Maria knew the concern in Abby’s voice was false. Anyone with a brain should have known that, given how they’d interacted from the moment she got there, and should have known that there was an ulterior motive. Simprina, as always, remained ever vigilant but even she wasn’t certain what to think of this new found “concern” dripping from the sister’s lips. Fighting hard to keep the face hidden of confusion and suspicion, Maria made her way to her room with her lady in waiting at her arm, helping her into bed and getting her sorted so that she could rest and relax.<br/><br/>“Will there be anything else you have need of, your highness?” the woman asked, but Maria shook her head. “I’ll be in your sitting room should you need any assistance.” And, with that, she hastened from the room and shut the other door leaving the princess to her thoughts.<br/><br/>The idea of a few days without the prince was a blessed one, though she didn’t see him much. Any time without him about the castle was as good a day as any. A few days without Brád, though, was a hard thought that she had to push off and tell herself that it wouldn’t be so bad. She had her journal tucked beneath her pillow and she had the memories of him in her mind to tide her over. With those sentiments in mind, she drifted off into a restful nap, dreamless; just what the doctor ordered.<br/><br/>…But, she wasn’t to be left alone for long. It felt like she’d barely closed her eyes when Simprina was at her bedside again, a hand gently rousing her from her sleep. “Princess, Her Majesty and Princess Abigail have come with tea and biscuits, as promised.” It couldn’t be helped, the look that crossed her features at the idea of conversing with Abby, but there was no way to avoid it. “I’ll get them settled in your sitting room, then, and come back for you to touch up your appearance.” With another curtsy, she was gone, leaving Maria to sit up, stretch and change her expression to one that was more acceptable, more proper, for such an audience.<br/><br/>It wasn’t the queen she had an issue with. The woman was a joy to speak to, kind, but her daughter was what Maria considered to be the devil incarnate, always operating with an ulterior motive that led to legs being spread and rumors spreading almost as fast. The harlot had something up her sleeve and she wasn’t so sure she wanted to find out what it was.<br/><br/>Up and out of bed, she gave herself a quick touch up, only to have Simprina do the same when she came in and then made her way into her sitting room. “Your Majesty,” Maria greeted the queen, dipping low into a curtsy. “Abigail,” came the next acknowledgement, though her curtsy and bowing of the head was far less (a fact she could get away with, given the disgrace-of-a-sister’s station). Sitting across from them on her couch, she smiled, hands folded in her lap. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”