Page 134 of Hawthorne

“He is right,” Harry chimes in. “Everything has changed now. Forget having a normal life from now on…”

A normal life…I never had one.

“Exactly,” Joshua agrees. “You’ll be waiting here,in safety,just as the king expects. Mr Langford can come and go as he pleases to take care of all legal matters for you. I will take care of everything else.”

I nod meekly, resigned to my new reality.

Everyone restarts their robotic walk through the long corridors. It takes about five more minutes until we finally reach huge white double doors.

“Your private chambers, for now, Your Royal Highness.”

Joshua opens the door, and my jaw slackens at the beauty and opulence. It’s decorated in light blues and silvery tones.Stunningand very feminine.

“There’s no–”

“You’ll be given constant updates, and I’ll call for the modiste to come and take your measures. You need formal attire for all the different events that will happen from now on…”

“Can I talk to–”

“Please don’t talk to anyone about this until we have guaranteed everything will happen smoothly and safely.

“But–”

“No buts, Your Royal Highness,” Harry cuts in. “Let us take the lead from here. We won’t disappoint you.”

Disappointment.That’s all I've gotten lately.

But Harry's determined eyes and Joshua’s serious face tell me otherwise. They tell me to trust someone else just one last time. So, I do.

I trust them.

41

Vincent Hawthorne

This house feels dead.So doI.

It’s been a week. One long and fucking miserable week.

That night, I found out my brother had taken Camilla to a hotel first and Harry Langford’s house right afterwards. So, I chose to wait for them at the hotel, thinking I could still try to talk to her.

Say what?

“That I am a coward,” I mumble, answering my own question like a crazy person.

Except my brother came back to the hotel alone and refused to tell me anything else. He’s been staying there alone, too.

No sign of Camilla anywhere, and it is driving me crazy.What happened?

Did my mother do anything?

She’s been too happy here, telling me daily that she is only waiting for the good news of the king’s death. It has nothing to do with Camilla, I am sure…

I have also contacted Rachel, but if she knows anything, she refuses to tell me as well.

The worst is that once the news got out of my official engagement to Eleanor, leaving the house was no longer an option.

That is only heightening my anxiety. My restlessness.

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