“What? Why?”
Stepping out from the bench, she pulled me aside by my forearm and lowered her voice while everyone began to chat
amongst themselves. No one seemed to notice our exchange.
“He is not the one for you.”
“Then why is he here?”
“Your brother asked for permission to invite him, and your father granted it, but please Ornella, stay away from him.”
“Are you going to tell me why?”
“For once in your life, just do as you are told,” she demanded harshly.
She let go of me and went back into the group, searching for my father and finding him shortly after, leaving me to question
what she meant.
He was only here for the festival. Perhaps it was Norok who had invited him to the city and not my father? I wasn’t too
sure, as I only recalled the small details. Or was it his father who had been invited? Clasping my hands together in front of me,
I had to compose myself and go back out there, smile and look pretty.
I continued to count down the hours of the evening and attempted to avoid Lord Cole as best as I possibly could. To which I
was sure he noticed. Speaking to any of the other gentlemen in the room aside from him. I didn’t like the feeling of shoving him
aside, but with my mother refusing to take her eyes off me, I knew I wouldn’t be able to speak to him in front of her.
Perhaps we could meet in secret, and I could ask him why I was to stay away. Maybe he was locked in some scandal, and
as a princess, he wouldn’t be up to my station.
Once lunch was over, I was glad of the fresh air as I walked the grounds of my home. Sweet-smelling blossoms and roses
fluttered through the air. No one seemed to notice I had left once more wine was poured and singing started. Only my mother
excused me, expressing that this was no place for a princess.
I found Talia happily sitting on one of the benches, fanning herself as she flicked through what looked to be a gossip
newspaper of some kind. Sitting next to her, I felt my body relax instantly as my shoulders dropped.
“How’d it go?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the pages.
“As best as it could, I will find out tomorrow if Mother is pleased.”
Leaning my head to rest on her shoulder, she shifted slightly to lift herself up. Our height only differed slightly.
“I saw that Lord Cole never took his eyes off you. I snuck a peek while you were playing.”
“Mother has demanded I stay away from him.”
“Well, Mother does know these men best. But then again, isn’t Lord Cole new to court?”
I nodded in agreement and waited to see where this conversation was going. If anyone knew anything about anyone in the