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)
She giggled. “You do not loathe your sister. You love her dearly; you just loathe being compared to her. I know this, as I also have a dearly beloved, perfect sister.”
“Yes, how is Domenica? Oh, forgive me, the Countess of Casterbridge? Living splendidly in Roseburg House I presume?”
She tensed, but smiled, gripping her glass tightly. But before she could speak another word, Lord Covington stepped up to us.
“Ladies, whyever are you both sitting? Do you not care for a game?”
“Forgive me, my lord, maybe another time. My mother seeks my attention,” Clementina said, quickly rising from her seat beside me. She looked to me, knowing all too well her mother did not need her. She gave me a slight wink before making her escape.
“Lady Hathor?”
I looked back at him. All my interest for him had faded; however I could not waste the opportunity.
“I care not for nine pins, sir. I merely thought to be a spectator.”
“May I spectate with you?” he asked, moving to sit, but I rose to my feet. For us to be sitting and conversing privately would be far too…intimate.
“I would much prefer a turn about the gardens. Would you care to join me?”
“Of course. After you.” He outstretched his hand for me to go first, and when I did, the very first person I noticed, scowling at me from a distance, was Prince Wilhelm. It was the first time he’d looked at me since this morning, and he did so as if I’d somehow insulted him. His lips were tight, his gaze sharp.
“I do not understand him in the least,” I muttered softly.
“Who?” Lord Covington asked, looking to where Prince Wilhelm was, but he’d turned back to the game before him. “Ah, I would not put much thought or effort into trying to understand royals, Lady Hathor.”
“You sound like my mama.”
“Does she wish for you to become a princess as well?”
“She has not said anything of the sort, but in all honesty, I gather she feels rather relieved I am not interested in that prospect.”
At least, not with him.
Lord Covington paused and looked at me with a smile. “Are you truly not?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I frowned, and then my shoulders slumped as I gathered the reason. “Let me guess. You believe me to be a title hunter as well?”
“No,” he said too quickly, stepping beside me, “I’m merely glad. Truthfully, I would hate to see a young lady such as yourself get hurt.”
“Hurt? How so?”
He frowned and glanced back over to Prince Wilhelm and his ever-growing crowd of admirers. “Let me just say that August is not the marrying type. I’ve tried saying so to Mother and my sisters, but they do not believe me. Mary thinks she shall be the special one to win his hand in marriage.”
“Yes, I know about his loathing of marriage very well,” I said, remembering his conversation in the park again.
“He told you?”
“No, I overheard…that and his true opinion of ladies.” Just thinking of it upset me all over again. “He’s very good at hiding his real nature. I do not blame Mary in the least, for how could she know his character?”
“I can only imagine what you heard, though it is well known that his unfortunate life has made him a bit insensitive.”
“Unfortunate? He’s a prince.”
“He’s not the heir,” he said with a frown. “I do not share this to gossip, but for you to understand why it is better that he abstains from marriage. His father, the king, is quite famous for his many mistresses, whom he flaunts openly; he is even more notorious for his vile temper. It is rumored he nearly beat a man blind once.”
“By God, truly?” I gasped in horror.
“Yes, they call him King of Fists. No one, not even his own family, is spared from his hands. As such, August’s mother spends half her days drunk on wine, weeping, desperately seeking to deter his wrath by any means necessary.”
“That is awful.”
“Yes, it is. August has not been home in over five years, and do you know why?”
“He wishes to escape his family.”
“He was all but banished.”
“What?” I had heard no mention of that.
“August apparently inherited his father’s propensity for conflict and tried to fight back.”
“Fight whom back? No, you could not possibly mean…”
“Yes…I do.” He chuckled. “He attacked the king.”
My mouth dropped open. “But…but that is treason.”
“And I’m sure if he were not the king’s son, he would have been tried for it and hung. Instead, he’s quietly banished, and makes it seem as though he is merely roaming freely throughout the world. The truth of the matter is: He is a prince without a kingdom, and no lady in his own country would marry such a man, considering his time with…unsavory women. Thus, our good and great queen is looking to have him settled here, among the nobility. August will at least receive his inheritance once married, banished or not, and will be able to start afresh. It is kind of her to apply her talents to his case, if not I’m sure no nobleman would wish to give over his daughter.”