The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1)(56)

And now was not the time to correct him.

“I will always be your faithful servant,” I said, sinking into a deep curtsy.

“Oh, I know you will.” When I rose, he nodded toward the door, and I took my leave without hesitation.

In the Great Room, the festivities were in full swing, with roaring laughter and jovial conversations marking the night. I pulled up my skirts, moving as quickly as I could. When a tray passed with cups of ale, I took one and downed it in a gulp.

“There you are!” Delia Grace ran up to me, grabbing me as I was trying to move. “Did he do it? Do you have a ring?”

“Now’s your chance,” I told her.

She dropped my arm. “What?”

“Now’s your chance. You can do it, with or without me,” I assured her as I rushed from the room.

Out among the carriages, Silas was waiting with two dark horses and a furrowed brow. He’d managed to gather a few things quickly and put them in bags across the horses.

“I hope you’re ready to go,” I told him. “I don’t want to wait and see if he changes his mind.”

“Wait, you told the king?” he asked in shock.

“I told him . . . something. I can explain along the way. Let’s go.”

“Let me help,” Silas offered, hoisting me up on my horse. Grabbing a torch and reins of his own, we set off.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’re going to laugh when we get there,” he promised.

He took off and I followed suit, already laughing with excitement, lacing through the streets of town, rushing past people as their celebrations poured out of the taverns and into the walkways. Every moment I placed between the palace and myself, I found that my breaths came easier, that my smile grew bigger. I knew what I wanted, and he was within my grasp. I would follow Silas Eastoffe into oblivion.

A minute down the road, my flower crown flew off behind me and landed somewhere in the dark.





Twenty-Seven




Dearest Valentina,

Before you read another word, please make sure you are sitting. I have no time for codes or intrigues, and I wouldn’t want to startle you or the precious baby you are soon to bring into the world.

I have left the castle.

When you trusted me with information that could have ruined your very existence, I ought to have told you I had my own dangers unfolding in the wings.

It’s quite possible that I have loved Silas Eastoffe since the moment I laid eyes upon him. I didn’t know it at the time, but this morning, I find myself at his family’s new manor in Dahere County, waiting for the rest of the Eastoffes to arrive. Seeing as we left by night on horseback without informing a single member of the court—not even my parents—and the rest of the Eastoffes left calmly on their own, their journey is taking slightly longer than ours.

The manor here is in need of attention, but it has several outbuildings for Silas and Sullivan to continue their work in, and they even have a beautiful garden. It is in disrepair, but I’m sure Lady Eastoffe won’t mind me helping tend to it. She is, after all, soon to be my mother-in-law. Yes, that’s right! Silas and I plan to marry as soon as possible, which will be within a few weeks if we can manage it. My next letter will be to my parents to inform them that I am at Abicrest Manor, which happens to be a short ride from my family’s own lands. Once my parents are here, I intend to make myself an Eastoffe before Jameson can decide he’d like to attempt to woo me back. When I left, he made it clear he would try, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. I feel confident that he will find a suitable replacement quickly. I’d wager money on it.

I hope you are not too disappointed in my choice. It didn’t seem like the Eastoffes were too friendly with the royal family of Isolte, and King Quinten made his feelings for them quite apparent. I have kept our friendship a secret from my soon-to-be family for now, but I would like to tell them of it if that would be acceptable to you.

As I said, I know this news will be a surprise for you, but I’m sure it will be a great comfort to your king, who didn’t seem too delighted at my place in Jameson’s life. I know that I am now only a private person, but I am still hoping you will find time to write to me. Of all the things I’ve said goodbye to recently, you are the one I miss the most.

Please write to me as soon as you’re able and tell me all your news. You will always have a trusted friend in me, and I hope that I shall always have one in you. Send all letters to my family’s manor: Varinger Hall, Dahere County, Coroa.

Your dear friend,

Hollis

“Who are you writing to?” Silas asked as I pulled out a new sheet of paper.

“Friends, family. My parents are next on the list so they’ll know to come home.”

He shook his head, looking around the empty, dusty manor that his family was going to make new. “You left a palace for this. . . . I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt a little embarrassed. I want to give you more, Hollis.”

I stood, walking over to him in my mud-stained ball gown from the night before. “I would live in a shack if it meant you would be there with me, Silas Eastoffe. I don’t want that life, not in the least.”

“All the same,” he said, wrapping his arms around me. “When I said I didn’t want you to worry about your reputation, I didn’t know exactly how bad this could be.”