She didn’t say anything, or question my words, just simply nodded, and listened.
“I know how difficult Nicholas can be. As his youngest sister, I possibly vex him the most but trust me, he’s loyal. I heard
you found him in the summer house last night. That’s progress!”
“He said some hurtful things while we were there. He knows I only agreed to marry him to save my brother’s life,” I
admitted.
“And now? My sisters tell me your memories of each other have returned, surely that’s something,” she assured me.
How did his sisters know about my memories? Were they closer than I originally thought? After seeing how Nicholas spoke
to Vanessa in the hall and the cold shoulder he seemed to give Morgana, I assumed he found them to be a burden. Well aside
from April. Perhaps they shared a lot more with each other when they were alone.
“I may remember him, but he’s not the same as he once was. Something in him has changed.”
I brought my knees up against my chest and wrapped my arms tightly around them. I shivered, but not from the cold as the
fire was roaring in my room. It was more so a shake from the rush of feelings.
“Ornella, you’d change if you saw the things he’s seen and had to do the things a king must. I’ve watched my brother turn
into a hard shell of a man, but deep down, I know his softness is still there. I see it sometimes when he’s looking at you. He
doesn’t always know I’m watching, but I can tell he feels more for you then he’s letting on. Perhaps more than he wants to
admit even to himself.”
Her attempt at comforting me was appreciated, but I still questioned which Nicholas I knew now. Was he King Nicholas all
the time? Lord Cole? The stable boy? Or my shadow man? So many faces for one person, it was difficult not to be conflicted
and confused.
“Listen, tomorrow you will be married. For now, as it is still very early, try and get some rest. I will come back in a few
hours and perhaps we can go for a walk around the gardens. You can see the jewellery Nicholas had commissioned for you.
Then you are to do your rites of marriage.”
As she went to get up, I grabbed her by the hand tightly. I had absolutely no idea what she was even talking about. Without a
tutor as such and with me avoiding books that featured the words marriage or wedding, I hadn’t a clue what the rites were for
the ceremony.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumbled.
She looked at me bewildered before settling back down beside me. “Please tell me you haven’t been neglecting the reading
list April gave you?”
“Ummm, well I have done some of it.”
“Ornella, she will be so angry with you! Right, no sleep for you then,” she says, tutting with disapproval.
