthe smiled.

"What would you like me to get out for you to wear this evening, My Lady?" Dorthe asked. Ashelynn looked at her.

"Please call me Ashelynn."

"I couldn't do that, My Lady. It wouldn't be proper."

"Then how about a compromise? When we are alone you call me Ashelynn and when there are others around you can call me My Lady." Dorthe smiled at her shyly.

"I would like that, My... I mean Ashelynn."

"Good then it's settled. You and I will be great friends." Dorthe smiled now, her nervousness and shyness gone. She definitely liked Ashelynn and was glad she was marrying Lord Vayne. "Oh right, what to wear? . . . Why don't you pick something out that you think Lord Vayne will like." Ashelynn said and Dorthe immediately turned around and grabbed an outfit from the closet.

"I really like this one and I'm sure Lord Vayne will too. Though he would probably like you in anything because all your clothes are so beautiful just like you." Dorthe said. Ashelynn blushed.

"Thank you. I will wear that then." Dorthe helped Ashelynn get dressed then as Ashelynn sat at the vanity Dorthe brushed her hair. "What is Lord Vayne like?" Ashelynn asked.

"I don't really know. I'm not around him much. But the other girls think he is very attractive and they say he is very caring . . ." Dorthe stopped abruptly.

"A very caring what?"

"A very caring . . . person." Ashelynn just looked at her. "What jewelry would you like to wear?" Dorthe asked trying to change the subject.

"You picked out my outfit, why don't you pick out the jewelry?" Ashelynn decided not to press the subject further. Dorthe had probably divulged too much and Ashelynn could guess what she had really been about to say. "I am so nervous about meeting him. My stomach is in knots."

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