Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Abena, you are to go where I tell you and I tell you to be here,” Mother stated, and Abena sighed dramatically.
“Shall we wager how long it will take for Hathor to lose her composure and faint, as the latter has become her signature in society?” Damon asked her, making Silva giggle.
Abena nodded eagerly. Before she spoke I clasped my hand over her mouth. “Young ladies ought not wager anything. And old men…big brother, should not teach children such things.”
“Father, if I am old, what are you?” Damon questioned and my mouth dropped open.
“Something older than old is called ancient,” Hector answered him.
“You turncoat! I thought you were on my side!” I called out to my younger brother as he, as well as the rest of my family, laughed at me. “Mama, do you not hear how they all mistreat me?”
“No, my dear, for at some point, you all start to sound like squabbling chickens. What was said?”
My father chuckled the loudest and it was now Damon’s turn to pretend he did not hear. He took his wife’s hand and placed it on his arm. I watched as a smile spread on her lips at us all. None of us could say anything more as we saw and heard the approaching carriages in the distance. It was as if they had all planned to arrive at once. The first group, of course, was my father’s friends Lord Hardinge, Lord Bolen, and Lord and Lady Fancot, along with their daughter, Lady Amity. Mother was expecting Lord Fancot and all his family, as they were still quite set that I marry their son, Henry Parwens, but they did not know he had confessed to me that he was in love with another. So I knew he would not be in attendance.
“Charles!” Lord Hardinge rushed up to us, quite excited for a man who had come on such a long journey.
“Benjamin, what is the haste? I promise not a soul has touched any of the cranberry pies yet.” My father chuckled as he greeted him.
“While I do always look forward to your kitchen’s pies, Charles, I must speak of something much more important. I have news of the war that arrived to me just yesterday, great battles taking place, they say at this very moment, Nap—”
“Benjamin, we shall speak more inside,” my father cut in, and it was only then that Lord Hardinge paused to see the rest of us looking at him with rising concern, especially my mother.
“Yes, of course.” He nodded to Father and looked at my mother, offering her a polite smile. However, the mood had soured greatly. It was not just him, but every man who arrived seemed to have news about the war, and so instead of going for refreshments in the great hall, they all moved to my father’s study to speak freely amongst male company.
“You should go see to them now.” My mother frowned and looked at my father. “Have your conversations but do try to coax them from the library into the hall before the queen arrives or it shall be chaos.”
“I shall do my best, my love, but there is nothing men enjoy more than to become generals of wars they are not fighting in.” My father sighed as he turned back to the castle. He only paused when we heard another carriage approaching. I smiled as I recognized it.
The moment it pulled to a stop, I stepped forward to see His Grace the Duke of Imbert along with his wife and, of course, Lady Clementina Rowley. She exited last, dressed in a soft bluish lavender, with all of her very long dark hair pulled back high. She stood as tall as ever and had a bright smile on her face.
I curtsied as my parents greeted them. Clementina immediately came to me and took my arm.
“How many gentlemen have arrived thus far?” she whispered. And this was one of the reasons I liked her. We shared a clear purpose and goal—to be wed before the year end.
“Nine. However, we are expecting eight more for certain,” I whispered back as I led her toward the door.
“Oh, good. I was right to wear this dress for my arrival then. You know periwinkle is my finest color,” she replied.
“Let us pray they notice us today, though I doubt it on account of the news.”
“What news?”
“You have not heard? Well, we have only just gotten word as well. Apparently, a great many battles have been fought against Napoleon recently.”
“Have we lost?”
“We better not have, especially this week of all weeks.” I frowned as we entered, only to watch as my brother and Lord Covington, one of his old friends, headed toward the library. “It shall kill the spirits of everyone here, and who can find a husband under such circumstances?”