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)
My shoulders dropped. Suddenly, my anger toward him morphed into deep sorrow. How could family, a father, be so horrid to his own son? I did not understand it.
“Lady Hathor, I do not divulge this information lightly or without thought. I have not even told my own mother and sisters. I speak to you only out of concern, since I see that you and August share…conversation, quite a bit. The man you associate yourself with should be filled with joy and laughter, not sorrow and suffering.” I thought he’d only picked up a rock when he bent down. I had not noticed the yellow wildflower in his hand, which he now outstretched to me. He smiled gently and said, “You are deserving of only the happiest of happily ever afters.”
I smirked, taking the flower from him and lifting it to my nose. “Thank you, Lord Covington, for being so candid with me. I truly appreciate it.”
“Anything for you.”
I smiled. Maybe I should have been focusing my interest on him. “Enough of everyone else, Lord Covington. Tell me of yourself.”
“What would you like to know?”
“Surprise me.”
“I enjoy gardening.”
“Truly?” I grinned. Yes, Lord Covington was a better match for me.
Wilhelm
Damn Lukas to hell! How could he be so shameless and sly? I was the one who’d shown him the rock and flower maneuver. In fact, I was the one who’d taught him how to talk to women in the first place. When I’d first met him, he was shy, awkward, and only knew how to get a woman by throwing coin onto the table like a damn pirate.
“Hathor very well may become your sister,” Lady Amity giggled to Lady Mary, as they gazed over at her and Lukas.
“Not again…I thought he was rightly over her,” Mary muttered back.
What? “Over her?” I said, looking between them. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, nothing, Your Highness!” She quickly clamped her lips shut. Clearly, it was not at all nothing, and I could not help but wonder if I had been had. Had Lukas, all this time, had feelings for Hathor? Was that why he’d spoken so poorly of her to me? So I would not have any interest? I felt my jaw tighten, then my fist, as I watched her laugh while she spoke with him. Apparently, she was easily amused by any gentleman who gave her attention.
“Your Highness, it is your turn,” Lady Mary said to me.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you could join us inside for a small production before dinner,” the marchioness called to the guests, as the footmen moved to relay the information to the rest of the party in the garden. I watched as Lady Hathor and Lukas began to return. Once more, he met my gaze and then quickly looked away. He was no longer hiding his interest in her at all, it seemed.
“Are you coming, Your Highness?” Lady Mary asked.
Nodding, I followed the rest of them inside. At the doors were footmen, handing each guest a drink and light snack. I had been told that the Du Bell family was one of the wealthiest in England, and each day the marchioness seemed dedicated to reminding us. Every day so far, the décor and splendor of their castle had been transformed in a new theme or array of flowers, with the most luscious of food spreads. Today seemed to be the grandest so far: They had arranged for a theater troupe to be our entertainment in their ballroom. A large stage had been constructed right under our noses, and actors were performing every manner of tricks and comedy, surrounded by a sea of red roses. This sort of thing was meant to be the grand finale to a week’s visit.
“Hathor!”
Hearing her name, I turned to see her moving toward her tall friend, grinning with excitement for the spectacle of the day. Her eyes were like amber, and her brown skin shimmered under the light of the fire. Lukas was called by his mother, and I took the chance to follow Hathor as she made her way to the seats. After several hellos and other men asking for dances, which would come later in the evening apparently, Lady Hathor finally reached a seat in the front row. I noticed Lukas moving to sit with her. Sadly for him, I had longer legs.
“Is this seat taken?” I asked, causing her to turn and look up at me. Her brow furrowed, confused as to why I was here, but before she could reply, I sat down.
“What are you doing? You cannot sit there,” she whispered to me.
“Why? Is that not the purpose of chairs?”
“Yes, and whom one sits next to is very critical. The person who sits here should be a gentleman who is interested—”
“Shh…it is beginning,” I whispered to her, as actors, mostly women—that was strange—began to appear onstage. I was not familiar with their attire.