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)
“Are you visiting Hathor, Lady Verity?” he asked her.
“Yes, Your Highness, we got word of your engagement and I thought it would be nice to visit. But it looks as though we are intruding. Were you both on your way out?”
“We are expected at the palace. However, I think a break is in order.” Wilhelm nodded to himself and then looked at me. “I shall tell the queen you’ve family visiting, and we can reschedule for tomorrow.”
“You will tell her? That means you will go? I’d rather you stay and join us,” I said gently back. “Can you not send a messenger instead?”
“I do not wish to intrude—”
“How can you be intruding, when the reason she is here is because of you?” I replied, stepping away from him to look to where Bernice was speaking to my mother. “Mama, can a footman notify the palace that Prince Wilhelm and I will be spending the day with friends?”
“The queen will not like that. I planned on going with you today, so I shall tell her myself,” my mother replied, and now I was nervous about what else Her Majesty would say to her. It must have been on my face, because she let out a sigh and gave a small smile. “Do not worry. She merely wishes to share some details of the wedding with me, of course.”
“Thank you, Mama,” I said. She nodded before moving into the drawing room with Bernice.
“Then it is settled,” Wilhelm replied before looking to Sir Darrington. “The house is rather full. Would you be all right with a trip to the park? It is a lovely day outside.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” he said, without even thinking on it. He was rather stiff, too. Not just him, but Verity as well. They stood together, staring at us oddly.
“We shall see that the maids pack some food as well,” Verity stated, her voice also strained.
“Thank you,” Wilhelm said to her, before offering me his arm to lead me out.
“I apologize. I do not know why they are acting so strangely,” I whispered as he led me to the doors.
“They are acting so because they know nothing of me other than my title. It is normal,” he whispered back as we stepped outside.
“Must you come here every day?” Abena suddenly appeared at the gates, her arms crossed as she glared at us both, but mostly him. “Hathor is not so bad at directions that she can’t find her way to the palace without you.”
“I am not bad at all,” I snapped at her.
“No matter how poor your sister is at directions, it is still a gentleman’s duty to escort a lady,” Wilhelm stated, not at all listening to me.
Abena made a face at him. “But Papa says you’re not really a gentleman.”
“Abena!” I gasped at her.
“Hathor says you’re not really a lady. More like a bug,” Wilhelm teased back.
Abena’s cheeks puffed up. “You cannot call me a bug! Only she can call me that! Hathor, tell him!”
“Why bother? Neither of you are listening to me.” I huffed, though I was amused with the faces they were now making at each other.
“Hathor, you cannot marry him. I dislike him.” Abena crossed her arms.
“She used to say that, too, and now she does not wish me to leave her side. You shall get used to it as well, little bug,” he shot back.
Again, she took in air through her nose. “This means war, ogre prince.”
“Ogre? Don’t call him that!” I said to her.
“And you’re the ogre’s bride.” She huffed, marching away.
“The mouth on her!” I stared in disbelief. “I have to tell Mama she is getting out of hand.”
“Don’t.” Wilhelm chuckled, watching my sister stomp off. “It is refreshing. Your family is rather relaxing. Everyone else gets stiff, but they treat me as though I were any other gentleman. I enjoy it here. Even with your father’s grimace.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry—”
“You need not keep apologizing. It’s fine. Besides, I have a method of my own to win over your parents.”
“A method? What method?”
“I’m going to win all the hearts of their children. I already have you settled and secure.”
I chuckled. “Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. And I’ve made plans with Damon later on this week, as well as gave Hector a book from the king’s private collection.”
“You did what? You stole one of the king’s books?” I whispered as though it were treason. I think it might actually have been treason.
“I borrowed it and lent it to your brother yesterday afternoon. You should have seen your father’s face as he tried not to seem interested.”
“You mean to bribe my siblings onto your side? Is that not underhanded?”
He shrugged. “Did you not hear Abena? We are at war. All tactics must be deployed to ensure victory. Now, how am I to win over Devana? She rarely speaks.”