Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
At least it was a good thing they wouldn’t need to find him a potential match for a few years.
“I almost pity the person who agrees to marry him,” Hugo muttered, talking to himself.
Dorian grunted softly. “We’ll have to find someone who deserves his nonsense.”
While Augustine might be ridiculous and wild, Hugo was grateful that their youngest brother didn’t appear to mind the fact that they were no longer as well off as they used to be. He didn’t complain about not being able to stay with the heights of fashion or get a new racing horse. He didn’t seem to mind that they’d moved to a smaller, somewhat broken-down home. As long as Augustine could go on long rambles through Shaggy Butternut Woods and help with the house so that it wasn’t falling about their ears, he was happy.
“Today, I thought I would stay home and catch up on some of the household finances. Maybe try to find the spot on the roof where it started leaking.”
Dorian’s face wrinkled at Hugo’s words. “Are you sure you don’t want to send Augustine onto the roof? You’re not exactly good with a hammer. I also don’t think you’re in the best mental state to be on the roof.”
“I think now is the perfect time to learn to be better with a hammer. We’re going to need to pick up more useful skills in the days ahead.”
Dorian opened his mouth, likely to argue further, but thunderous footsteps rushed up the stairs. A second later, Augustine burst into Hugo’s room, his eyes wide and face flushed.
“There’s a royal messenger at the door. You and Mother have been summoned to the palace.”
All the blood drained from Hugo’s face, and his knees gave out. Both of his brothers lunged for him, saving him from hitting the floor. With firm hands, they lifted and guided him to the edge of the bed where he could sit.
“This can’t be good,” Hugo choked out. “Somehow, someone from the palace heard about what Mother said, and we’ve been summoned. Do they still chop off heads? Do you think they’ll chop off our heads?”
“I don’t know,” Dorian whispered, not looking any better than Hugo.
“How do you know this has anything to do with what Mother said? What would the king and queen care about that nonsense? They must know she was lying. I’m sure people have said more outrageous things at a ball,” Augustine argued.
“That’s true.” Dorian clung to the saving rope their youngest brother was tossing out. “This might be about something else. Why would they care about such a silly lie?”
“They just celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Maybe they want Dad to make a new cake, and they don’t know he’s dead,” Augustine suggested.
It seemed like a plausible reason, if grim. Far better than the alternative.
Hugo nodded. He grabbed hold of his panicking emotions and stiffened his spine. Regardless of the reason, he had to pull himself together. Their father was gone, and it was his job to look after their family as best he could.
“Yes, you’re right. It’ll all be fine. However, it would be best if you remained at the house today. Don’t allow any callers in.”
“I’ll tell anyone who’s being nosy that Dorian has a horrible cold and is spewing from both ends,” Augustine offered.
“Oh, gods, please don’t,” Dorian groaned.
“If there’s trouble, I’ll try to send word as quickly as possible.” Hugo rose on slightly shaky legs. He finished dressing in his best waistcoat and jacket. Dorian might have needed to help him tie his cravat. His trembling fingers kept mangling the knot.
A short time later, Hugo sat in an exquisite, well-sprung carriage with the plushest seats he’d ever sat on. His mother practically bubbled over with excitement. She was wearing her nicest visiting dress and biggest hat, which overflowed with feathers and flowers. Jessamine Baker was sure Hugo was going straight to meet the prince, where they would instantly fall in love. Naturally, the prince would propose marriage before the end of the day.
Hugo, on the other hand, was sure he was riding to his execution.
The trip to Frostbourne seemed to take twice as long as it had last night, and yet they were at the palace in the blink of an eye. Hugo fought the overwhelming urge to gawk at his surroundings. His family had lived in Frostbourne for several years, and he’d seen the castle from outside the walls, but never in his life had he thought that he’d one day be walking inside.
White marble and elegant gold touches were everywhere. Colorful flags hung from the ceilings in the grand entrance and long, intricately woven rugs. It wasn’t hard to be completely overwhelmed.
A very severe-looking man with a pinched face and thinning hair greeted them at the entrance. He wore a dark burgundy-and-gold uniform that appeared so starched and pressed that the edges were sharp. The butler led them through a series of long, empty corridors and through numerous ostentatious rooms without uttering a word. Near the end of their journey, Jessamine was puffing and gasping for her breath, struggling to keep up, and even Hugo was feeling winded. How did anyone live in a place so big and not get lost constantly? Was every servant handed a map the day they joined the staff?