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)
23
Hathor
“Lady Hathor—”
“I know, I know! I am late!” I said, rising from the vanity and rushing toward the door, where Ingrid awaited me, surely to tell me Wilhelm was here. “I cannot believe I overslept!”
“It is only natural, my lady. You have been working so hard,” Bernice replied as she followed me out of the room with my hat in her hands. I paused, looking at her.
“Why does it sound like sarcasm when you say it like that?”
“It is not. Truly, my lady, it cannot be easy going to and fro every day with the queen. Everyone is speaking of her lessons with you,” she replied, placing my hat on my hair. “They say she is quite strict.”
“I do not think her that much stricter than Mama; in fact, she is rather amusing,” I said, allowing her to fix the pin that held the hat to my curls. “During the last few days I’ve realized that once you get over her being queen, her company is rather normal.”
“Normal? Or, maybe, you are becoming more royal.” She smiled at me.
“That is a proper compliment.” I giggled, rushing down the stairs to meet Wilhelm before he and Abena got into another row. She now saw him as her greatest nemesis and Wilhelm seemed to enjoy sparring with her. He said she made him feel as though he had a little sister—like he had a real sibling, for the first time.
“I am so happy to see you, my dear,” said my mama to the people entering the doorway.
“Who is here?” I looked at Bernice, knowing Mama would not be saying that to Wilhelm.
“I was trying to tell you; Lady Verity and her husband, Sir Darrington, are here, my lady,” Ingrid said from the top of the stairs.
“Yes, Hathor, we are here. Have you missed me?” Verity stepped forward, dressed in purple, her hair much longer than I remembered, and smiled as bright as the day she was wed. “It is hard to determine, since you have not written me a single letter or told me you were engaged! And to a prince, no less!”
“Hello, Verity, how are you? I am engaged to a prince,” I said with a grin, causing her to roll her eyes as she walked up to me and gave me a tight hug.
“You really are the most frustrating of friends,” she replied when we let go.
“Oh, I am sorry. Were you expecting a detailed account of my life? Strange, for I was not given as much with you. You disappeared one day and came back engaged to him.” I turned my head to Sir Darrington, who stood off to the side and watched us both, his hair cut shorter on the sides and left longer on the top. “Hello again, Sir Darrington.”
“Hello again, Lady Hathor. I see you’re still as healthy and lively as ever.” He nodded to me.
“Well?” Verity questioned, looking at me.
“Well, what?”
“Where is your prince? Rumors of you two are all over the ton. Everyone says that you are inseparable and madly in love. So much so that the queen keeps a good eye on you both. I wish to witness it myself,” she stated.
It could not have been a very good eye, considering all Wilhelm and I had done over the past few days. But I could not say that so instead I looked toward her husband. “Why is she so nosy? What have you done to her? The Verity I know cares not the length of a cat’s tongue for society.”
“Do not change the subject,” she replied. “I came all this way to hear firsthand about you and your prince.”
I walked around her, spinning away. “There is nothing to tell. I am quite magnificent, and since he is not blind, he noticed, becoming undeniably, unreasonably besotted with me.”
“Is that so?”
I knew that voice. I had spun right into the arms of Wilhelm. He stared down, eyebrow raised.
“You’re here,” I replied.
“Yes, I am. And, apparently, undeniably, unreasonably besotted,” he mocked me.
Before I could reply, Verity and Sir Darrington curtsied and bowed to him.
“Your Highness,” they said, and it startled me. I had gotten used to no longer curtsying before him. On top of that, he was always here waiting when I came down, so I never saw my family do it either.
“These people are?” Wilhelm whispered to me, waiting for me to introduce them. Right. Immediately, I stepped to the side and stood properly.
“Prince Wilhelm, may I introduce Sir Theodore Darrington and Lady Verity Darrington. Lady Verity is the younger sister of the Duke of Everely.”
“Ah, so they are family of sorts,” he replied, relaxing slightly as he outstretched his hand to Sir Darrington. “It is a pleasure.”
“No, it is ours, Your Highness,” Sir Darrington said quickly, stepping back to allow Verity to step forward a bit more.