“Do you know him well?” I asked, too nervous to stay quiet.
“Well enough,” she said without going into any details.
She did not trust me, I could feel it with every bone of my body.
“Did you grow up together?”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“He was training the last time I saw him.”
“I see.”
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with the two of you, but I have to warn you. If you ever hurt him... I don’t know what I’ll do to you, but it ain’t gonna be pretty.”
“I get it.”
We passed the main hall and, finally, entered the inner yard. My eyes roamed the open area in hopes of finding the tall, familiar figure. When I finally saw him, the feeling of relief did not fill my chest; instead confusion and worry had taken its place. He was talking to a woman who stood too close to him which indicated that they knew each other really well. Her long skirt brushed his pants and her hand was on his forearm. The court lady was very pretty, with shiny, brown hair and beautiful eyes. She looked up at him with a soft smile playing on her lips.
“Damn, Gabrielle.” Samantha hissed.
“Who’s Gabrielle?” I asked, but my companion did not answer right away.
“She was... they were together. But that was a long time ago. I don’t know why she’s here. Come on, let's break up that party of two.”
“No . . . I . . . No.”
“What? Why?” Samantha took two steps forward then turned, watching me, her eyebrows furrowed.
“I changed my mind.” I turned away.
“But why?”
“I need to go back.” Tears started to roll down my cheeks, and I rushed back to the building.
“Wait.”
I whimpered, going up the stairs.
“It’s not what you think.” she called behind me.
My stupid heart was breaking into pieces. After everything that happened to me over the last couple of days, I did not think I could take anything else. I was naive to think that what was happening before was bad. I had no idea that things can always turn for the worse. On the verge of panic, I got to my room and closed the door behind me, leaving Samantha in the corridor. This was pathetic, I was pathetic, and weak and broken. But my chest was tearing apart and I could not handle the pain. I had been alone for so long, with no one to confide in, no one I could trust.
When Sally brought the whitebane the next morning, I was almost inclined to drink it, because I barely slept and felt absolutely awful. When she told me that I had dinner plans with my fiance, I did not even have it in me to react. I just stared at her without any expression on my face. Sally furrowed her eyebrows and disappeared into the closet. I took the opportunity to get rid of the poison, and sat back in my bed like nothing happened.
“How do you feel, milady?” she asked while preparing my dress for the day.
“I’m good. Thank you.”
“I just want to say that I’m very happy that you chose Lord Rutherford. He’s so good looking. You are going to be the most beautiful couple.”
“Thank you, Sally.”
