Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-two
JASMINE'S POV

Damien missed dinner last night. Liam snickered a bit , when I brought it up, but played it off when I sounded worried. So I had to wonder, was a pulling  a me on me?

I would have to ask him. Not at breakfast though. Assuming he showed up for breakfast.

And lo, and behold, I had breakfast alone.

"Damien and Liam?" I asked the maid , who served me. She smiled and shook her head.

"they had to leave extra early . Trouble at the mines. Damien, I mean the Alpha asked me to give you this." she brought out a folded piece of paper form within her apron and gave it to me.

"I see. Thank you." I said, and took the paper.

I waited till the maid had gone before I opened up the paper, and marveled at Damien's penmanship before I even considered his message.

"Liam and I have to run off to the mines. Brewing trouble. We'll talk more when I get back. Good morning." he signed the bottom of the later with only his name, "Damien."

"well, Good morning to you." I said, and held on to the letter. For some reason, the letter felt very dear to me. Perhaps it was because it came from Damien, and he didn't exactly strike me as the kind of guy who scribbled notes to explain his absence. But then again, he didn't scribble a not to anyone last night.

So yes, this particular not surprised  me. But it mattered.

"Ah, thank goodness, I've caught you." said a hysterical voice, and I looked up from my meal to see a woman with heavily lidded eyes, and big bosoms, hugging a couple of magazines to her chest.

"hello." I said gently. I supposed she was Diana, the chief of maids.

"Hello, I am Diana." she said in a brisque tone that spoke of efficiency, "The Alpha says to deliver these catalogs to you." she laid them on the chair beside me, and stood up straight.

"these catalogs are filled with every design you might wish to see to make the right choice for your wedding. Here's a pen." she brought out a pen from her apron and placed it on the catalogs, you may choose any one you'd like, and circle hem so that I can know them in your absence."

"that sounds fair. Thank you, Diana."

"ah, no need to thank me, ma'am. I'm only doing my job."

"well, you're very good at your job, that much I can see." the woman gushed, and it warmed my heart to see. We were all little girls in grown women bodies at the end of the day.

"Alright, Diana. I won't keep you. As soon as I am done looking through all these." I caught sight of the catalogs, and fought the urge to worry, " I'll send them to you so you can get started."

"I could also come check in on you , every few hours. Take the catalogs you've gone through, and begin with those ."

I thought about it for a moment, then slowly nodded."

"okay. Okay. Not a bad Idea. You also need to get things done , so yeah. That could work."

"alright then, ma'am. I'll leave you to finish off your breakfast."

"yes. Yes, thank you. See you soon."

I found myself feeling a bit excited. And the excitement  made me rush down what was left of my breakfast , and reach for the catalogs.

They were a bit heavy, but I could handle them. I was two catalog in , when Diana came to my room.

"I hope I've given you enough time to at least go through one."

I smiled up at her when she entered my room.

"yes, you did. I've gone over the flowers and the ribbons. I'm sure you can make it work. I've written some arrangements at the back of each catalog to offer some guidance on how I have things pictured in my head."

She took both catalogs I had finished with from my night stand  and ran through the one with flowers.

"peonies soothe you, ma'am."

"well, I sure hope so." I said happily.

"well, let me get started with these. You're on shoes."

"yeah. Personally I didn't see the need, until my maid told me about the shoe changing rites. Although, I don't think it'll be long till I'm done with this particular catalog."

Diana smiled, "well, you just take your time, and I'm hoping you enjoy the process."

"I'll certainly try to."

When she left, I found a golden shoe I liked, and settled on a another rose colored one. When a knock came, not long after Diana left, I thought it was Diana , who had come to pick up the shoe catalog.

"come on in." I said cheerfully, but the door opened up, and it was Liam, and he was covered in soot and worry.

"Liam?" I questioned, rising from my bed.

"Come now, Jasmine. It's Damien."