Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I did not wish to come across as cruel or petty, but for some reason, I could not muster the emotions they sought from me.
“I am quite happy for Odite, Mama,” I said, setting my pencil down and rising to my feet. It was the truth, though not entirely. “I was only pondering why it has taken so long for her to become pregnant. I thought all one needed was a husband to have a child. Though I am not exactly sure what the process is—”
“I should go tell Silva the news. Come, Mini, let’s find your mama,” Damon quickly cut in, lifting his daughter out of our mother’s arms, kissing both of Minerva’s cheeks, and making the little girl giggle.
“And I am expected by the men to make inspections of the grounds. Hopefully, we will have more than enough to hunt and keep our guests occupied,” my father said, kissing Mother’s cheek first before coming to give me a slight hug. “You must show me your work later, my dear girl. Hopefully, your depiction of me is benevolent since your mother still refuses to tell me where to find the fountain of youth she drinks from.”
“Clearly, your books have given way to gross imagination,” my mother replied, and he offered a wink before quickly going on his way, seeking to escape this conversation, as all men desired to do. I never understood why until last spring, when Verity—Evander’s younger sister and my second mortal enemy—had offered the truth about the relations between men and women, now that she was married herself.
It was so…vulgar that I believed her to be playing some sort of trick on me, but I could not ask or speak of it to anyone else. And the way everyone acted when I even slightly mentioned the topic seemed to prove her words true, for if it was not as uncouth as it seemed, why shy away from speaking on the matter?
“They have fled,” I said, looking at my mother.
“As you intended them to.”
“I merely wished—”
“Hathor, do not think me the fool simply because I do not say what I know,” she stated and stepped up, cupping my cheeks. “Whatever you think you’ve learned from Verity will be further explained by a husband of your very own.”
“Should one ever manifest,” I muttered, stepping out of her grasp, and returning to my easel. “London provided no such person…again. I dare say, I met the very worst men, and now we must try my luck here before the end of the season.”
“By whose fault is that?” She followed after me. “You had three perfectly suitable gentlemen call upon you, all of whom you staunchly rejected. I believed you would grow up and rid yourself of this fanciful idea of becoming a duchess—”
“I have!” Mainly because there were no more dukes to be found in the land; I had checked—twice. And because it had come to my attention, by an unsightly character, that my reputation had taken a slight blow of late. Just thinking of what that horrid person said enraged me once more. To think such awful men lurked about our ton was dreadful.
“Then what was wrong with Lord Galbert?” My mother’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“He is a known entomologist, and I can barely stand the sight of a ladybug.”
“That was no reason to deny him outright. Opposites often find attraction to each other.”
“I have no desire to attract anything or anyone that attracts insects, Mama. I could not even feign the slightest interest and would find myself running from him in terror if one of those creatures was still upon his person.”
“What of Lord Morrison? He was a nice man—”
“He laughed when Father called me a rather proficient artist during dinner.”
“It was nothing more than a nervous chuckle, Hathor.”
“It felt like condescension.” I did not have very many talents as it was, and he seemed completely unimpressed by me.
“And Mr. Bennett? What was his great fault, then? I noticed he took an abundance of interest in your art and complimented you profusely.”
I did not wish to answer as I picked up my canvas.
“Well?”
“Mama, must I say?”
“Say what? You never explained why you all but ran him from our home.”
“He was ugly!”
“Hathor!”
“What? I felt like I was going mad as you all pretended not to notice the horrid condition of his face! The only person who dared say anything was Abena, and you locked her away in her room for it.”
“Hathor, will you seek to find fault in everyone? You give no one a chance, and as such, I fear for your reputation. You will not find all you want in a man.”
“Aphrodite did. Why is it possible for her and not me? Why is she always the fortunate one?”
“Do you not think your sister suffered? Were you not there at her door when she wept? Do you believe these last two years have been easy for her at Everely?”