The Forgotten Princess Rose-Chapter 274

"It’s a beautiful day. Zayne should be able to see clearly on his way out. Tell me, what was it like to travel on that ship? I have not been on one as it travelled the sea. I only stood on one when we first got the big one," said Catherine.

"It is fun but there are many times when you feel sick because of how the ships sways. You only see water no matter which way you look but what matters is the view at night. The night sky is beautiful with all the stars. I enjoyed sitting outside at night to have dinner," Rose said, missing those days.

"It sounds like fun indeed. I envy that you have travelled across the sea. Do you think we would be successful if we were to take one of those little row boats out for a ride? There is a little place nearby where many couples go rowing. I have thought of doing it but I would be the only one without a partner," Catherine said, regretting she had not done it with her husband when he was present.

"I will join you," Rose offered. "I am without a partner right now so we can go together but I have never sat on one of those boats. I’m afraid we might get stuck in the water."

"Oh," Catherine brushed it off. "I’m sure we can learn in the moment or have someone do the rowing for us."

"I have noticed how eager you are to do many things. I have not been around many former queens but you are the opposite of what I thought Zayne’s mother would be like."

Catherine knew before Rose said it that she wasn’t as many imagined her. "Did you think I would be cruel to you or against having any fun? I know what it is like to be your age and to be married into a family with high status. I could have been cruel if I wanted but I have spent many years being cruel to outsiders. I want to relax and enjoy life as much as I can."

While Catherine wanted Zayne to go back to his true home which was the palace she later had to realise that his decision to keep Rose out of the palace was smart. You were always expected to act a certain way in the palace and royals didn’t have time to ride around as they did now.

"I loved my late husband but we didn’t get to fully enjoy our marriage so I like to think that any normal thing I do now, I am doing it on behalf of the two of us. So please, any fun thing you want to do please count me in and don’t worry about me being hard on you," Catherine assured Rose.

"I don’t know what is fun to do here so I will be counting on you to show me. So far we have going on a rowboat and seeing flowers. Oh, one day you will travel with me to meet my family. You will love my mother," Rose said as Catherine oftentimes reminded her of Madeline.

"I look forward to meeting her. I can tell her that her daughter is in good hands. Oh look," Catherine said, distracted by something outside. "It is a little market with pastries. Are you hungry?"

"I am," Rose said, hungry just from the smell creeping into the carriage. "We should stop here to eat."

Rose didn’t regret leaving now that she got a good look at the small market.

"This is a small area where you will find many fruits, vegetables and meat so a lot of food will be sold. A few people will come here to sell dresses or little things like books but the big shops are a little ride away from here. You might not be ready for how many are at the big shops," Catherine said, thinking of what Zayne would want.

"I wish we could get out," Rose said as where she sat didn’t allow her to properly see what was being sold.

Not many people would know her face but they would certainly know Catherine’s. Rose couldn’t leave Catherine in the carriage so she had to send out Krystle.

"Can you get a few pastries for us, Krystle? Whatever smells or looks like I would enjoy it," said Rose.

Catherine handed Krystle the money needed to get what Rose wanted. Another day Catherine would like the chance to walk around outside with Rose like how other mothers did with their son’s wife.

Krystle opened the carriage door and because of where Catherine sat, her face was shown to someone outside.

"Oh, Lucy. I haven’t seen you in a while," Catherine greeted the young woman.

Lucy curtsied as she greeted Catherine. She knew the carriage looked familiar and followed it as she had once seen it at Zayne’s estate. It seemed to be her one chance to speak to Zayne again since she had not seen him upon his return and now he was leaving again without her.

Despite the mistakes she made getting involved in his personal life, Lucy still thought she was important to be among his soldiers. If the queen could help her then she would plead.

"Don’t curtsy and come in quickly. I don’t want anyone else to realise that I am here. She’s a guest," Catherine informed the reluctant guard who had been sitting quietly in the carriage.

Rose wondered if this was the same Lucy she was thinking of. She couldn’t see from where she sat because the person did not stand directly by the door. She was curious about what happened to Lucy since she was never at Zayne’s side again.

"Lady Hamilton," Lucy properly greeted Catherine as she stepped forward. Now that she was by the door, Lucy froze when she noticed Rose was seated in the carriage.

Catherine noticed Lucy’s surprise. "Many have been waiting to get a glimpse of Rose. You two have seen each other at least once right? You did report to the king about Zayne."

"I have met Lucy," said Rose. She couldn’t forget the woman who wanted her to leave Zayne’s camp right away.

Lucy was reluctant to get inside the carriage. It had surprised her to hear that Zayne had gotten married to Rose of all people when he knew her past. She was right in the past that Zayne felt something for Rose but he denied it and ended up sending her home.

Lucy had never felt so ashamed as she did when she returned home early before their duties were over. She wouldn’t be rewarded as her peers were which upset her father.

"You may get in," Rose said, knowing Lucy must think she wanted her gone. Rose didn’t feel anything toward Lucy. It was all in the past and Lucy hadn’t done anything to her other than try to insult her.

Catherine again noticed there was something between the two women. She knew that Lucy went to inform Gage about what Zayne had been doing during his time away so it was likely that Lucy might be the person who told Gage about the brothel and then Gage told Paige.

Catherine didn’t want to accuse Lucy yet since it could have been anyone and she was fond of Lucy. There was a slim chance that Lucy could have been the one to marry Zayne since she was always at his side. It just made sense that a fellow soldier would marry Zayne but Zayne surprised them all.

Lucy got into the carriage. The former queen might help get her spot back.

Catherine turned to the guard. "Please step out and keep an eye on the lady’s maid. We want to speak in private."

Catherine waited for the guard to get out of the carriage and then faced Lucy again. "How are you doing? I heard there was some conflict with your father because you came home earlier than the others. I wasn’t told why you returned. Were you ill or injured?"

"No. The general and I were not getting along so he sent me home," Lucy revealed.

"That is all? That isn’t like Zayne," Catherine said, finding it to be odd. "You are always at Zayne’s side. I’m sure it won’t be long before you are there again. You know how he is. He gets angry but he is quite forgiving. Rose, was Lucy one of the friends you said you made in Zayne’s army?"

"No, she wasn’t," Rose answered. "It is Mary."

"If I may speak freely," Lucy requested, wanting to tell the truth.

Catherine glanced at Rose. Something was brewing which led her to think there was something between the two young women. Zayne wouldn’t go so far as to send Lucy home over nothing. If Lucy troubled Rose then Catherine couldn’t ignore it.

"The reason the prince sent me home involved his now wife. I wanted him to send her away because of what I knew about her past-"

"You disliked me the moment I stumbled upon that camp after spending the night on the mountain and you didn’t know of my past then. I do not hate you. You have done nothing for me to think of hating you. The reason you were sent home only involves you and Zayne," Rose corrected Lucy.