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Shame warmed my cheeks. What had Emrys thought of my helplessness? Was he like so many men before? They had all been eager to leave me behind. From so many suitors’ perspectives, I was a useless female. Unable to work, oversee a household, or do anything strenuous. Due to my mysterious illness, most feared I couldn’t even give them children. The very fear my brother hoped to avoid instilling in my prospective suitors now. Putting my own fears aside, I focused on the closest distraction, the volume in my hand.
Lifting the book closer to my face, I peered at the title in the low light:Lady Allalora’s Elvish Grammar for Young Humans. I brightened in excitement. Could it be what I had hoped for? I flipped hurriedly to the first page, only to have a bit of folded paper fall into my lap. Scrawled across the side in firm, neat handwriting was my name. Within, I found a note from Emrys.
Kate,
I hope you find the grammar helpful despite it being written for children. I couldn’t find a better option in my library. All of my grammars are for Elvish to Common, which I suspect you would find useless. Perhaps, given time, I might rectify the gap in my collection, but until then, this must suffice.
Unfortunately, you might find the human language in this grammar to be archaic. I believe they wrote it for an influx of orphaned human children adopted after a great tragedy over three centuries ago. Still, it seemed a good starting place until I can assist you myself. Might I humbly suggest you begin with the alphabet and pronunciation guide in the first chapters?
Your friend,
Emrys
My heart warmed as I rubbed my finger across his closing. When had someone last called me a friend? Years had passed since my last friend had left the neighborhood in the company of her new husband. And before that, everyone else had abandoned me when my world shrunk as my symptoms began manifesting.
Shoving aside the memories, I willed myself to not dwell in the past. Better to live in the present. Someone had just called me a friend.
Recalling Emrys’ reserved reactions and silent amusement, I closed my eyes. My chest warmed with pleasure. Unlike those who had left me behind, I suspected Emrys didn’t use terms of affection lightly.
If I rested all day, I would most likely be well enough to converse and recall the night visit. Perhaps I would be well enough to learn some Elvish words.
“Kate!” My bedroom door burst open, and Laurence strode through. In his wake, a maid hurried into the room. The girl immediately rushed to the window and threw open the drapes, blinding me and Laurence with the sudden flood of sunlight across the room. “What are you doing still abed!” Laurence demanded as he shielded his face from the glare.
“Last night was a difficult night.” I slipped the note into the book and shoved them under my leg before Laurence had blinked away the momentary blindness from the sunlight.
“I would say. You excused yourself before the last guest left.”
“An attack was imminent, and you said you didn’t wish for others to see.”
“Yes, yes,” he said dismissively, waving for me to be silent. “That is all well and good, of course, but I have even better news. You have a suitor!” He waved in the direction of the way he had come. “Lord LaRue paid a call upon me this morning and requested permission to court you.”
A rush of icy panic washed over me at his pleased expression. “You said you would ask me, right?”
“No.” He reared back slightly. “I did no such thing. I gave my permission, of course.” Glimpsing my expression, he rushed to say more. “He is titled, so wealthy that none could call him a gold digger, and mannerly.”
“He is also greedy, cruel, and treats women like objects to be used and tossed aside. He taxes his serfs to excess and has locked his mother away in a room in his country estate. He won’t let her see anyone.” There was nothing to indicate Lord LaRue wouldn’t do the same to his wife should she disagree with him. I left the obvious conclusion unspoken because I knew that Laurence would say it was pure speculation. “To accept his courtship is wrong since I have no intention of accepting any proposal from him ever.” Not to mention I found his condescending manner toward me repugnant.
My brother glared at me. “You will accept his courtship and graciously accept any proposal he offers you.”
“You told me I had my choice of husband,” I reminded him.
“That was before.”
“Before what? Before they crowned you king? Before the power of your position went to your head? Before you decided your throne’s security was of more importance than your promise to your sister?”
“Don’t be like that, Kate.” He sighed heavily, and for a moment, the man standing in the middle of my bedroom no longer looked like a king, but my brother. Weary and careworn, he regarded me sadly. “Before I realized you might give away your condition at any moment and ruin all chances of finding you a husband.” He rubbed his face. “You are aging. We might already be too late. We can’t wait a year or more for you to find a husband and have children. I need them now.”
“And what about my needs?” I asked.
He exhaled. “They matter. LaRue will provide for you.”
“Financially, not emotionally,” I pointed out.
“I will see he doesn’t beat you.”
I snorted. “Just like you are letting me have my choice.”
Anger contorted his features. “Badly done, Kate. You have no call—”
