A fair hand trembled slightly as it raised a cup of tea to pale lips. The lonely sound of the crackling fire burning in the fire place soon rejoiced to company of clicking sounds of a woman's heel on marble floors approaching from afar, as it's light cast a warm glow on the girl drinking tea in the dark. Her stiff presence turned even stiffer as she heard the clicking near. The door burst open as she was putting down her tea, that almost spilled at the shout of the familiar voice.
"Amie Miles Krain!" Mrs. Krain bellowed.
"The night has aged, mother." Amie answered.
"So, you do think I am your mother. I thought you were such great being that descended down to the world from the three god's palms."
"It is so late for you to be speaking in riddles. You of all people abusing the night with your voice in such a manner, I'd assume you are peeved at me. But why?" Amie asked.
"What in the gods name are you doing, Elaine? Do yer know what time this is?" Mr. Krain barged into the room.
"You claim not to know why? The entire kingdom knows why. Why would they care what abuse I lash unto the night when they are too busy laughing in my expense." Mrs. Krain couldn't care less about his worries.
"Mind reading is a lost mythical art, mother." Amie said.
"You are betrothed to the king and you did not think this is information your mother should know? Do you know how odd it was to hear such congratulations about something I had no idea about?" Mrs Krain asked.
"Is this true, Amie?" Mr Krain asked.
"It seems so." Amie answered. To this, Mr Krain only turned and walked away.
"No wonder. No wonder that sister of mine sent a letter to meet. She must be planning something." Mrs Krain said and Amie frowned.
"You had best handle this well, mother. You should not have allowed that dreadful family an opportunity to meet you. I have no time to deal with such people." Amie got up with a headache.
"Mind your tone, young lady. When you had not thought it wise to share such an information with me, how was I to know that I should keep them away?"
"Mother, your sister always looked down on us. She never helped us during those hard days and even when you went to see her, she refused to let you into her home. No one needs to tell you that you should ignore such people." Amie said and turned away.
"They did not come when there was news of Walter becoming a duke, why would they come now? I wanted to hear them out. I did not think that the entire world knew you were marrying the king," Mrs. Krain accused in anger, but Amie left without looking back. She arrived in her room and shut the door tight. She was about to heave a sigh when she saw her maid standing in the corner. She immediately knew she had heard her mother's words. The entire house was built in such a way, that it echoed at night. She started to wonder if her mother did it on purpose, as she was now sure that the entire household now knew of her betrothal. Those that did not hear will be told by others.
"Return. I do not need you tonight." Amie said.
"But Miss, your dress," she said and Amie looked down at herself. Only now did she discover she was still in her day dress. She looked back at the girl at least four years her senior and sighed. Her mother had paid a lot of money to find a well-spoken girl to be her maid, as she insisted that the kind of maid one had reflected a person's status. Even though she did not understand her mother's state of mind, she still enjoyed having someone help her out, especially times like now when she needed her complicated dresses taken off.
"Help me." she said.