The guard nodded and went to carry out the task. Back inside my room, I couldn’t help but pace, worried about what Jane could possibly be doing in that gown. Did she decide to go to the gala? Was she pretending to be me? What could she possibly be saying to the benefactors, or the candidates, or
Nicholas I helped Olivia as best I could with one of the benefactors, though in truth, she hadn’t need me to do much but give her the initial introduction. Olivia seemed like a natural at speaking with others – or at least, those she wanted something from. After introducing her, all I did was st
I turned around in haste. Jane had sneaked away from behind me and was pointing Mrs. Marble roughly in the collarbone. “Old hags like you are the reason this kingdom is in the shitter,” Jane sniped. I rushed to intervene. This time, I snatched Jane’s wrist in a vice lock. I forced a laugh. “
“It doesn’t seem like this exhaustion is directly related to her illness,” the doctor told me. We stood a few feet away from the bed where Elva rested, watching her. “She likely got so excited for tonight that she simply wore herself out.” “So she’ll be alright?” I asked. The doctor nodded. “She
Whatever Jane had said to Nicholas must have been something horrific. “I’m okay, and Elva’s okay,” I said, hoping to soothe him and his prowling wolf. “If the worst she’s done is tarnish my reputation, then we can recover from that.” A storm raged in Nicholas’s eyes, the green flashing against t
I sniffed, but I wouldn’t let the tears fall. By the end of Nathan’s list, I had been the only person to have received zero support. The orphanage I supported would receive no donations from tonight, despite my best efforts. In her ten minute appearance, Jane had undone hours’ worth of my efforts.
Even now, standing as we were with the crowd around us dispersing, I was earning many passing glares. Gratitude filled my heart for what Nicholas had done. But worry still harbored in the rest of me. Jane had come here tonight to harm my reputation and she had succeeded in doing so. I didn’t kno
Nathan led Nicholas and me into a sitting room where the King sat upon a chair. All other chairs had been pushed to the back of the room. It was clear he meant for the rest of us to stand. As we entered, the King narrowed his eyes in Nicholas’s direction. Nicholas lifted his chin. “Nathan, I