Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Not that I plan on doing such things, but still.”
“That’s a good thing.”
She screeched and whipped around to find her brother leaning against the railing, arms and ankles crossed.
“You scared me, Lovell. What are you doing here?”
He sported a few bruises on his face but didn’t seem all that put out by them. In fact, her brother looked different. Physically he was the same, but he held himself in a way she’d not seen from him before.
It looks good on him.
More self-assured. Less asshole.
She wasn’t fooled, he was still their father’s son and asshole was bred into his pores.
“I’m escorting you to the academy today. We don’t want to be late. Come on.” He rolled his shoulders and pushed away from his resting spot.
“I’m not going.”
She couldn’t handle seeing Bryn. Not after his fury with her behavior yesterday with being back by the docks.
A shrug that reminded her far more of Bryn than their useless father came from her brother.
“He sent a missive this morning. Said he expected you there. Had something to tell you about the side project?”
Her entire body flared to life. He wasn’t reneging on their deal.
Lovell canted his head to the right as he began down the stairs. “What are you doing with him? What is this side project you have going on?”
“He’s teaching me how to protect myself. I was grabbed one night and he saved me.” The words tumbled from her mouth without much thought. It wasn’t like the statement was a lie, it simply wasn’t the full truth.
Fury darkened Lovell’s eyes and he stopped and pivoted to face her completely. “Who was it?”
“It’s been handled.”
“I should have been there.” A firm head shake. “I’ve been a shit brother and I’m sorry, Rosamunde.”
Her mistrust of her family raged full force, and while part of her had waited years to be protected by her brother, even if he was younger, she still couldn’t believe he wasn’t after something. All she could do was give him a shaky smile.
Sadness replaced the fury and shared space with personal disgust. “I know I deserve your distrust but I don’t like it.” He spun forward. “Let’s go, he doesn’t like it when I’m late.”
Honestly, she’d not planned on seeing Bryce so soon. She’d been in the process of making an excuse as to why she couldn’t go to the academy but now, she had no choice.
Swinging on her cloak, she waited by the door as her brother got into his own coat and gloves. When he propped his hat on his head, she ducked her chin to hide the smile that teased up her lips. He’d taken to wearing it like Bryn, not straight but at a jaunty angle.
As they walked outside, she fought back a shiver. It’s going to be a long walk. However, when she glanced at the bottom of the walk to their townhouse, she found her father’s carriage waiting.
Bitterness seeped into her. Of course his son couldn’t walk in the cold but his daughter could.
I hadn’t asked. But there was no point, her father wouldn’t ever spend on her like he did his son.
They climbed in and Lovell pounded the head of his walking cane against the roof. The carriage set off and she curled her toes in her shoes and told herself she would be warm once she was in the building. That was one thing she could say, it was pleasant in there. She’d learned to tune out the sounds of flesh on flesh as the men fought, spending the time writing in her diary. Unless Bryn was one of the men. She couldn’t help herself then, staring at him from beneath lowered lids.
Fluid. Masculine. Dangerous. Beautiful in a rough way.
Tightening her thighs together, she shifted on the seat before looking out the small window as they rolled through London’s cold streets. Black smoke chugged up from all the stacks, darkening the already gray sky.
I want out of here. A place where the sky is blue and there’s grass for endless distance as far as I can see.
“What do you think, Rosamunde?”
She jolted at her brother’s voice. “About what?”
Where before he would have yelled at her for ignoring him, he merely gave her an indulgent smile.
“I was asking if you were excited to meet your husband-to-be? Father says he should be here within the month.”
Panic swarmed through her, nearly choking her. Swallowing a few times, she managed to shrug her shoulders. “He didn’t say anything to me about it so I’m not sure how I feel.”
He nodded, but thankfully whatever he was about to say next didn’t happen as the carriage rocked to a halt. Lovell hopped out with ease and she watched him take two steps away before he turned back and returned to the carriage.
Rosamunde didn’t move, thinking he was coming back in and they would be heading elsewhere. When he held out his hand, she furrowed her brow.