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)
“Would you like company?” Silva questioned, ignoring him.
“I would not. In fact, I would prefer if everyone did not so closely watch over me. I am truly fine.” I was not, but I was not as greatly pitiful as they thought. “Enjoy your day.”
I quickly left them, and figured the only place I would be left undisturbed was the study. I made my way toward the painting I’d started last night, but I could tell it had been tampered with. I normally covered my work as it was in progress and pinned the cloth down, but the pins had not been replaced correctly.
I let out a deep sigh. It could have been any one of them; they were all so nosy. Lifting the sheet up, I stared into a canvas painted in one color: blue. There was nothing else. I did not know what else to do. I had painted the color of his eyes, and that was all I could manage. I sat before it and stared, hoping and seeking to think, but nothing came to mind.
I did not know how long I sat there. Eventually, there was a knock at the door.
“Enter?”
Bernice entered. “I was told to inform you that Lady Verity and Sir Darrington have arrived.”
I glanced to the window. Somehow, it had become dark already. Time was so odd in periods of melancholy; some days went by so slowly, and others, it was as if time sprinted forward.
“My lady?”
“I shall be down in a moment,” I said gently, as I knew I would need time to build up my energy or be subjected to their onslaught of worry as well.
When the door closed, I took a few deep breaths and patted my own cheeks to bring life back into them. I tried smiling over and over again, but it didn’t work. Repeatedly, my face fell.
“Come on, Hathor, come on. Gather yourself,” I whispered, squeezing my own hand. “There is nothing to worry about. He’s coming back. Everything will be well. I am sure of it. Have faith.”
Nodding once to myself, I covered the painting and then brushed my hair back with my hands. Adjusting the pearls around my neck and dusting off my dress, I walked out with my head lifted.
It took me a few moments before I reached the grand stairs, where I heard muttering.
“Verity, I hope you have come with a magnificent gift for me or I…” When I turned the corner to go down the main stairs, my voice simply ceased. I could not speak, because I was not sure I was truly awake. I had to have fallen asleep in the study some time ago, and now I was dreaming. For he could not be there.
Wilhelm could not possibly be at the bottom of the stairs, dressed as finely as any man could be, in an embroidered coat of green and gold with three stars upon his epaulets, his brown hair slightly shorter than I remembered but his blue eyes even more piercing. He was all I could see, and his gaze never left me.
It was not possible.
When he opened his mouth to speak, I lifted the skirt of my dress, turned around, and ran as fast as I could. I ran right back into the study, slamming the door shut behind me, eyes wide as I tried to breathe.
Maybe Damon was right.
Maybe I had gone mad.
Help! Someone please help! I am too young to be mad.
Wilhelm
Seeing her run from me left me sick. I feared this. Truly, it was my greatest apprehension as the weeks turned to months and still I could not go to her. I could not even write to her, and so I wondered often of her feelings toward me. Now I had my answer. Even if she did not hate me, she clearly did not wish to see me. But nevertheless, I had to see her. She was, after all, my wife. Without a second thought, I stepped forward, only for my path to be blocked by little Lady Abena, behind her Damon and Hector. I was sure once the rest of the house was informed I’d arrived, they would all appear as well.
“Why are you back again?” Abena snapped at me.
I reached out my hand to the side, my friend handing me the box of chocolates. Bending down, I offered them to her. “Before you give me a hard time, Lady Abena, remember how you lost the last time.”
Her eyes narrowed and so did mine.
“Du Bells don’t take bribes,” Hector stated, but his sister walked up to me and snatched the box. “Abena!”
“Everyone says it is a boy’s duty to carry the family name. I am a girl. So, I shall leave it to you all, good luck!” She quickly ran off her with her chocolates, and I tried not to laugh.