Page 122 of The Golden Rose Of Valenul

But he smiled, kissed her back, and said almost imperceptibly against her lips, “Please always remember that.”

To his utter despair, she whispered back, “Until the very end, my love.”

Chapter 27

Emillie paced the foyer of the Dodd Estate as the warm night air settled in the latest arrival’s wake. Captain Nikolai Jensen bowed and kissed her fingers with a sweep of his cloak before excusing himself to the parlor filled with the other guests waiting for the Soltium celebrations to begin. Why in the world he had been invited, she had no idea, but pleasantries were still required.

At least the shamed Loren Gard did not seem to be making an appearance.

Neither, however, did her sister. Ariadne had promised to prolong her stay in Laeton to attend the Dodds’ festivities, yet failed to make her arrival on time.

Newlyweds.

Each time the door opened, Emillie whirled around, heart lurching, and each time the disappointment swallowed her back up. Mere nights apart, and she already missed her sister’s presence in the manor. Quiet though Ariadne often was, it left a gaping hole in her life.

No more breaking their fasts together or reading in silence, side by side, in the library. Most nights, Emillie hardly left her rooms. Why bother when all she would do was move about the house with her nose in a book? Sul’s attention was superfluous with how little she did over the last week.

That would soon change. With the Golden Rose wed a mere halfway through the Season, the eyes of suitors turned to her. Soltium’s opening night would be her first ball since she became the only unwed Harlow woman in the household, and her father’s expectations had never been higher.

All the while, she finally felt more confident to explore her true self. Her father would receive a rude awakening soon when she entertained no suitors.

The door opened behind her, letting in a breeze of summer night air. Emillie sucked in a breath and turned to finally see Ariadne sweep across the threshold with Azriel in her wake. The former lit up with a smile at the sight of her while the other maintained his usual mask of neutrality, an arm loosely swept around his wife’s back to rest his hand on her hip. His sharp, eagle-like gaze swept through the foyer before landing on her. He allowed a small smile.

“Ari!” Emillie shot forward to pull her sister from the Lord Governor. She squeezed Ariadne’s hand once before being dragged into a tight embrace. Her heart skipped a beat. Hugs were far from the norm, so she took the opportunity to wrap her arms around her sister. “I missed you.”

“And I, you.” Ariadne stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “I do not like being apart from you.”

Emillie raised her brows. “Says the one on the brink of moving away.”

Her sister glanced at Azriel, then grimaced. “Let us not speak of it now.”

“Ah, Lord Governor!”

All three of them turned to the parlor where Lord Dodd exited, arms wide in greeting. His pale blond hair, a match to Camilla’s, shone below the crystal chandelier. As he approached, brown eyes glittering and hazy from alcohol consumption, his grin widened. The apple did not fall far from the tree with this family and their openness.

“Welcome!” Lord Dodd held out his arm, which Azriel accepted with a nod. “Another hearty congratulations to you and your bride. You are welcome here any time, just as she has been all these years.”

“You are most generous.” Azriel’s voice rumbled with his reply. “Thank you for the invitation for Soltium.”

Lord Dodd chuckled. “We are honored you chose our halls to celebrate for the next few days and nights.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“Come,” the Lord said and gestured to the parlor. “Join me for a drink and to meet my associates. They are eager for an introduction.”

With a nod, Azriel turned to Ariadne and took up her hand. He kissed her fingers, murmured something low, then followed Lord Dodd out of the foyer. What he said to her, Emillie could not fathom, for when her sister turned back around, her cheeks shone a rosy pink.

“Is everything alright?” Emillie asked with raised brows.

Ariadne smoothed the front of her skirts. “Quite.”

“You look flustered.”

The flush deepened. “Not at all. Where is Camilla?”

The sudden change of topic did not go unnoticed. Considering the subject matter, however, Emillie let it go. Whatever Azriel had said to her sister, it was meant for the two of them alone. “You know how she is—making an entrance draws more attention than being on time. Particularly when it is your own house.”

Laughing, Ariadne tucked her arm through hers and pulled her toward the stairs. “Then let us go to her.”

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