amused when she found out he and I had been speaking.
“Lord Cole, may I ask you something?”
“Cole, please, your highness. And of course, you may ask me anything.”
I bit the bottom of my lip, wondering if I should continue as my question would be deemed personal and perhaps it would
anger him to find me nosy.
“My brother, Norok, he—eh—he mentioned to me that you are,” pausing, I wasn’t sure how to word my question. Finally, I
rushed out, “He mentioned you are always with the ladies of the court. Is that true?”
Cole laughed a little under his breath and I felt stupid for mentioning anything. Why was I even asking such a thing? He was
his own person, and as Mother would say, men have needs. Perhaps his needs were far greater than most.
“I will let you in on a secret,” he leaned forward a bit more. His breath smelled more like peppermint tea. “I am heir to a
vast fortune and most of the ladies you speak of, it seems they flock to me once they have heard about such a fortune.”
Had Norok lied about Cole needing to marry for money and station? Or was that just another rumour that floated through the
court?
“But, I am afraid I am already spoken for,” he admitted softly.
My heart flooded with disappointment at his words. The feeling of sadness washed over me. He was already spoken for?
My shoulders slumped a little as his words settled in.
I did not care for his fortune. I had hoped we would get to know one another and perhaps become something more. I was
already spoiled, so it no longer mattered truthfully how pure I was for my future husband. I just hoped we would become
closer, founder of each other, and perhaps, when the time came, I would explain to him what happened.
Well, a long time after Dorian had met the ferryboat of the dead.
“Oh, she is a fortunate lady then,” I amended calmly.
It’s all I could master up to say as I turned away a little to look back out the window, hoping we would be arriving home
soon.
“It’s a shame though, I do not think she knows how I feel. But in due course, I am sure she will find out.”
Looking back quickly, my face gave away what my thoughts were. She did not know of his feelings? Or was she betrothed
and had not met him just yet? My mind raced with the possibilities of who this lady could be and why she was kept in the dark
about her future husband.
“Well, I hope you will be able to tell her one day,” I told him.
“One day, yes.”
His smile captivated me and soon the carriage came to a stop. The coach man opened the door, to allow us to get out. Cole