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 eyes widened and I…my mind was blank. It was as if I were watching myself from another self as his tongue entered my mouth and rolled over mine. It sent a shiver down my spine. Maybe that was what drew my senses back. Pushing him away, I slapped him across the face as hard as I could.
“Have you gone mad?” I gasped, hopping down, touching my own lips in shock.
“Maybe,” he muttered softly, not looking at me.
“Hathor?”
I jumped to see Silva staring at me. She bowed her head to the fiend beside me before looking back to me. “You’ve been gone for quite some time, how about we return together.”
“Yes! I should return! The air is rather thin out here,” I huffed, linking arms with her and without saying another word to him.
Why had he done that?
He was teasing me but even still. Was he seeking to ruin me? Such harsh revenge for such a small slight? He was horrid. Truly evil.
“Hathor, you are dragging me.”
“How much did you see?”
“See of what? What happened?” she questioned, confused. I was relieved, glancing around to make sure no one else had seen.
“Nothing,” I replied, adjusting my grip upon her.
“It does not look like nothing, so I suggest you take a breath…In fact, several might be in order.”
I paused in the hall and inhaled once, then again. When it didn’t work, I turned back to where he was outside; however, he wasn’t following us. Instead, he was walking down the steps leading down the side of the balcony toward the gardens. “I have never met a man so discourteous in my life.”
“Hathor, tell me! Did something happen?”
“He…He…” I did not even know how to explain it. “I just do not like him.”
“Very well, but you must keep such feelings to yourself. He is the queen’s nephew, and we ought not bring trouble on ourselves over anything trivial,” she said gently.
I slapped my cheeks gently to gather my wits. I took another deep breath and nodded to her. “You are right, I shall just keep my distance. Come, let us see who shall win the honor of my first dance this evening.”
She giggled and nodded as we reentered the hall. I had hoped to keep a cheerful disposition, but it faded when I noticed the sharp gaze Emma was receiving from her sister…along with the other girls. It seemed like they were all ready to descend into a mob around her…All this because of a simple dance?
“Hathor?” Clementina came up to us.
“I shall go find your brother,” Silva said as she released my arm and left.
“Thank goodness you’ve returned. I am not sure Emma can handle the attention much longer,” Clementina whispered to me as we began walking past a pair of mamas whom I heard muttering to each other.
“Mary, I could understand, but Emma…she does not have the look of a princess, now does she.”
“I am sure nothing will come of it.”
“A great many matches have been formed with a lot less. Don’t let her looks fool you, those who lack beauty often must employ other methods.”
I gasped in shock, whispering to Clementina, “What is the matter with them? It was just a dance.”
“It is jealousy. You should have heard what they were saying about you over dinner.”
My eyes widened. “They were speaking about me?”
“Viciously. They said your mama was cunning in sitting you both together.”
“That was just proper etiquette, no?”
“Well, they have forgotten all about it and chosen a new target,” she answered, and we looked back at Emma, about whom Mary was muttering something…harsh, I was sure. Emma looked as though she wished to sink into the ground and hide.
Had I really caused this?
It was not my intention.
I did not wish to be cruel.
Emma often talked about how she enjoyed dancing and wished to show us all the other dances she’d learned. When I asked if she knew of any dances from Malrovia, I realized I could distance myself from the rude prince by making everyone think he was merely being friendly to all of the young ladies. I did not think it would turn into an attack on her person.
“Now what?” I muttered.
“What do you mean? Nothing can be done, can it?”
It was then that the rogue in question reentered the hall. Quickly all the ladies readjusted their expressions, smiling tenderly in his direction. He glanced to me and I looked away.
“Lady Hathor, if I may have the honor?” Lord Covington said with his hand outstretched…all but saving me.
“Of course,” I said, taking it brightly.
“Do not mind Prince Wilhelm, he is a bit temperamental when it comes to young ladies,” Lord Covington said as we reached the center of the dance floor.
“I do not mind him in the least,” I replied.
“I see August is proving himself uncharming.” He replied.
“August?” I repeated, pretending not to know of whom he spoke.