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)
“Hathor,” my mother said, sitting down across from me, my father stepping behind her chair. “What was your answer to Prince Wilhelm this morning?”
I smiled. “What else could I say but yes, Mama? It was splendid, truly. He said that he went to the kitchen and begged for them to create my favorite dishes. Then he had to press Damon to find out my favorite flower—”
“Did you not tell me before that he was villainous and horrid?” Mama questioned.
“I did, but—I think he’s not very well understood and—”
“And you believe to understand him, in only a week?” Papa frowned. “Hathor, sweetheart, you have desperately wished to marry a duke or a prince for so long. Are you sure you are not closing your eyes to his character just to accomplish it?”
My shoulders dropped. “Papa, you believe me to be so vain?”
“No, my dear, we worry that you might be…as you said, overly excited?” Mama said. “And we do not blame you. I know the idea of being royal is very exciting, but I fear it is not actually for you.”
I looked between them both, confused and—angry. “You believe I am not fit to marry Prince Wilhelm?”
“No, sweetheart, we do not believe he is fit to marry you,” my father explained.
“The queen believes so!”
“The queen is looking to pin her nephew down,” Mama retorted with displeasure. “My dear, one of your greatest attributes is your keen observation of the people of society. Princes marry princesses, and many abound. Yet none wished to marry him. Why? Because they did not wish to make an enemy of his father…a king. A notoriously harsh, brutal, and unforgiving king.”
“So, because of his father, he is not allowed to marry?”
“He may marry whomever he likes, just not you!” my father snapped. “Whatever animosity his father has toward him will fall on his wife and children as well. And no one can stop a king!”
“Have you met the French?”
Mother sighed. “Hathor, this is not a joke, this is your life—”
“And yet it is you determining how it should be lived!”
“We are your parents! It is our duty to see to your future and safety!” Father’s voice had never risen to me like this, ever. I’d never seen them like this.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I did not want to cry, but I felt so—so hurt. “Damon was a rake who married well below his station, and you said not a word to him. Aphrodite was in love with Evander and you, Mama, moved heaven and earth to see them together, despite the fact that there were horrid rumors about him. Even though he’d abandoned her for four years and his father was a menace to them and society, still you were willing to give her to their family. Verity is not even your daughter, and you both labored for weeks to make her future husband a respectable member of society. You even went to the queen to get him a knighthood! And now you stand before me, and you tell me this?” The tears came down my face despite my effort.
“Hathor, sweetheart.” My mother tried to reach for me, but I just stood up and moved away from them, wiping my eyes quickly.
“Neither of you has even asked me what my feelings are! You do not think I could even have feelings. You believe me to be so senseless and gluttonous for a title that I would choose to marry solely for that reason. My own parents truly think I am a title hunter!”
“Hathor, please hear—”
“No, Papa!” I shook my head. “He asked for my hand; I gave it. And since he is a prince, and the queen’s nephew, you cannot stop this. I will be marrying Prince Wilhelm, and if you do not like it, I will not be here much longer to remind you of it!”
I ran out of the room and closed the door before they could say anything else, holding on to the doorknob tightly behind me. I tried to breathe, but my chest felt as if it were on fire.
“Hathor?” Clementina rushed up to me, quickly blocking my body from anyone else who might see.
Hanging my head, I whispered, “Please help me get out of here without causing a scene.”
“Of course, but you are going to have to put more effort into your face. Everyone is watching you,” she said as she linked arms with me.
The Dowager Lady Covington’s words from just moments ago came back to me. I did not really understand what she had meant until Clementina and I began walking together, and I forced a smile as she laughed and spoke quickly about nothing important, to make it seem as if we were having the most humorous conversation. So humorous, in fact, it would explain my teary eyes and odd expression.