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)
“I never did until you, and to be honest, I am still rather fearful.”
“Fearful?”
“I know not the first thing about being a husband.” He shifted so we were looking at each other. “You take my hand, and you’ve clearly seen all the worst parts of me, all my flaws, but nevertheless, I must still say plainly that I am not a fairy tale, Hathor. I am just a man with a high title, but zero future prospects. I have no land here, and where I do have land, I cannot return. My family is an utter disaster, and because of that, I’ve always acted immaturely, even when I mean well.”
I smirked, lifting the flower to my nose to smell. “Are you seeking to scare me off?”
“No, I merely wish to be honest.”
“Then I shall be honest in return.” I inhaled deeply before letting the words out. “I am…perfect.”
He stared at me for a moment before breaking out laughing, and so did I.
“Your parents were entirely correct in naming you after a goddess, for you think so highly of yourself, and have no compassion for men.”
“I am only joking!”
“Are you? It felt rather sincere.”
“I do that sometimes—well, a lot of the time,” I replied, now actually honest. “When I am nervous or unsure of myself, I say and do whatever I can to display confidence. It normally serves to make everyone leave me alone, or to shift conversation.”
“And no one ever teases you?”
“They do but I merely double my efforts, and they quickly grow exhausted.” I giggled.
“I shall keep that in mind for the future,” he said, his hand on mine again. “I cannot promise to always make you happy, nor do I believe I will listen to you as well as your papa does your mama. I think we shall fight a great deal, in fact.”
“But?” I waited, squeezing his hand back.
“But, I swear, there will be no person of greater importance, no person I will ever live for or give myself to other than you, Hathor. I swear to devote myself to giving as much as I humanly can to you, for as long as I may live. I will love you unendingly. Will you marry me?”
I nodded first, before finding my voice to speak. “Yes. I will marry you, Prince Wilhelm.”
There were no more words in my mind, but sensations of joy.
After all the years of searching, crying, waiting, dreaming—the man who would be my husband was finally here.
Finally.
19
Hathor
We spent most of the morning talking about ourselves…it was the only thing we could do under the eyes of so many servants. Which I was sure was the only way my parents allowed for us to be away from the castle so long. I also noticed how his fingers twitched closer to mine throughout the conversation, though never touching me.
I tried to focus on his words; the things he liked. This included art, of course; we’d clearly established that. Riding and fishing, natural for a man, were not so unexpected as his love of books and plays. He said he much preferred to read while in a hot bath in the evening, which he tried to have once a night. However, the thing that took me most by surprise was that he apparently loved to sing. Never had he mentioned or showcased such an ability, and he refused to allow me to hear. The more I pressed, the more sheepishly he shook his head. He looked dashing when he did, very young and innocent.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked as we walked closer to the castle, leading our horses. We chose to walk because riding would return us far too quickly.
“You, singing.”
He let out a sigh, again shy. “I should not have told you.”
“You very well should have, and I demand to hear your voice one day. It does not have to be today. I shall wear you down eventually.” I shrugged, petting Sofonisba’s neck.
“How do I always end up giving you my weaknesses without getting yours? First my drawings, and now my voice. What great spell are you casting on me, Lady Hathor?” he asked, bumping his shoulder into mine.
I tried to shove back but he was so much…sturdier. “I cast no spells. You are merely weak against my great beauty.”
“Is this your nerve speaking again, to bolster yourself?” His eyebrow rose as he peered over me.
“What a horrid reply. You are supposed to say yes, I am a great beauty, and it affects you most acutely.”
He snickered, still watching me but not saying the words. Huffing, I tried to walk faster and away from him, but those long arms of his caught my hand and pulled me back to him with so much force that I let go of Sofonisba, landing against his chest.
“Wilhelm—”
“Complimenting your beauty with only the word great is far too modest, and comparing you to a goddess seems disingenuous, considering your name. No, your face is like a star plucked from the heavens,” he whispered down to me, and again, I could not help but grin. Heat was rising to my face and ears.