Page 40 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1
I sigh. "I don't want to be her friend if she's going to talk to you that way."
"It's not about being friends, Beatrice, it's about not making someone an enemy."
"What House is she even from?" I ask.
Emilia frowns. "I'm not sure. One of the smaller ones, I think. But she could marry into a more powerful one. Or worse, into the same House as you."
"I suppose my brother is probably eligible," I muse. And there would be something poetic in him ending up married to someone he didn't choose after what he's putting me through, though I doubt he'll see it that way.
"You shouldn't even joke about that or you'll find her running House Rothorne." It doesn't seem likely that she's joking from her tone. There's a very real possibility that could end up happening.
"Lord Fallmartin is too clever for that," I say. And I'd like to think he'd want a union with a more powerful House than Harriet's to begin with. If he's going to sell us off to the highest bidders, then it's going to be in a way that benefits House Rothorne, like what he's doing with Eliza.
"No one is too clever for that," Emilia murmurs. "I know that much already. I thought your friend was helping you learn about how the court works?"
"I'm getting there," I promise her. And I am. I know far more about the way everything works than I did when I first arrived.
"Hmm."
We reach her family apartments and say our goodbyes. A part of me hesitates and wonders if I should invite her on my walk with Pip, but considering she's already said that walking around the castle is boring, I don't want to impose. Though it reminds me that I did want to take Pip outside the castle at some point soon. We've been cooped up here too long and it would be good for me to go and get some fresh air.
My thoughts race as I make my way into the Rothorne apartments. Everything looks much the same as they always do, which doesn't mean much. As far as I can tell, Lord Fallmartin does his business in his office, while my cousins do whatever it is they do with their time. I should be grateful for it as it means that I get left to my own devices, but in reality, it just makes me feel as if I'm being abandoned to deal with this new world completely alone. Aside from the etiquette lessons.
I'm lucky that I met Linc, even if it is making it seem as if I have a secret lover for me to be spending time with him. At least he's being honest with me when I ask questions and giving me a sense that I actually stand a chance at understanding the world around me. And he seems to like spending time with me, making it possible for me to head up to the library after I've walked Pip.
Though if I'm completely honest with myself, it's not just the chance to learn more about my new reality that makes me keep returning to the library.
It's also him.
FOUR
The fresh air is a welcome change from being inside all the time, even if I understand the need to stay out of the sun. The early morning air is crisp, and there's a hint of the sky lightening on the horizon, meaning I should get back into the safety of the castle. No one has told me how much sun is deadly to vampires, and I don't want to find out by accident.
But I can have a few minutes more out here before I have to face another family breakfast. I run my hand over the dry stone wall while Pip takes a chance to sniff at it. Everything feels more natural out here, more at one with the way things should be. I know it's mostly in my head, and that this is all still part of Castle Sanulieon, but it feels different. I should bring Pip out here more often.
She bounces over to a tree and does her business, looking back at me with her tongue hanging out of her mouth and what looks like a wide grin.
"You can run," I say to her. "I brought the long lead." I lift it up in my hand so she can see, though whether she understands is a whole other matter.
She gives me a confused look, so I just let her do whatever she wants. It's nice to have a variety of leads for her, but we're not used to it, and there's a part of me that misses the twine I used to walk her on. The way it felt in my hands grounded me in a way that nothing else did.
I lose myself in my thoughts as we make our way around the edge of the forest and back up to the castle. It isn't as imposing from up close as it was from town, or maybe I'm just used to it. Not everything about being here is awful. I like the new friends I'm making, and I enjoy spending time with Linc in the library. Learning to read better and not having to eat the same vegetable stew every night. The blood bit isn't even that bad if I'm honest, at least it tastes nice.
A shiver runs through me as a bitter wind starts to pick up. The sky is getting lighter at a worrying rate now, and I know I need to head back inside.
"Come on, Pip," I call to my dog.
She looks up from the end of her lead, a displeased expression on her face.
"I know you want to stay outside, but dawn's nearly here and we have to get inside before anyone notices we're gone." Not that anyone other than Bastian is going to care. Lord Fallmartin doesn't seem to mind what I do so long as I'm not in his way.
She lets out a low whimper.
"I know." My heart aches that I can't let her stay out here, but I'm not the only one at risk from frying in the sun. "We'll come back later in the week," I promise.
She eventually relents and trots over to me.
"There'll be breakfast inside," I say to her. "At least that's an advantage."
