Page 15 of The Pureblood Princess
She allows him to take it, and he presses a kiss to her knuckles, his blue eyes cold as he looks up at her. His steely gaze cuts to Theodore a moment later, and a smirk curls his lips.
“The pleasure was all mine,” Nadia says, though there’s no joy in her voice. She wants nothing more than for them all to climb into their carriages and finally be off. Only then will she even begin to find solace in this manor.
Marek follows after his brother, his expression passive. “Lord Rosetti, Miss Magdalena. Congratulations again on your upcoming nuptials.” He bows his dark-haired head, then proceeds toward the carriages.
Next to exit the manor is Nadia’s least favorite Kazamir of them all: Honora.
Her golden hair is lustrous even in the gray light, her face a portrait of beauty. She descends the manor steps like an angel alighting from heaven, her dress trailing delicately behind her, her pink lips puckered into an expression of solemnity.
Now that Nadia knows the truth—that Honora was to be Theodore’s bride—she watches her with renewed indignation. Every move of her hand and tilt of her head is polished, precise,perfect. They would’ve been beautiful together, and that realization has Nadia silently seething.
And then Honora is standing before Theodore, her blue eyes swimming with something like sadness, and Nadia cuts her gazeaway as the viscount lifts Honora’s ungloved hand and presses a delicate kiss against it.
“Safe travels, Miss Kazamir,” Theodore says.
Nadia’s fingers curl tighter about her parasol, and she has to remind herself to unclench her teeth. Contessa, who stands beside Nadia, reaches over subtly and gives Nadia’s hand a squeeze. Glancing at her, Nadia finds a gentle smile on Contessa’s face. She takes a breath and releases her fist, then turns back to Honora.
“Well, I suppose this is goodbye.” Honora stands in front of her now, eye to eye, and up close, she’s even more exquisite. “I can’t say it was a pleasure.”
Nadia draws herself up, trying to resist the primal urge to tear her throat out. “Nor can I.”
Honora’s gaze shifts quickly to Theodore, and then she leans forward, her pink lips brushing the delicate hair around Nadia’s ear. “I know what you’ve done,” she whispers, sending a tingle down Nadia’s back. “I heard you in the library last night. Not so pure after all, are you,curva?” She chuckles. “Perhaps that’s why the viscount proposed. But men do tire of the toys they already have.” She glances at Theodore, her lips curling as though she’s looking at her next meal. “When he tires of you, I’ll be waiting.”
“You should be on your way, Miss Kazamir,” Contessa snaps, her green eyes sharp. “You wouldn’t want to keep your family waiting.”
Honora steps back from Nadia, a polished smile upon her mouth. “Of course not. I’ll take my leave. Until next time.”
And then she’s drifting off, her golden hair floating behind her, and she vanishes into her brothers’ waiting carriage with one last sharp look over her shoulder.
Once the door finally clicks closed and the horses start to move, Nadia lets out a sigh.
“What did that word mean?” she whispers to Contessa. “Curva?”
Contessa averts her gaze as she says, “Whore.”
A jolt goes down Nadia’s spine, and she wonders if it’s too late to rip Honora from the carriage and drive her face into the mud. Alas, the carriages are already departing the courtyard, rolling through the iron gates.
Honora’s vile words echo in Nadia’s head. She glances at Theodore and finds him staring after the carriages, a furrow in his brow.
He wouldn’t ever tire of her, would he? Other men may seek companionship with women of the night, but she and Theodore are bonded, and as he said to Lord Kazamir, that changes everything.
Right?
Chapter Six
“Mama!” Nadia rushes out thedoor and down the steps to where her mother waits beside the carriage. Lady Gray lets out a gentle gasp of surprise as Nadia wraps her in a strong embrace, squeezing her tighter than she can ever remember.
“Oh, my sweet child,” Lady Gray says, returning Nadia’s hug and stroking a loving hand down her hair. “How I’ve missed you. Come, let me get a good look at you.” She steps back, and her eyes sweep up and down Nadia’s body.
Nadia used to simmer under her mother’s daily assessment, but now she stands tall and proud, just grateful to have her mother with her again.
“You look... beautiful,” Lady Gray says, and her brown eyes swim with tears. Stepping a bit closer, she whispers, “Are they treating you well here? Are you being cared after?”
“Yes, Mama. You needn’t worry about that, I assure you.”
Behind Lady Gray, another woman steps out of the carriage, her beautiful strawberry hair ruffled from the long journey.
“Eliza! You came!”
