The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1)(60)

This reminds me, there is a rumor circulating that you are a witch. With the way the king was acting, someone said you must have cast a spell on him to drive him to such madness. Don’t worry, I quashed that one. Well, I tried. Then there was one about you being pregnant, which, with your carefree spirit, was much easier for people to believe. There’s only so much one can do to quell rumors at court, as you well know.

Speaking of rumors, there is one that has been of particular interest to me. Someone told me that you didn’t just leave the palace, but you left with the Eastoffe boy. The oldest one, the one who made the sword. They said that you were to be married to him any day now, and that you had been plotting to leave the castle with him for some time.

Naturally, Jameson needs me so much right now that I cannot possibly leave to come and investigate this myself, but if there is any truth to this, I am most anxious to know of it. I think, if this is true, it would do for Jameson what the eve of your engagement did for me: allow him to settle into the inevitable. I think he will be much happier himself once he knows your heart belongs to another.

For what it’s worth, I am sorry things didn’t work out. Just because I’d hoped for Jameson for myself doesn’t mean I wished ruin upon you. Perhaps you won’t believe that—I know I wasn’t the best friend I could have been in recent weeks. But it is true. I’m sorry.

I must be off. I find myself in the center of so much attention these days, and I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

Hope you are well, old friend. Send my best to your family.

Delia Grace

I shook my head and folded up the letter. She might have been sorry, but she didn’t say a word about wishing I was back, about missing me. I still missed her.

“But I bet she does,” I whispered to myself. Delia Grace had a hard enough time mentioning her feelings out loud, so it was no surprise she’d be hesitant to put them in writing. But I knew her as no one else did. My guess was court life was a little lonely these days, even with all of Jameson’s attention. I wouldn’t be shocked to learn she missed me so much, it hurt to write it down.

Someday, I would mend all this.

I picked up the other letter, studying the delicate handwriting, and, flipping it over, I found the Isolten royal seal pressed into the wax.

“Valentina!” I whispered hopefully.

Dear Hollis,

I am both surprised and not surprised by your news. I think, if I had reconsidered before supporting the current rider at the tournament, I would have been much more satisfied with another.

I squinted at the words. Tournament? Pausing, I flipped the letter over and studied the seal again. If I looked closely, I could see where some wax had been melted away and the note resealed before being sent to me.

She warned she might write in code, so my guess was that she was speaking of King Quinten. Yes, I, too, would have gone with a different knight.

I wish so dearly that I could see you again. I could use another game of dice.

. . . talk to me? Be comforted by someone?

I have been working so hard on my garden, but I’m afraid the very rare flower that I planted has wilted. It’s been difficult to stay bright without it.

I paused over that one, thinking it could only have one meaning and hating it.

She’d lost the baby.

I had to sit for a moment and swallow my tears. She’d been so nervous before, and then so happy once she was positive her baby was on the way. That was three now. . . . I couldn’t imagine her suffering.

I do love that I have your letters to look forward to, so once you’re married and settled, do take some time to write me all the details of your special day. I want to feel as if I were in Coroa again, standing beside you, eating honey cakes.

I’m sorry this letter is so brief, but since my garden has waned, I find myself easily tired. I will send you more news soon, telling you all the gossip about the gentry in Isolte, even though you won’t know any of these people at all. The stories themselves are amusing, and I think it might keep you entertained out in the country.

Do take care of yourself, Lady Hollis. Stay well and write soon.

Your dear friend,

Valentina

I sighed. I wished she could be standing by my side, too. Tucking my letters into my skirts, I went to the only person I could talk to about this.





Thirty




IF HE WASN’T HELPING WITH the renovations to the manor, Silas was always in the outbuildings with Sullivan, working on new pieces. It seemed, despite the rumors of our leaving together, he was still receiving commissions. The people of court had seen Eastoffe work firsthand at least twice now, and there was no denying their skill.

I could see him through the large, glassless window, hammering away on metal as Sullivan appeared to be polishing a piece toward the back.

“Good afternoon, sir,” I said, setting myself down on the window ledge.

“My lady!” Silas called, wiping sweat from his face before coming over and kissing me. In the corner, Sullivan stashed his work under some straw. “To what do I owe the honor of your company?”

“I had a question for you.”

Quietly, Sullivan crept out the door. If anyone took the time to watch, it was impossible to miss how sweet he was. He tended to live in his own world in his head, but he wanted to offer others privacy, too. Just in case.

“What do you want to know?”