Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
I knew realistically that there was a very good chance he would do just that, but I wanted to hear those words, even if they were a lie.
Just once, I wanted to be that precious to him that he’d make such a promise.
And that thought terrified me more than I could put into words.
“Maybe,” I said.
“Then…” He laid his hands on my cheeks and kissed me. “I.” Kiss. “Promise.” Kiss. “Never.” Kiss. “To—”
“I get it, I get it.” I laughed, pushing at his chest.
“I didn’t finish.” He pulled me even closer and held our lips together. “I promise to never, ever leave you again, my Allie.”
Kiss.
“Cheater,” I murmured, sliding my hands up and wrapping my arms around his neck.
Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.
Screw it.
We could take another minute here.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A Lot Of Fuss For A Handkerchief
“Bellaaaaaaa,” I whined, holding my arms out the moment she walked into my room. “Help me!”
Panic flashed across her face. “What is it, my lady? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Are you ill?”
“It’s worse.”
She froze. “I’ll get the Grand Duke!”
“You can’t! No, wait!” I scrambled up from where I was sitting on the bed, grabbing my embroidery hoop. “Shut the door!”
Bella shoved it shut behind her. “Did you prick your finger, my lady? If so, this is a lot of fuss—”
“I ruined it!” I waved the hoop through the air. “It’s all knotted at the end, but we’re leaving in an hour! I can’t give him a ruined handkerchief!”
She looked at the hoop, then back up at me. “I’m sure His Highness would be thrilled with whatever you give him.”
“Nooooo!” I dropped onto the bed, screaming into my pillow. “All this work! All this time! I can’t!”
The door burst open, and the distinct shing of a sword being unsheathed cut through the air as Rina appeared, holding the blade in front of her. “I heard a scream. Lady Alicia, are you all right? What’s going on?”
Bella gasped. “Dame Rina! Please put that away!”
“Rinaaaaaa!” I wailed, dragging myself across the bed. “Bella’s being mean to me.”
Rina looked between us both. “Well, I don’t think I need this for that.” She sheathed her sword and closed the door once more. “What’s wrong, my lady?”
“I messed it up.” I held out the hoop again, and my eyes stung as my frustration got the better of me. “I don’t have time to get ready and fix it. I can’t give this to the Grand Duke!”
“My lady, don’t cry!” Bella shuffled from one foot to the other, holding her hands up in a panic. “Your eyes will be all puffy!”
“Help meeee,” I sniffled, burying my face in my bedcovers.
“Goodness me. This job comes with more drama than I was led to believe. Let me have a look,” Rina said, walking over.
I turned my face as she swiped the hoop out of my grip, and Bella rushed to my bathroom. Presumably for some cold towels, lest I commit the grave sin of having puffy eyes in public.
“How did you manage this, my lady?” Rina asked, peering down at me. “It’s as if you got completely distracted and stopped paying any attention at all to what you were doing.”
“I, er…” I sat up, scratching my cheek. “That’s a painfully accurate conclusion you’ve arrived at, Rina.”
“What distracted you this much?”
Oh, nothing much. Just the memory of Kalon kissing me over and over again on the terrace last night.
I blushed, immediately turning away from her. “That’s not important. Can it be fixed?”
“This isn’t like you. You’re acting very suspicious.”
“I—I’m due on my period.”
“No, you’re not. That’s not for another week,” Bella said, carrying in a small bowl of water and face towels.
Way to rat me out, Bella.
“It doesn’t matter why I couldn’t focus—”
“Please lie down, my lady.” Bella pushed me onto my back and unceremoniously pressed an ice-cold towel to my eyes. “Five minutes.”
“—But I’ve spent days on this. I’ve barely slept.”
“That’s because you forgot about it until His Highness mentioned it.”
I’m going to fire her.
I wasn’t, but the thought made me feel momentarily better.
Rina sighed—at least I think it was Rina, given that she was next to speak. “I can probably undo much of the mess you’ve gotten yourself into, but the final thing depends greatly on what it looks like under this bumbling knot.”
I raised the towel and peeked out at her. “Really?”
She smiled. “Really. I’ll do my best.”
“Leave the towel alone, my lady!” Bella tapped my fingers, making me drop the wet towel.
“Sorry, sorry.” I linked my hands over my stomach. “Can you get Rina the embroidery kit?”
“Of course. Here you are, Dame Rina. Right, my lady—”
“Hold on, where’s Annie? It’s awfully quiet in here.”
“Is this what you consider quiet?” Rina muttered.
That was rude.
Bella patted my cheeks with another cold towel. “I was just about to explain that. Annie was taken ill with a fever during the night. The Head Maid had a doctor sent over, and when I checked on her before coming over here, her fever had gone down. He’s advised she rest for at least today.”