"No, she didn't!" The Second Queen exclaims. "She must really think highly of herself because the First Queen gave her some acknowledgment. Give a beggar the edge of a staff and they want to claim everything." She scoffs. "Did you find out which poor family she belongs to?"
Head bowed. "She has quite the bride price from what I have gathered, Your Majesty. They are from Mulrine City in Kewton Kingdom. Her mother is the current Count of Mulrine and sister of Lady Erskine. Her brother is no other than Lord Vanderburgh."
"Vanderburgh ?" The second Queen questions.
"Yes, Lord Vanderburgh, owner of Centico and the youngest and richest Lord in all of Vianto. He owns -"
"I know everything about Lord Vanderburgh." The second Queen cuts in. "I just had no idea he had a sister. So she is his sister."
"Only sister. And last night, Lady Erskine also announced that the Lord will be taking a bride this Season too."
"Hmmm. Now I feel I should have made Venetia come out this season too. Such a family and wealth would have done me some good. Perhaps ... Perhaps something can still be done. All I need do is have Venetia charm him and make him stay back until next season to get a bride." Smiling. "Perhaps it's time we put the Diamond to good use."
~
"So he met her." The first Queen says.
Nodding her head. "Yes, your Majesty. I heard they spoke in whispers for quite a while before her brother interrupted them."
Getting the towel from her maid, she raps her face herself. "So Lord Vanderburgh is her brother."
"Yes, your Majesty."
"And he is also taking a bride this Season?".The first queen questions.
"Yes your Majesty."
"Did anything else happen last night? Was the Duke there?"
"Some said he was present at the ball, but most say he wasn't as no one really saw him."
Nodding. "Have someone check what is happening at the Erskine estate. And tell the second Prince I want him to call on the Diamond this morning. Again, it isn't a request."
~
Harlane walks in and finds the Prince's bed empty. With a silent sigh, he went over to the one room he knew he would find him. Opening the door, there he sat with a brush in his hand, painting. Harlane walks over and daps off a paint stain that had splashed close to his nose. "Another one?" Harlane questions moving over to open the blinds.
Eyes still fixed on the painting he was working on, he nods in response.
"I thought it had stopped years ago."
"I thought it had too until a few days ago when it started again."
"The First Queen sent words," Harlane told him.
"What does she want this time?"
"She asked you to call on the Diamond this morning."
And for the first time, he paused with his painting and turns to look at his personal guard. "She asked what?"
"The Diamond of the season, she wants you to call on her."
"Why -"
"She said it is a command, and you should be sure to go with flowers too."
~
"You have invitations to tea, invitations to balls, and invitations to every event happening in Vianto." Lady Erskine says excitedly as they walk down the hallway.
"And Eddna? Joan?" Kidaya asks.
Smiling at Kidaya. "They all got one too and it is all thanks to you being The Diamond, Bloom."
"Oh Aunt Agnes, give Joan and Eddna some credit. They are both exceptionally beautiful and I am sure they would have gotten as many invitations with or without me being Diamond."
"Perhaps it is you who ought to give yourself more credit, Bloom. We have every bachelor in town in our drawing room and outside too, all waiting to see you and at least talk to you. Eddna and Joan would not have done that."
"But Aunt-"
"Come." Lady Erskine cuts in pulling her towards the closest window to them. She pulls aside the curtain and nudges Kidaya forward, closer to the window. "Look, Bloom." She says leaning her head on Kidaya's shoulder. "They are all gathered here because of you."
She was about to tell her Aunt that although she had accepted to come into society, that it didn't mean she was honestly searching for a husband. She was about to tell her just that when she saw a black carriage arrive. As soon as the carriage came to a stop, the footman rushed towards the door of the carriage and knelt on his knees and hands.
"Who is that?" Kidaya asks nodding at the carriage that just arrived.
Lady Erskine gasps. "My world! It can't be." She says her smile spreading all over her face.
"Who is it?" Kidaya asks more curious.
Still smiling at the carriage whose owner has not yet stepped down. "His Grace. The one-"
"Who was so rude to me last night at the ball." Kidaya cuts in. "The nerves to show up here after ... Then again, I should have suspected he'd be the only one to have a man kneel on both hands and knees before he can step out of his carriage." She sighs. "I've changed my mind, Aunt. I will not be seeing any of the gentlemen today." Kidaya says turning around and heading in the direction they had come from.
"Again!" Lady Erskine exclaims. "That again, today? Bloom, many will talk if we have to send all the gentlemen away today again without you seeing any of them. It might even affect your chance of getting a good match this season." She says hurrying after her.
"Nothing else would give me so much joy." She muttered inaudibly to herself as she walked away.
~
He was still inside his carriage, eyes closed when he began to hear voices. Finally, it seems the Diamond whoever it was, had decided to receive the gentlemen that had all come to call on her. How much fun she must be having to have them all wait outside until she was ready, and to think that he was here too.
The second Prince sighs, opening the door to his carriage to step out. He was about to make the first step down when Harlane stepped forward. The second Prince looks up at his Personal guard.
"It seems they will be no need for that, Your Grace."
The Prince raised an eyebrow in question.
"The Diamond will not be receiving any callers today too." Harlane told him. And behind him, the prince could see the many men that had come to Call on the Diamond leaving with disappointed looks on their faces.
"She must think really high of herself to do this." The Second Prince says relaxing back inside his carriage.
Smiling. "I hear she is quite the beauty. Must be her reasons."
"Head back for the Palace." The Prince says closing his door.