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)
Her hands covered her mouth as she tried to push down a sob.
“Come, you must rest” was all he said as he held her, bringing her back into the house. I moved to follow them but Damon stepped in front of me. His head was down and his back was to the house. He did not look me in the eye, but his fists were clenched.
“Tell me what you know, Verity. I need to know before I face them.”
I didn’t understand whom he was speaking about, as his parents were already dealing with the matter. Then I noticed the rest of the Du Bells—Devana, Hector, and Abena—watching us from the window above, their faces pressed up to the glass, searching for their sister. That’s when I understood, and so I told him about what happened at the park, the madman who had fired the gun.
“Hathor was not harmed?” he questioned, finally lifting his head to look me in the eye.
“Physically, no, but as you can imagine, she was traumatized: screaming and sobbing. She eventually became so overwhelmed by the shock that she collapsed by the door to the room in the palace where the doctors were treating him. Your mother tried to bring her home, but she refused, so the queen let her stay.”
He inhaled deeply, slowly nodding. “And Prince Wilhelm? What of him, where was he hit?”
“I am not sure.” I shook my head. “It was too bloody and chaotic for me to see clearly. I was trying to calm Hathor so Theodore could tend to him. However…”
“However?”
“It was a lot of blood, Damon. I heard the doctors at the palace whispering, saying they do not believe he will make it through the night.”
“Where doctors fail, God prevails,” he replied gently. “My grandmother used to say that.”
“I hope she was right.”
“Come, you need to rest, too, and change. There is blood on the hem of your dress.” He placed his hand on my shoulder, stepping aside to allow me to go in.
Never had I heard the Du Bell house so quiet, and never had it felt so eerie.
“Your parents are in the drawing room,” Silva said as she came toward us. “I’m so glad you are here, Verity; your room is already prepared. Why don’t you follow Bernice and go get cleaned up?”
“Thank you,” I replied. I saw Bernice already waiting at the bottom of the steps with the most ghostly look on her face. Walking up to her, I took her hand and offered a small smile. “She’s all right. Hathor is all right.”
She nodded. “This way, my lady.”
As we walked up the stairs, I glanced back to see Silva’s hands upon Damon’s chest as they spoke. I had made it only halfway up before I came face-to-face with the trio of Du Bell children. None of them said anything. They all just stared at me, like they were scared to ask. Even Abena.
“Hathor is fine,” I repeated, though I was getting the feeling none of them would truly relax until they saw her with their own eyes.
“If she is fine, why is she not here?” Abena questioned. “Why did Mama look as though she was crying? She never does that. Are you lying?”
“Abena, do not be rude,” Devana scolded her.
“It is not rude. It is an important question,” Hector stated sternly. “Why is Hathor not here, if she is fine?”
I sighed, going up farther. “Because Hathor wants to be with Prince Wilhelm. He is hurt very badly, and she wants to be there for him. Forgive her for making you worry. Hopefully, she will be home soon.”
“Is Prince Wilhelm really that badly injured?” Devana asked me.
I nodded. “Very badly, that’s why Hathor would not come home.”
“All of you give Verity a moment. I am sure she is very tired,” Damon called from the bottom of the stairs.
They looked as though they still had so many more questions, but they let me go up. Only when I reached their guest room did the exhaustion catch up to me. I moved over to the bed and took deep breaths.
“I shall call for tea,” Bernice stated, and I just nodded.
My mind went to Hathor, the horror on her face. The way she screamed would haunt me forever. I could not imagine such grief. It made me shudder to even think of. My biggest worry was what would become of her if the doctors were right.
If Prince Wilhelm did not make it until the morning…
So I did what Damon said. I prayed.
God, please, I know all the world cannot always be happy, that all families suffer some misery. But please, spare the Du Bells, spare Hathor, if only to give hope to the rest of us that true love can prevail. That some families can truly be blessed with unending joy.
Please.
Hathor
When I finally stepped back out into the hall, it was full of maids, footmen, and the royal family. Not just the queen, but all of her children, including the prince regent, who stood beside her at the door. It must have been obvious that I belonged neither to the servants nor to the royal family, because everyone turned to stare at me.