He slowly spun around to stare at her.
“Why would I wonder about such a thing?
The answer is clear for all to see, is it not?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“If my eyes were set on any of the crown princes, I would be married to one of them by now.” He scoffed.
He didn’t believe her?
“If you must know, a letter came from the royal household in request of a betrothal between me and Constantine the Third because they were too afraid to come in person lest I turn them down, and-.” His eyes narrowed.
“And you mean to tell me that you rejected Crown prince Constantine as well?” She nodded, a small smile blooming on her lips.
“I would soon rather believe that you would go bald than do such a thing.
No woman has ever rejected a marriage proposal from the royal household… not even those whose standards are in the heavens.” She tilted her head and observed him quietly for a while.
“Then you have not met me.” He mimicked her gesture by crossing his arms over his chest.
“Do you expect me to believe that you rejected the Crown prince all because you were pining after my bro- speak of the devil.” Footsteps rustled behind her.
She spun around slowly and saw Friedrich standing behind her, undraping the scarf wrapped around his neck.
Friedrich?
What was he doing here?
She glanced at Theodore behind her.
He didn’t look surprised in the least bit – if anything, he looked like he had expected his brother to walk in all along.
Letting out a loud sigh, Friedrich handed his scarf and coat to a nearby servant.
“Gods, Theo.
Having the carriage running at such speed nearly had my buttocks ripped from beneath me.” Then Theo cleared his throat, subtly glancing at her.
“You must forgive me for my vulgar words, Lady Whitmore.
I forgot for a moment that you were with us.” He took her hand, placed a cool kiss on it and sketched a graceful bow.
As he bowed, she could see how much the wind had managed to mess with his hair and how tardy it looked.
“I leave you with my betrothed for hardly three days and you have already tempted her into having an argument with you.” He moved past her and patted his brother on the back as they spoke.
“Have you asked who began the ‘conversation’?
If you know me as well as you claim to, you would know that I only hold arguments with people I feel are on the same level of intellect with me… and I have yet to meet such a person.” “Not even me?” Friedrich asked, touching his chest dramatically.
Eve pursed her lips.
His level of intellect?
Was he not aware that he shared the same level with the horses he trained?
She questioned inwardly.
“I believe I can challenge you in any argument, Sir Theodore, but that has nothing to do with the statement your brother made.” His gaze slid from his brother to her.
Both men watched her carefully.
“Permit me to interrupt both of you before you even begin.” He turned to her.
“I know this man better than he claims I do and he will not rest until he completely smothers and renders his opponent speechless.
So, my fine lady, I should see you to your bed chamber.
You have a long journey ahead of you tomorrow.” Journey?
Was he aware of how much Theodore was enslaving her?
“What journey are you talking about?” He fished into his inner coat and produced an unsealed letter.
“Your mother expected you to be with us at Lennox so she sent a letter there.” He held out the letter to her and she took it.
“Do read it.
The urgency is well expressed.” He read it?
Her eyes slid down to the addressee of the letter.
It had been written to Friedrich with only a portion left solely for her.
It read: ‘Dear Everetta, I would not let you kill me before my time.
Your father has asked that I contain myself until you return home and explain this disgraceful thing that you have done, so I will hold my tongue.
I expect you to be home before lunchtime on the morrow or face the wrath of myself and your father.
Lady Whitmore.’ What disgraceful thing had she done?
The last she remembered, she had not left any animals hidden within or without the estate as she was prone to doing when she was much younger.
What could she have possibly done to upset her mother so much?
She glanced up at Friedrich, who was already looking at her, then at Theodore.
“What disgraceful thing did you do?” Theodore asked out of the blue.
She looked at him, then looked at the letter in her hands, slowly arching a brow.
How did he know the contents of her letter?
Before she could speak, he said, “I can read upside down and your mother’s handwriting is very bold.” Oh.
Colouring the same shade as a cherry, she folded the letter and hid it behind her.
“I have to leave by dawn as it is.
But even so, I would not make it to the manor before lunchtime.” Friedrich nodded.
“Your mother expects you to fly like a cherubim, I assume.
Which is why I rode here as soon as I received the letter despite the fact that it was well into the afternoon.” Eve wiped the sweat that beaded on her forehead and let out a shaky breath.
Her mother rarely ever scolded her.
She only ever expressed her disappointment by ignoring her and excluding her from meals at the dining table.
“You’re shaking.” Theodore said.
She froze while Friedrich turned to look at her.
“It must be the cold… and I have had nothing to eat.” “Why?
Was dinner not served?” Then as if remembering, he asked, “How is your hand?” “My hand is healing well according to my self-appointed doctor.” She shot Theodore a look.
“Would you be escorting her back to her parents’ estate, Friedrich?” Friedrich slowly shook his head.
“Father asked me to return as soon as I deliver the letter to her… so you would have to be the one to escort her, Theo.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Maestrofunzi_07 The coincidences are…
I rest my case.
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