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)
“Isabel,” Prince Jasper says. “I sent for her last evening. I did not know how you would take the news of my brother’s identity. If you took it poorly, I wanted you to have someone here with you that you could trust. If you took it well, then perhaps I could invite you to the castle. But I would not insist that you come alone. I am not ashamed of my brother or his scars, and I would not want you to think that your life would be isolated to hide anything. All of your people would be welcome to visit as often as they wanted.”
“You mean to give me everything, is that it?” I am teasing, but the words come out with more truth than I intended.
“I do,” he promises. “You don’t know what you’ve done for my brother and for me. We truly care for you and would have your hand. And now I shall leave you to make your decision. Please, Princess, do not feel as if you must agree on my account. You may take all the time you wish. I will not hurry you.”
Then he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. It is so chaste compared to all the times he has taken me, yet it fills me with desire and lust and many other emotions besides.
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely. “I am grateful to you, Prince Jasper.”
“You cannot be more grateful to me than I am to you,” he says. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Princess Cora. I hope to see you soon, but if I do not, then I wish you all the happiness life has to offer.” He struggles to remain cordial as the thought of me not following causes his expression to crumble.
He leaves me then on the bench outside, disappearing into the flurry of packing and preparation. His brother, Prince Casen, must already be prepared to leave. I worry briefly that I offended him with my reaction, and wish that I was left time to make amends.
Clicking of heels alerts me to my incoming friend and I do my best to stop any emotion from bubbling up any more than it already has.
Isabel comes to my side. “You received the invitation from the prince?”
“I have,” I agree, attempting to compose myself after the weight of what Prince Jasper has delivered. “And so have you?”
“Yes,” she says, her eyes bright. “It was so thrilling to receive such a message, with so little information, but of course I had to be here with you, Cora.”
My sweet friend grabs my arm with both of her hands, delight and excitement pure. “This is what happened before Philip proposed,” she exclaims. Happiness of the memories of love dance in her eyes. She smiles. “I feel like I owe myself a bit of a pat on the back, do I not? For you weren’t giving any of the gentlemen the time of day until I had it out with you.” If only she knew how much time I’d given one of them…
“I’m truly sorry—” I start but she cuts me off.
“Hush hush, it’s behind us and I know the stress of falling in love. Either way, when I was asked to be your chaperone, of course I could not help but agree. What do you think you’ll do? I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I feel like you should go,” Isabel blurts out.
She takes both my hands in hers, and I realize I’m shaking. Perhaps there was some truth to my father’s words earlier. This is happening fast. But then, in other ways, it’s not. In ways no one can know, I’ve already fallen.
“I’ll go. We will go.” Confidence fills me. So much that what lies ahead may be new and frightening, but this is my only chance to see what this life could be like. “The prince and his brother…they are taking a separate carriage. I do not want to fall far behind.”
It seems the steward in the castle had already been preparing for a relatively quick departure. Isabel herself had brought along a few trunks of items to travel, and my things are packed in the snap of a finger. I worry that it is not enough, but surely the prince—the princes—intend to provide for me while I am in their care, and I know my father would not hesitate to send anything I lacked.
All the while my heart races. As if it knows forevermore nothing will be the same again. Isabel holds my hand tightly and I hold hers, wishing the simple act could tell her all my secrets.
My father wishes me farewell, kissing my forehead and holding me in a tight embrace before finally letting me go.
“You have my blessings, Cora,” he promises. “I want nothing but your happiness.”