Morg waved her hand again as if it were nothing, as if this were just any other normal day and I wasn’t committing myself
to her brother or her land. My head spun with all the possible answers Nic would give me when I would ask him what he
wished to do, as I would now need to speak with him.
To ask his thoughts on this subject and possibly see what else he was thinking.
“I’m going to find your brother. I will meet you in the dressing room shortly.”
“No problem, Ella I’m sure I heard that he was heading to his study after having a meeting with Percy.” She sipped the last
of her tea as she swung her legs over the arm of her chair. “Try not to get naked before the rites,” she sang, winking at me as
she laughed. I rolled my eyes and left the room. I pushed through the main door, on my way to hunt down Nicholas.
Chapter 34
NICHOLAS
Pacing my study, I kept replaying the words Ornella had said in my mind on a continuous loop. Percy just sat there waiting
for whatever command I had for him. Why was he even here? Did I send for him? I couldn’t remember.
When Ornella didn’t arrive for dinner last night, I knew it was because of my attitude and harsh words. Words I
wasn’t sure I even meant. She’d bruised my ego and vexed me so much that I wanted to hurt her.
Rubbing my temples from the headache that formed behind my eyes from lack of sleep, I tried to calm my racing thoughts.
Percy held his hand up towards me, holding a glass of the strongest brandy we processed. I snatched it out of his hand as I
walked past him.
“I’m guessing you found the princess and shared a few heartfelt words?”
Percy was such a sarcastic prick. He obviously knew by now the village I found Ornella in was burnt to the ground. The
new kitchen maid, or whatever she was going to be, was being introduced to my sisters and the staff this morning.
“She’s really got you in a knot hasn’t she,” he said, more as a statement than a question.
Squeezing my hand tightly, I shattered the glass of brandy. The alcohol didn’t burn the wounds as they appeared and then
healed within the next breath, closing almost instantly.
“You know if you keep breaking glasses, Claire will start shouting at you. I can only keep our delightful housekeeper at bay
for so long,” he said coyly, raising his glass to his lips.
“I am sure as her king, she wouldn’t dare say a word,” I replied, baring my teeth.
“Seriously, Nic, if this girl bothers you so much, send her home and be done with all of this.”
Sitting down with a slouch of my shoulders, I rested my chin on my knuckles. How much shit would happen if I did send
her away? She clearly didn’t want to be here, that was obvious. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the way she looked at me
after I rescued her or the sudden quick beat of my heart as I held her in my arms. Did I truly want to send her away or was I just