Page 13 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

My hands tremble as I’m writing these words, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I gulp the air into my lungs.

Howard Dawson.

The most handsome man I have ever seen in my life.

When he walked into my father’s office—dark hair, mesmerizing eyes, and his muscled body wrapped in a gray suit—my stomach flipped, and for a second, the world around me ceased to exist.

All I could do was stare at him, resisting the urge to run to him and touch his face, to make sure he was real.

A dream come true, the white knight in shining armor, my true love who was always meant to come to the castle and rescue me from my strict father.

While I stood in awe of him though, he didn’t even spare me a glance, addressing only my father who, with an annoyed flick of his hand, ordered me to leave them alone, which I did.

I have to listen to his orders, even if my sister Matilda says I don’t have to do it; according to her, I should show a little rebellion to accomplish my dreams.

Maybe that’s why she waved her middle finger at him and ran away with some musician, shouting at Daddy that she didn’t want his money or influence to make it in this world.

Based on the newspapers the maids sneak inside the castle for me, they got married a few months ago, and she has even started to sing duets with him.

When she chose him, I felt resentment toward her. She just abandoned me to be with some random guy….

After meeting Howard, I think I understand. If she fell in love with her guy the way I just did with mine… she did the right thing.

My love will always stay unrequited, so there is no hope of him ever offering for me to run away with him.

But I’m grateful, as I thought I wouldn’t even get that in my sheltered life.

I’m eighteen years old, and despite all the invisible chains my father has placed on me, my soul is soaring from this overwhelming emotion warming me from the inside out.

Briseis

A loud knock echoes in the room as I come out of the bathroom, drying my hair with a towel, and since I’m wearing a bathrobe, I call, “Come in.”

A hand holding a black garment bag comes into view followed by a stunning redhead as she peeks inside, winking at me, and exclaims with her arms wide open. “What happens when your best friend comes back and doesn’t inform you?”

Dropping the towel, I scream in delight, followed by her giggle, and rush toward her, enveloping her in a tight hug, my arms wrapped around her neck. “Lenora!” We rock from side to side, the dress rustling between us as I lean back, noticing how radiant her skin with freckles is and how slender her form is in her floral dress. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

She huffs in exasperation before flicking her hair back and scans her gaze all over me. “No thanks to you. If it weren’t for the old hag spitting at my grandpa about your lack of manners, I’d still have no clue. Girl, I missed you!” I chuckle at what she calls Grandmother, never hiding her emotions toward her even though she grew up in this house. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She sounds hurt and rightfully so. We’ve been friends for the last sixteen years. After I was banished from Chicago, Eliot arranged for her to come visit me every summer, so our bond became stronger with time.

Lenora is the only person I can trust with my darkest secrets and not be afraid she might use them against me.

I sigh heavily, stepping back. “Because I’m a fool.”

She shuts the door with her foot and walks farther into the room, putting the bag on the bed carefully before placing her hands on her hips while facing me.

I groan inwardly, knowing it’s impossible to hide from her prying eyes. “You thought the old hag invited you for a family reunion?” My silence is all the answer she needs, her brows furrowing, and she asks another question. “She didn’t?”

“Nope. Just wants to make sure I keep my mouth shut.” I pick up the towel from the floor and throw it in the basket. “In short, it’s nothing new.”

“I’m sorry, babe.”

“Me too.” I thread my fingers in my hair, shuffling it a little and almost crying in distress when I feel some of it is dry already, which means I won’t have much control over the heavy locks already forming on my head. It’ll be hell trying to straighten them for tonight’s party.

I go to the huge vertical mirror in the left corner right next to the balcony door where bright sunlight streams into the room through the purple curtain, creating almost magical lighting around the room.

To my shock, everything here stayed the same: the white furniture consisting of the bed, two bedside tables, and a cushy chair in the right corner with the round table.

A small closet is located right next to the bathroom, which only has a bathtub as Clare, my father’s wife, thought having a shower there as well would have been too much of a luxury for me to have.

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