The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1) - Kiera Cass Page 0,71

like a lady. She walked over, giving me a warm embrace.

“All ready?” she asked.

“Yes. The dress is a bit long on me, but at least it’s not a muddy ball gown. Thank you all again.”

She laughed. “Anything for you, darling girl. Let’s get going. Your parents will have a lot to say to you, and I don’t want to keep them waiting. I’m sure they’ve got enough to dislike me for at the moment,” she added with a wink.

I followed obediently into the coach, and we sat in comfortable silence for most of the ride to my house.

“Silas says you two would like to be married quickly. Are you quite sure about that? You were just in a very serious relationship,” she offered.

“No, I wasn’t.” I looked away, going through the memories in my head. “It was short. And manipulative. And one-sided. I was so caught up in the fun of being elevated that I didn’t see for a long time how Jameson was treating me. I hate to admit this, and you must never tell him I said it . . . but Etan was right. Jameson wanted me to be pretty and entertaining, but never to think or fail. I’m not sure that can be called a relationship. Not really.”

She shook her head, an understanding smile on her face. “No, I suppose it can’t.”

“I love Silas. He sees me as I am and loves me with all my faults. I don’t want to wait when I already know.”

She patted my leg, looking quite pleased. “Sounds a lot like me when I found Dashiell. There were people who warned me about rushing, of course . . . but I couldn’t help it. He swept me off my feet.”

That was a feeling I knew all too well. When it was real, there was nothing to be done.

We pulled up on the main road to Varinger Hall, and as we rounded to a stop, I saw my parents waiting for me on the front steps. Mother had her gloves on, which meant she didn’t plan to be there for long.

“Oh dear,” I muttered.

“That doesn’t look good. Should I stay?”

“No. They’ll want to talk to me alone. I’ll send a letter once things calm down.”

I stepped out of the carriage, turning to wave to Lady Eastoffe before facing my parents.

Father pointed, and I saw that, just in front of the carriage I’d gotten out of, another one was waiting.

“Get in,” he insisted.

“Where are we going?”

My mother crossed her arms. “To the castle. You are going to beg King Jameson for forgiveness and smooth this over before another girl catches his eye.”

“I would be delighted if that happened! Jameson deserves someone who understands his position, who’s suited to be royalty.”

“You are suited to be royalty,” Mother insisted, coming down the steps. “We are suited to be royalty! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Claudia,” Father said warningly.

“I haven’t forgotten,” she shot back. I realized then they were keeping secrets from me, and I didn’t have the slightest idea what they were. “Hollis, I hate to disappoint you, but you cannot marry this boy. He’s common. He’s Isolten.”

“Mother,” I urged her under my breath. Lady Eastoffe was still right behind us.

“She knows she’s a foreigner! That her son is! How could it be missed? Hollis, your departure has made us the laughingstock of court. Now, you will get in that carriage and make this right before anyone realizes why you left. The king has been so generous with you! He adores you! And if you give him the opportunity, I’m sure he would do everything he could to make you happy.”

“Perhaps he would, Mother,” I replied, my quiet voice almost startling next to her barks. “But try as he may, he would fail. I don’t love him.”

She stared at me, refusing to budge. “Hollis, so help me, you will get in that carriage.”

“Or?”

“Or you will be on your own,” my father finished.

I watched him, trying to understand. Behind him, the front doors were shut tight, and my parents were in their traveling clothes. I only just then saw the trunk that I’d taken to the castle was sitting on the steps.

I was never going into my house, not if I didn’t agree to go back to Jameson.

“I’m your only child,” I whispered. “I know I wasn’t a boy, and I was never as smart or talented as you would have hoped, but I have done my best. Don’t lock me out of my