Page 11 of Pawns of Fate
With a fluffy brush, Rose put a bit more powder on her face and remembered the way her skin tingled after Nicholas kissed her hand.Nicholas was very attractive, she thought as a little color rose to her cheeks.
Ava had described Nicholas as persnickety and overbearing, but Rose hadn’t gotten that impression of him at all. He seemed like an honorable lord to her, which led her to recall the most recent romance novel she’d read. It was about a knight who fell in love with the daughter of a cruel duke. Rose remembered the scene where they spent the night at an inn together, especially the vivid descriptions of the knight’s body, hardened through years of training and battle. She pictured herself and Nicholas in the same situation, and her hand, which had been applying powder to her face, slowed as her thoughts drifted further from reality.
Horns sounded, startling her from her imagination. When she glanced toward the window, the horn sounded again, signaling the Sharp family’s arrival. A few servants, followed by her aunt, burst into her room.
“It’s time, it’s time!” Ghislaine proclaimed, then whisked Rose out of her room and through the castle halls.
Hector met them at the doors, dressed in his finest jacket. The bright red color looked flattering against Hector’s pink hair and pale skin. Her aunt had worn what must be a new surcoat.It had a large, silvery floral print embroidered on the sleeves. She’d swept her graying hair into a towering beehive.
Despite her efforts to stay calm, Rose found her heart fluttering a bit as her aunt and uncle swung open the door to the castle and guided her toward the front gates.
Sitting on a large, white charger, Nicholas Sharp looked like an honorable knight from the romance novels Rose enjoyed. He wore leggings and riding boots, and his light green tunic was adorned with delicate, golden thread designs. The simple elegance of the outfit added to Nicholas’s aristocratic demeanor.
Rose looked closer at him than when he had briefly talked with her and Ava in the garden. Nicholas was slightly above average height, and his build was lean, although he had broad shoulders. His face was classically attractive, and his expression conveyed intelligence, just as her uncle had said. He had a strong chin, pensive lips, and a straight nose. His skin was almost as pale as hers, and his eyes sparkled like sapphires. But what Rose noticed most was his wavy, silver hair that nearly reached his sharp jawline.
Marquess Matthew Sharp dismounted his horse. Nervousness pinched Rose’s neck as she realized this was her future father-in-law. She curtsied as he and Nicholas approached.
“Marquess Sharp!” her uncle greeted the man after completing the formal bows.
“Viscount Robson!” the man responded cheerfully.
“We’re so happy both of you have arrived safely,” Aunt Ghislaine said as she curtseyed.
“Yes, Nicholas and I are glad to be done with the journey,short though it was,” he replied. “Shall we introduce our two love birds?”
Her aunt and uncle nodded, chuckling in agreement. Rose’s cheeks flushed pinker than her hair, and her heart jumped into her throat.
“This is my son, Nicholas,” the marquess said as he guided Nicholas forward.
Once he was directly in front of Rose, Nicholas bent down on one knee.
Rose offered her hand, and Nicholas took it gently into his and kissed it. The same thrill as before tingled through her skin. He looked up at her through silver lashes, and she thought her heart might burst.
Rose almost forgot to curtsey, but she managed a simple reverence as she dipped down. Nicholas stood up and bowed.
“I’m pleased to meet you formally, Lady Rose.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, as well, Lord Nicholas,” Rose replied, desperately trying to calm her racing heart.
He gave her a quick, sly wink, then bent down to whisper in her ear. “I promise not to scold you anymore. Ava gave me a thorough lecture after the party.”
Rose smiled and felt her nerves start to untangle.
“Look, they’re already getting along!” Her uncle beamed.
Marquess Sharp nodded his agreement with considerably less enthusiasm than her uncle. The slight frown on his face gave Rose pause.
“I was simply apologizing for my rude behavior at Luanna’s coming-of-age celebration,” Nicholas replied with a hint ofsmug amusement. It warmed Rose’s heart to see somebody else annoyed with Hector’s antics.
“Nothing to apologize for, my boy! I’m certain. Now, Ghislaine has prepared a delightful afternoon tea for us. Shall we head inside?”
The five of them made their way to the castle’s tea room, where two maids served them a crisp, light tea with fresh fruit and flaky pastries. Rose found herself in the rare position of being grateful for something her uncle had done, because her etiquette refresher classes came in handy while she tried to eat the delicate pastries in a manner befitting a lady.
“Have you sent any more scouting parties into the swamps?” Marquess Sharp asked, selecting a piece of fruit.
“One went out three days ago,” Hector said, setting down his tea, the porcelain cup clinking against its plate. “I sent five men and only three returned. They ran into a school of swamp octupi and each of the monsters was larger than a bull.”
Her aunt gasped, clutching a rope of invisible pearls. Rose stifled a laugh, then noticed that Nicholas was watching her with a twinkle in his eye. She picked up her teacup and took a long sip to maintain her composure. His glances shouldn’t please her so much. But did she really want to fight the warm glow that radiated in her chest?
