Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I did not understand until I saw my father’s amused expression as my mother paced in front of him, ranting angrily. When he caught my eye, he winked.
Oh…they were terrible.
“Well, are you going or not?” Hathor asked.
“I shall get you for this,” I whispered to her. As my mother went on, I made my escape, turning left in the hall before going down the stairs and out the double doors into the gardens. And there he was, standing beside the row of juniper trees.
“You have colluded with my father?”
He turned to me, grinning. “Forgive me. It was his request, and I saw fit not to go against him in anything and risk my chance. Were you dismayed?”
“Not at all,” I lied, placing my hands behind my back as I walked to him. “I saw through your little game immediately.”
“I see.” He looked me over carefully. “Then I shall not withhold this part any longer.”
I stepped closer, and he opened his mouth, but not a word came out. Instead, he just laughed gently.
“What is it?”
“Everything,” he replied, lifting his head to meet mine. “I stand before you, Aphrodite, full of everything, from nerves to hopes, to the greatest of happiness, and most of all, the deepest of love. I have long loved you to a degree and passion that nearly drives me mad. The sight of you is like the sun, and the last four years without you left me in a dark abyss. I thought I would never escape it, and then you rose again in my life. And now I know that as birds need the sky and fish the water, I need you. I could not know any other honor than to be called your husband—if you shall have me? If you will be my wife?”
I inhaled as if I had been underwater for the longest time and could only now fill my lungs with air. My eyes stung from the tears, the grin spread across my face, and I wished to speak, but the lump in my throat would not let me. I could only nod.
“Truly?” the silly man asked.
“Yes,” the word squeaked out. “Yes, I shall be your wife.”
He exhaled and laughed. Taking my hands into his, he brought them to his lips and kissed both knuckles. “Then let us finally wed.”
“Yes.” Now that was the only word I knew to say.
We stared at each other, our faces so close that we surely would have kissed had it not been for the small giggle I heard behind me.
I turned to see Devana putting her hand over Abena’s mouth. But Abena pulled away and said, “So, is this really happening now?”
“Abena!” I said sharply, glaring at her. But Evander laughed and lifted our entwined hands.
“Yes, it is truly happening. Do I have your blessing?” Evander asked her.
“Yes!” Devana nodded happily.
“If you wanted our blessing, should you not have asked earlier?” Abena questioned with her arms crossed.
“Abena!” I scolded.
“You are very much right, my lady.” Evander humored her. “How can I atone for the delay?”
I looked at him. “Evander, you do not need—”
“You shall let her visit,” Abena said sternly. “Or I can come to visit…a lot.”
“Of course! All of you are always welcome at Everely, and we shall never be far. We shall visit as often as your sister wishes.”
Abena observed him, then nodded. She looked at me then ran back into the house. Devana watched her go and then focused on me. “Sorry to interrupt, but can we save Papa now?”
“Save Papa from what?”
“Mama. She is still angry.”
My eyes widened. “He has not told her yet that he was merely joking?”
She shook her head of blonde curls.
“Your father is very peculiar.” Evander laughed. “Shall we rescue him?”
“Please.” I nodded, fully aware that we were still holding hands, because his touch was like a warm fire. It did not burn, but it did make me feel sort of strange. Though we were now engaged, to be holding hands like this was still a bit forward, which was why some of the servants who saw us nearly had their eyes pop out of their heads while others grinned and a few looked away quickly. I was sure by high tea the talk would have spread.
However, I could not focus on anything but my mama as she angrily ordered around the servants.
“Have all of my things moved to another room! I shall not speak to him! I do not even wish to see him, seeing as how he does not care in the slightest about my—”
“Godmother,” Evander called out.
“Not now, Evander. I am very ang—” Her words drifted as she spun around. Then her brown eyes glanced down at our hands and back to our faces. She did not even ask. She spun once more to the door where my father stood beside Hathor.