AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hadria
Aurora practically stormsinto the dining room, her eyes wide and her breath coming quick and shallow. She's dressed in the gown I chose for her, and despite the gentle colors of dawn she rather reminds me of a flame, quick and fearless, as the light fabric whirls around her like liquid fire. Her hair is a mass of shiny ringlets, flowing around that beautiful face of hers, adding to her air of vulnerability.
And she is still pale, the hollows of her cheeks more pronounced. She might remind me of a flame, but she's burning low.
I extend my hand to her, my fingers tingling slightly as she takes it and I lead her to the table. "Thank you for coming to dinner."
Her chin goes up. "Did I have a choice?"
The vibrant girl I remember might be missing, but she still has that strange fearlessness. But I don't respond to her barb. I just clear my throat and gesture to the table, which she approaches silently, her eyes running over the feast before her.
"Sit."
She sits.
"Eat."
But she does not eat.
This annoys me. I wanted this dinner to go perfectly. I wanted this silly girl to be obedient, to realize that of the fates she could have suffered, this one is the best of the lot. I pile up a plate of food and slam it down in front of her, making her jump.
And immediately I regret taking such a harsh approach. I sit back down and reconsider.
"Aurora," I say, softening my tone. "Why don't you tell me about yourself?"
She looks at me warily. "For one thing, I'm a vegetarian," she says at last.
I survey the vast spread of meat dishes laid out before us and can't help but laugh.
Aurora smiles a little, too.
I call for staff to clear away everything that is not suitable for a vegetarian. Then I carefully re-serve Aurora a new plate piled high with greens, roasted vegetables, and pasta. "There," I say, setting it gently before her. "Noweat. And tell me more about yourself."
I want to know her better so that I can help her understand her place here. Lyssa is better at this kind of thing than I am; I'm not exactly a people person. But I've picked up a few skills from my best friend over the years.
Aurora finally picks up her fork and starts eating. Score one to Hadria, at least.
But the awkward silence remains between us. "There's nothing much to tell," she says after a few mouthfuls.
And I'm not accustomed to dining with others, let alone making small talk.
"Well…" I begin, cursing myself for the ineloquent start. "What are your interests?"
She looks up, surprise flickering across her face. "Oh, I…" she begins hesitantly. "I like gardening."
I can't help a small snort. "Plantsare your passion?"
Her eyes flash, but with animation rather than anger. "I love tending to living things, watching them grow. And they give us so much—food, oxygen…"
Her enthusiasm is catching. I couldn't care less about gardening, but I find myself drawn in. And underneath the shy exterior is that bright spirit I remember.
And then she goes and ruins everything.
"That's why I wanted to ask you again," she says, "if I could go outside. Into the gardens. Even once a week…"
She trails off as I raise an eyebrow. But I consider her request. My first instinct is refusal, of course. I can't risk her trying to escape into the woods that border the estate. But something in her pleading eyes stops me giving an instantNo.
"The gardens," I repeat, keeping my voice neutral. "You want to spend time among the flowers and trees?"
