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)
“Of course I don’t; to keep silent would be to allow them to continue.”
“It is that attitude that requires your husband to be just as forceful, or else you would all but eat him alive with your words,” she mused. “And you’d be very bored. Though, I am biased; I must say, I believe the other type of couples have much more fun than us.”
“Us? I rarely see you argue, with my brother or anyone.”
“Well, I cannot be constantly arguing with him before your mother and father. Besides, we agreed that all of our arguments would be saved for our bedroom. It’s much more convenient.” She muttered that last part under her breath, but before I could ask her why, she placed her hand on mine. “Do not dwell too much on the timing and enjoy it. This is what you always wanted, is it not? You are to be a princess, a wife, someone’s beloved.”
I pinched my hand to remind myself to stay calm and not let those words sink in too deep. “He has not really expressed his feelings for me—”
“He broke a man’s nose over you; I assume his feelings are quite deep.”
“Lord Covington’s nose is broken?” I gasped in shock. I had not even thought to ask about his condition. Neither he nor his sisters and mother had come down for the evening. I presumed it was to avoid the queen and Wilhelm, both of whom were also absent. “I cannot believe this truly happened.”
“Well, you must believe it, as well as prepare yourself for what happens next.”
My gazed whipped to hers. “What happens next?”
“You choose a husband.”
“Right.” My mouth was agape.
“Luckily, I doubt either of them will show their faces tonight, so you may think on it for a while yet,” she said, taking my arm again. “Come. Let us return inside, before they begin to gossip about you. Please, do your best not to give in to confrontation.”
I allowed her to take me back into the hall. As if timed by God exactly, the doors at the front of the hall opened, and there entered the queen—beside her, Wilhelm. Just like that, there was not a whisper, not even a breath. Even the music stopped as everyone curtsied to them. I kept my head down. Because for some strange reason, my heart was beating far too fast, my hands felt shaky, and for the first time ever, I wished to run away.
What was wrong with me?
“Lady Hathor?”
My head snapped up, and there was my answer. He was what was wrong with me. That smooth, smug face and those blue eyes of his were unnerving.
“Prince Wilhelm,” I replied, seeking to calm myself down.
He leaned forward, making my eyes widen, as I was sure everyone was watching. Nevertheless, his face was far too close to my own. And he had the audacity to smile at me, as if he did not know or care how this looked.
“I seem to have given a rather poor impression of myself today, so if I may, could I inconvenience you by asking you to be my partner for the evening? Or maybe the rest of my life?”
I heard the girls to my left and right gasp.
My eyes became even wider.
“Are you mad?” I spat out without thinking, which only caused more gasping. “I mean— Are you proposing to me here? Right now? Like this?”
He bit back a laugh. “I am asking, first, for a dance. To propose, I must first speak to your father, but I fear he might not look fondly on the prospect right now. I mean to convince him otherwise by showcasing how happy we are dancing.”
He lifted his hand to me. I noticed it was his left, as his right was bandaged. I had so many things I wanted to ask him, but now was not the time. Everyone was waiting to see my choice. I had already made my mind up throughout the day, and with each passing second it was more and more obvious.
Reaching up, I placed my hand on top of his, and he kissed the back of it.
I think my heart nearly exploded.
18
Wilhelm
It was well past midnight—nearly one in the morning, in fact—when I entered the library. To say I was anxious would be an understatement. I think this was far worse than that. I felt a raw fear that I had not felt since leaving my home, years ago. However, I did my best not to let it show as I now stood before him: Hathor’s father. He’d kept his distance from me throughout the week. I had barely spoken to him, but I knew for sure that despite his calm and bookish demeanor, he was not one to be trifled with. I did not think any man who’d raised such a family had done so by accident, or with simple luck.