Passion and Love

Maria felt like she was on fire from the mixture of passion and embarrassment she felt, and quickly turned to go into her room in case Arthur decided to look back down the hallway at her.

What was it with these men leaving her breathless in the hallway?

She closed her door, locked it and groaned as she let her body slide down the door so that she could sit on the floor.

"Oh, dear," she heard a voice say, and she whipped her head up to find Alexandria sitting at the table with her hand over her heart.

'Shit,' Maria thought to herself because she forgot she had told the maid that she would see her after dinner.

"Are you alright, my Lady?" The woman questioned as she got up and approached the princess who sat on the floor, looking absolutely defeated.

"These men might be my undoing," Maria answered truthfully as she took the hand that Alexandria had extended towards her to help her stand up.

With that, the old woman chuckled and brought the princess towards her to wrap her in a hug.

She patted the back of her head and held her for a moment before she let her go and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Maria thought about it for a second before she exhaled and nodded her head.

The two women went to sit at the table, and the maid studied her face as the princess thought about how to put her feelings into words that made sense before she started, "I'm just so overwhelmed. Having the suitors here knowing I'll marry one of them is difficult enough, but having them affect my heart and body is something totally unexpected".

The maid's eyes widened hearing a confession that she had not been expecting, but she tried to not show the surprise she felt in her face.

Alexandria had never seen Maria flustered over a boy before in her whole life.

She placed her hand over the young girl's hand that was now resting on the table, and carefully asked, "Well, isn't that a good thing, my Lady?"

That was not the response Maria was anticipating, and she lifted her head in a quick, swooping motion to meet Alexandria's eyes.

"A good husband is supposed to make you feel things in your heart and body that no one else can make you feel," the maid continued, causing Maria to blush and look down.

"I just don't think I expected it to happen for me," Maria answered truthfully, feeling a little sorrowful with her confession.

"My dear, of course it would happen for you!" she exclaimed with a sympathetic laugh.

Maria thought about how carefree she felt with Henri, how comfortable she was with Julien, and how there was just something about that inexplicable pull towards Arthur that caused her to ask, "Is it possible to feel strong feelings for more than one of them?" Maria asked knowing full well that she already did.

The maid was quiet for a moment, still studying the girl's face, before she said, "I've only ever had the pleasure of loving one man in my life, but I know many people who have fallen in love over and over again with different people".

'Love?' thought Maria to herself, 'I think it's definitely too soon for that'. But the young princess was not so sure she could trust her mind anymore knowing what she was feeling now. "How did you know you were in love?" the princess finally asked out loud, beyond curious.

Alexandria smiled to herself as she looked down, and Maria could see the memories flooding back to her mind. "I wanted to be with him every second of every day. And when I was not with him, I only thought of him and how much I missed him. When we were together it felt like we were the only people in the world and he made me feel so alive," she emphasized the last word and took a moment before she continued, "I could completely be myself around him and he had a way of making me feel comfortable and nervous at the same time," she said with a giggle. "We had an understanding of each other and a passion that was unmatched," she sighed before she ended, "I miss him so much, even still".

Maria felt that tears had formed in her eyes upon hearing the longing in Alexandria's voice, and she squeezed the maid's hand before adding, "That sounds wonderful".

"It is my dear, and I know you'll find it with one of those lovely boys," she said with a reassuring smile. "Come now, let us get you ready for bed".

Alexandria got up and went to the dresser to grab Maria's nightgown, while Maria reached into her dress pocket to pull out the remaining invitations.

She put them on the table and gave them a solid tap with her index finger before she got up and went to change.

After she was comfortable in bed, she glanced over at her cherished maid who was now blowing out some candles, before she said, "Thank you for listening and reassuring me, Alex".

"My Lady, of course," she said as she walked over to the princess's bed and sat on the edge.

Alexandria leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before Maria added, "I wish I could have met your husband. He seems like he was wonderful".

The maid smiled as tears started to fill her eyes, "I wish that too, my child. He would have absolutely treasured you as I do".

Maria tried to fight back tears too, and she sat up and gave the maid a comforting hug before saying, "Goodnight".

"Goodnight, my Lady. Sleep well," she responded.

She got up and left the room, leaving Maria alone to deal with all of her thoughts about love.

Maria had a feeling that after this next week was over, she would never be the same.