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)
Why the bloody hell had I kissed her? I’d been asking myself that every moment since it happened. What was wrong with me? And she, she was so…unforgiving of me. But then again, I could not blame her. She was the one who was proper. Then at the same time would it not have been easier for her to use it against me? I knew many ladies who’d trapped men into marriage in such a way.
My mind was an utter mess.
“August?” Lukas called as he approached the stables…with none other than her brother. I marched toward them, compelled to ask…
“I must ask you, Damon, is your sister a lawyer?” I spit the words out, gripping tightly to my gloves.
“No, I do not believe so.”
“Then has she ever spoken of her desire to be a lecturer? No? For even professors do not have such pride, so I must assume she wishes to be a preacher?”
“No, Your Highness, for if my sister were so unfortunate as to pick an occupation, I’m sure it would be that of an artist.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “That does not seem to fit her personality in the slightest.”
“Hathor’s personality is rather…varied depending on the day.” He laughed to himself.
“Well, she seemed rather taken on the subject of art when I spoke to her.”
Lukas forced a laugh and then gave me a look, trying to remind me that I was in fact speaking to her brother and to control myself.
“Your Highness, I must ask, has my sister offended you in some manner?” Damon questioned. He too looked me over carefully. I was unsure what he saw. I just felt annoyed and now exhausted from my annoyance.
“No” was all I could say to him. “Excuse me, I wish to change.”
I did not wait for either of them, instead heading back into the castle toward my rooms. How this had all become such an utter ordeal was beyond my understanding. I had come here thinking very little of the reasons as to why, beyond obeying my aunt and wishing to test Hathor’s conviction. To my surprise she was more steadfast and stubborn than any other woman I had ever encountered. Normally whenever a lady such as herself made my acquaintance and discovered I was a prince, they spoke gently, sought to show themselves in the most amiable light. They ran toward me and devoted all their efforts to gaining my attentions. Even in situations where I was less than gentlemanly, they still sought to be agreeable…until now.
Now I was insulted or mocked every time I spoke to her. She was unforgiving and severe in her words with me. Yes, I had teased her last night at dinner, and she paid me back for it. I thought I’d ended it there by offering her a dance, and to my face she laughed, saying she would rather break her own feet!
It was clear she’d meant it and she only changed her mind when she saw the condition of the conversation around Lady Emma…. Today, once more I thought to end our feud and she threw words in my face!
“Psss.”
I paused, turning to find the source of the noise when it…she…spoke from above me. “Up here.”
There was a small girl with light brown skin and messy curly hair peeking down over the railing of the stairs.
“Are you the prince?”
“I am a prince,” I answered. “Who are you?”
“Abena Du Bell.”
Ah…one of her sisters. “Hello.”
“I’ve come to warn you.”
“Of?”
“Hathor. She is a horrid monster and will drive you insane.”
For some reason hearing someone else say this of her made me laugh. “Is that so? Where were you to warn me weeks ago?”
“How could I have warned you weeks ago? I only heard of you just days ago,” she questioned.
Logical. “Yes, well, true. Thank you for letting me know; however, I feel as though I have learned this lesson on my own.”
“So, you won’t marry her?” she said with a glee that was rather strange.
“Why are you speaking so poorly of your sister?”
“That is my concern,” she said, and for a moment I saw a familiar stubbornness. “All I need to know is that you will not marry her.”
“Who I marry is my concern and so I need not answer to you.”
Her smile dropped drastically and now her hands were on her hips. She came down the stairs just so I could see her small frame on the landing. “You’re being difficult.”
I laughed again. “Am I? Forgive me.”
“I will if you promise not to marry Hathor.”
“May I ask why you are against me marrying her?”
“I told you. She is terrible, she snores…very loudly. She takes forever to get ready every day, she’s absolutely horrified by all bugs—even butterflies, and she’s always telling me to go away because she’s in a mood!” She huffed and I bit my lip to keep from snorting.