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)
“Lady Hathor! How are you, my dear?”
No!
My head spun back quickly. This was her? The famed Du Bell girl? The title hunter? Once more I looked her over, having expected someone more…plain. Not repulsive-looking, but from the way my aunt spoke of her appearance, as if it were an afterthought or simply of no importance, I did not think she’d look so…beautiful. A woman with such a face should not have to hunt; I was sure her prey came happily to her.
I coughed to regain my thoughts and straightened my shoulders, waiting for Vivi to introduce me.
“Lady Hathor, this is—”
“An introduction is as unimportant as his name, your ladyship,” she spit back angrily and my shoulders dropped. It was clear that our entire conversation had been overheard. “Please do tell his aunt I have no interest in such an ill-bred, unscrupulous, caper-witted man, and therefore no introduction should ever be made.”
Ill-bred, unscrupulous, caper-witted? I huffed, for never had a woman called me such things…at least not to my face. I stepped forward attempting to flatter her. “Such harsh words for such a beautiful woman is—”
“Oh, believe me, sir, they could be much harsher,” she snapped without compassion, and strangely her severity was even more enticing.
“My lady, there has been a misunderstanding—”
“I believe you were quite clear. You might not know, but it is considered common decency to avoid speaking out in the open as though it were your own private drawing room. Especially if you are going to gossip about someone else. I wonder if you lack this knowledge because you are grossly ignorant or enormously vain and pretentious!”
She truly had heard every damned word. And I was growing rather…uncomfortable with her high and mighty glare before me.
“Tell me, my lady, was a segment of your teaching in common decency the art of eavesdropping? For even though this is not a private drawing room, it was a private conversation—”
“And it would have remained one had I not heard my name wholly slandered!” she interrupted me once more.
She was far too angry to reason with. So, to end this matter, I thought to simply apologize…though how I hated apologizing.
“Forgive me, I spoke out of turn—”
“I will not forgive you! For one line of apology is nothing in comparison to the several lines of insult you dealt.” She huffed, moving closer to me in her rage and I stared at her in shock.
I, a prince, sought to apologize and not only did she not allow me to finish, she rejected it outright?
“You speak very highly for someone who does not know to whom she is speaking,” I replied, stepping closer as well. Our faces were so close now that it was I who could physically look down upon her. However, she did not flinch or cower at my height; in fact, she seemed even more emboldened.
“I care not to whom I am speaking because I have heard enough from you to gather all that needs to be known.”
“Oh, you believe so?”
“I know so!”
“And if I were a man of the highest rank and title in all of—”
“You do not look like the king, nor would I wish to marry you should you be him!” she scoffed. I had now lost count of how many times she’d interrupted me. “Despite whatever you have heard, I do not hunt for title alone. You do not meet the measure; you do not even come close!”
I laughed. “Are you sure you won’t regret speaking to me this way?”
“I will not.”
“And you swear never to accept my hand in marriage, no matter who asks on my behalf?”
Her eyebrow rose and she crossed her arms smugly. “Even if the queen herself arranged for us to marry, I would refuse instantaneously.”
I smiled wide and nodded. “I will hold you to that, Lady Hathor. Let us hope you are a woman of your word. What a shame though; your face shines like the sun amongst stars.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“No. Quite the opposite in fact.”
“I do not believe you, but it matters not. Let us hope we never cross paths again. Good day to you, sir.” She spun on her heels with such a speed her curls nearly slapped me across the face…She smelled like vanilla, sycamore, and roses.
“Well, you have successfully managed to ruin that match; your aunt will not be pleased,” Vivienne said as she once more came to my side.
“She is much more fiery than I expected,” I replied as I watched the woman in question retreat with her maid. “This shall prove to be amusing.”
“August…whatever you are thinking, stop,” she warned. “There are some women you can play with and there are some you cannot…She is the latter.”
“But aren’t you curious if she will hold to her word? It’s easy for her to speak so when she does not know who I am. I would like to see if she will remain so fierce when confronted with reality.”