Later, I had to attend another meeting with Linda, this time to coordinate our outfit choices with the tailor. Linda was so furious, she was practically on fire. Her entire face was a bright red. Her lips were twisted into a snarl. Her brow was lowered. Nicholas and I had taken away all of her p
I forced myself to my feet. The tailor, after making sure I was upright and unharmed, immediately rushed from the room to retrieve a towel and a servant to clean the mess. My soggy notes were beginning to fall apart in my hands, to wet to even maintain their paper shape. “Linda,” I said, going t
I went carefully still. Oh, I was starting to see now, where his anger came from. Dating a commoner was one thing, a mistake that could be easily forgotten, but for a noble and a commoner to share a child was a grave error that usually ended in someone’s untimely demise. The King leaned forward in
The King’s whole face went pale for a beat, and in the next, he became very red, like he might explode. Julian let the lie linger for far longer than was comfortable, until the King seemed like he might choke to death on it. Then Julian laughed, and said, “Just kidding! Nicholas isn’t the father
“He’s saving your bacon, Piper. Elva’s too. By publicly decrying this theory, he’s giving you a shield. The King can’t touch Elva now without public uproar.” Oh. I looked back at Nicholas in awe. I had suggested the public statement before, but for him to continue that idea, to protect us… My ches
“It wasn’t what it looked like,” I said on reflex. “You said before what you felt for Julian wasn’t serious,” he said. “It’s not.” Nicholas crossed his arms. His jaw tightened and he didn’t say anything else. I didn’t know what else to say, how to ease his worries, than to tell him the truth
It was much more difficult than I’d been expecting. I’d already gotten stuck twice. Susie was a patient teacher though, and kept a level head. She only giggled a bit when I’d fallen onto my backside, and not laughed outright. Plus, she helped me up right after. Nearby, the wolves Night and Silve
For a moment, I sat there in shock, looking at Elva and her wide, earnest eyes. Nicholas wasn’t exactly the last person I thought she’d say. He had been visiting her a lot lately; he always seemed to make time for her. But I would have thought Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny would have taken highe