Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I saw him before. I was not frightened. I—I would not be frightened, Isabel. I am not a child who has seen nothing of people outside the court. I would not judge—”
“No, of course you would not.” Isabel pats my hand. “Please, know that I am so sorry. I did not understand why you were so upset.”
“Do you understand now?” I ask in a small voice.
“Oh, yes.” Isabel sets her cup onto a saucer. The sound of the cup on the saucer seems to judge me even if Isabel does not. “I do. They did not seem to be—well, it is clear they were at odds.” She gazes out the window, clearly lost in thought. Then her eyes return to mine. “They were at odds over you, were they not?”
“They were.” I clear my throat, willing myself not to cry again. “I did not tell them of the things I’d done with the other. I thought my choice was between the stranger in my chambers at night and the handsome prince who came to court me. I did not realize I would have to choose between brothers.”
For a time, both of us are silent. I cannot imagine taking another bite of the chocolate torte.
This isn’t something that can be fixed, can it? No matter what my heart wishes. My father is only delaying the inevitable. The princes will leave with hatred for one another in their hearts. What other conclusion could there be? If I choose either man, we will all have to live with that choice. If I choose neither, my heart will be broken. I truly wish to have both in my life, but that is such a selfish act.
I know in this moment that I will not court again. The princes have opened up my world, and it will only seem smaller with another prince. Who could compare to the two of them? I had everything I needed, only divided between day and night, and now……
“You will be queen of this kingdom,” Isabel says, drawing me out of my thoughts. “They need you. What is it that you want, Cora? You should decide for yourself what you want.”
“I want them both,” I tell her with my voice breaking. The truth of my confession shatters any semblance of composure. Speaking this admission to Isabel makes it even more real than speaking it to my father. Even then, it had still been somewhat of a secret. Not anymore. “I want to choose them both, but I do not know how that is possible. I do not know how it could be done, even if they wished to—to reconcile.”
Two servants enter the room. Isabel and I rise from the table and go to stand near the fire. The servants clear away the dishes with hardly a clink of porcelain to disturb us, and then they leave again.
“Cora,” Isabel begins, but the door opens once more. We both turn toward it, expecting the servants to be collecting some forgotten dish, but it is my father.
We both drop into a curtsey, Isabel’s deeper than mine. My father crosses to us.
“Isabel,” he says, greeting her before he turns his eyes to mine. “My daughter. I have spoken with Prince Jasper. I don’t think he’ll stay much longer. He seems to be at war, even with his own thoughts. You need to speak with him.”
“Now?” I question in a single breath.
“If not now, soon. If not…” He pauses. “My fear, my daughter, is that you will be left with a broken heart.”
Chapter 22
Cora
“I have a declaration to make,” I announce to the princes, who stand before me in a room not far from my chambers. I would not have minded speaking to them there, but this sitting room will give the appearance of propriety, though I do not have a chaperone. If everything goes as I wish it to, then this will not matter once I am married. “But my father tells me you have not reconciled.”
Tension suffocates the room. Neither man will look at the other. None of us sit. Instead we stand in front of shelves of ancient books and with the dim light from the candles and the moon rising, harsh shadows cast down on their faces. The scars Casen bears are more visible than I’ve ever seen them. And I only wish to cup his jaw, offer him a kiss and then kiss his brother. Tugging at the sleeve of my dress, I refuse the urge.
“Princess Cora,” Jasper begins. “We will respect whatever decisions you make, but I must apologize for the way—”
“Have you reconciled?” I interrupt, too nervous to care if I’m being rude. “Or are you only saying you’ll respect my decision because you don’t wish to cause a scandal?”
Jasper clenches his jaw, just as my heart does at the sight of them. “We say that because we respect you, princess. Not for any other reason.”