Andrew Robinson
Stories
4
Chapters
1,142
Words
1.6 M
Comments
0
Reading
5 d, 16 h
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It took Charles four horribly undignified days of staking out the back wall for him to spot Alpheus and Catherine escaping. They were playfully squabbling about something he couldn't quite catch but it was clear that they were both amused. His heart constricted. How dare she smile so prettily at that buffoon! How dare she jump into his arms to get over the wall! Had she lost her mind? He followed them anyway. They held hands and talked as they walked away from the palace, though he was too far away to…-
42 •
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Charles Lancaster was quite pleased to run into the only woman who had ever interested him. Even more so since her worthless husband wasn't around. A captivating mind like Catherine du Pont's was wasted on such a man. She had strange dressing habits, laughed too much for a noble lady, and seemed to have no sense of decorum after living inside the palace for a while and being allowed too much freedom but that didn't matter to him. As long as he was able enjoy her sharp wit, he could tolerate nearly…
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42 •
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We spent as much time as we could visiting Ayana and Nyla over the next few months. They introduced us to the rest of the family and all of them were interested in reviving the Kanta clan when we brought up the possibility, which surprised me. Nyla, Ido, Nira, and Rhea had all married citizens of Annalaias. But they were peasants so their lives wouldn't change much even if they did move. Nyla's husband was a milkman. Nira and Rhea's husbands sold vegetables in the market. Ido's wife stayed at home with…
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42 •
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That was embarrassing to admit out loud but I didn't want to lie. It had taken the craziness of the last few days for it to finally sink in that I had fallen in love with him. I was even denser than Franz. A glorious smile lit my husband's face and he stroked my cheek with his thumb. What he said next shook me to my very core. He said thank you. He was thanking me for loving him. His life had been so horribly sad and devoid of love that he thought it was necessary to thank me for what I realized now was…
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42 •
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Satisfied, my husband's ferocity melted away in an instant. "And if you allow a word about my true identity to leak out of this room, I'll tell Sigmund all about your plans and we'll get beheaded together. Got that?" I rolled my eyes and elbowed him. "You're such a drama queen." "What's a drama queen?" "A saying from the countryside, I imagine," Mariela said with a slight laugh, saving me once again. I pounced on her explanation gratefully. "Yeah, it means an overly dramatic person." Al shook his…
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42 •
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I stood there staring Franz down as he struggled to find what to say next, rather enjoying myself. It was always fun seeing self-confident people get flustered. Especially when it was because of something I had done. Was I always this petty? No. Coming to this world and dealing with nothing but nobles day in and day out had changed me. "So Alpheus is the clan leader's heir," he said finally. "I should have known. You're an awfully manipulative person, Catherine du Pont. Pushing him to support me so you…
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42 •
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It was decided that I would visit Mariela alone first and gauge how angry Franz was after Al's accusations. I headed to her chambers the moment I was free from morning tea the following day. She lay in bed looking over some of her husband's ledgers while he worked on something else in a chair by the fire when I came in. He raised an eyebrow at me. "I notice your shadow isn't with you this morning." "Franz," Mariela said warningly. "It's alright," I reassured her. That comment could be construed as…
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42 •
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After a few hours of visiting with Ayana and Nyla, we really needed to get back to the palace in time for dinner. Our absence would be noticed if we missed it two days in a row. "Al, we need to go," I told him reluctantly as I watched the sun begin to sink in the sky. Ayana's face fell. "…will you visit us again? I would love to tell you more about the Kanta clan. Anything you want to know. And you have to meet my other children and their families." Al smiled softly at his aunt. "I can't promise when…
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42 •
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Nyla sensed the tension and looked between the two of us. "Right, you said he was your husband. How did the two of you meet?" Al relaxed fractionally since it had nothing to do with his role in the palace. He even managed a tiny, strained smile. "I first saw her at the seaside dancing carelessly in the waves. Less than five minutes later, she was chewing out a doctor for administering improper first aid. That left quite an impression on me so when I saw her again at a dinner party I couldn't stop…
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Nyla's mother Ayana led them into the house and informed them that she had been living with her youngest son since her second husband died but that she bounced back and forth between her children's homes to help with the chores. Settling into a chair by the fire, she gestured for the rest of them to sit down as well. Nyla looked at the two of us in a new light now that she knew that she and Al were related by blood. Finding long-lost family members had been about the last thing I had expected going into…
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