Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
When they reached Zari’s assigned quarters, Soleil took out a skeleton key and unlocked the door. “This is your room, and one of the staff will come shortly bearing your luggage, and of course the keys to your room, too.” At Zari’s nod, Soleil drew the girl’s hand, saying, “Anything you need, just let me—-”
The girl’s fingers tightened.
“Zari?” Soleil started to shake the girl’s hold off but it only tightened even more, and when she looked at the girl’s eyes, she went absolutely still.
Zari was no longer...Zari.
She was a soul seer now, and she was seeing.
Chapter Six
The following evening, everyone was in a flurry of movement, with the Orpheline sisters in a hurry to hide unspeakable items from view. “Papa, go out and delay the marquis,” Fleur pleaded while she grabbed her pistol and quickly kicked it under the cushions. Oh, but why did the marquis have to pay an unplanned call now, just when it was Cleaning Day? All of their weapons were out, and with most of the staff given the day off, it was up to the three of them to straighten the living room.
For heaven’s sake, Soleil signed exasperatedly to her sisters. It was the only way to communicate without the marquis overhearing them. It’s like we’re living a scene straight from a Jane Austen novel, and it’s terribly silly—-
You say that, Aurora signed back in retort, and yet you’re also doing it, too. She glanced pointedly at the way her sister was quickly putting all their bullets in their father’s snuffbox.
Only because I can’t help panicking with the rest of you—-
Papa will kill you for what you’re doing to his snuff, by the way.
Oh, blast it, I had no choice—-
The door behind them opened.
“Daughters, le Marquis di Lunare is here.”
The Orpheline sisters turned to face the two gentlemen with overly bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and becoming smiles. They curtsied prettily and murmured their greetings in unison.
Soleil watched Ilie bow and wondered if it was just her heart that was beating madly. But if it were, how could her younger sisters not be similarly affected? He was so breathtakingly handsome it almost made her overlook the fact that he was no ordinary nobleman.
Almost, but not quite.
Ilie exchanged small talk with her sisters before going to her last. When he stood in front of her, she knew she should raise her gaze up to him, which was the polite thing to do. But she couldn’t. She was suddenly, unbearably shy, her gaze stuck at his perfectly knotted cravat.
“Lady Soleil?” Ilie was quietly amused at the way his heartkeeper was acting. She was said to to be a calm-headed, methodical strategist in the battlefield and yet with him, she was more often than not adorably awkward.
“Y-yes?” Soleil inwardly cringed, with the way her voice had come out a croak.
Thankfully, the marquis didn’t seem to notice, with his voice remaining charmingly courteous as he murmured, “I have taken the liberty of asking permission from your father to escort you to a ball I’ve been invited to. It would be my pleasure if you were to honor me with your company for tonight’s ball.”
Carefully avoiding his gaze, she turned to the baron. “Papa?” She stared at him meaningfully, telling him without words to refuse.
But instead, Charles said jovially, “Go on, my dear. You should change into one of your pretty gowns. You wouldn’t want to keep the marquis waiting too long, would you?”
What?
But before she could protest, her sisters had already clasped her arm on each side and were hurriedly urging her towards the door. “Papa’s right,” Aurora was saying. “We should get moving, there’s still your gown to choose and your shoes.”
“I’ll do her hair,” Fleur volunteered. “I know just the perfect style for it.”
As she was rushed out to the hallway, the marquis asked lazily, I look forward to being dazzled.
Shut up.
Fleur gazed at her sister with interest. “Why are you suddenly blushing, Soleil?”
“N-nothing.” But it was hard not to blush even more, with the seductive sound of Ilie’s laughter trailing after Soleil.
As they started to ascend the stairs, he told her, Don’t forget to keep your hair up.
She remembered that time in the carriage, when he had told her why he had wanted her hair styled in such a way—-
So I’d have the pleasure of taking it down.
—-and Soleil missed a step. She heard Ilie laugh again, knew he had read her mind, and her teeth gnashed. Cad!
As Aurora helped Soleil up, she noticed the way her sister was gritting her teeth and shook her head in bemusement. “You are acting so oddly, Soleil. Is this really how women in love act?”
Soleil gasped.
Is it, milady, Ilie said wickedly.
“Shut up.”
Her two sisters turned to her, and realizing she had blurted the words out loud, she shook her head, stammering, “Not you two.”