Page 21 of Pawns of Fate
They strolled past a house with an especially large box of flowers hanging out of the windows.
“Can I help you with any of the duties? Maybe not now, but after I return from my stay with the Ojoh clan, I’ll want to fulfill all my duties as your wife and the future marchioness.”
Rose’s offering softened something inside him. Even knowing their marriage wasn’t of love and he’d use her as a pawn, as her uncle had, Rose still wanted to rise to her role as the future marchioness. He’d chosen the right bride.
“Tomorrow night, there will be a banquet to introduce you to all House Sharp’s soldiers and servants. Making a goodimpression on them will be vital to your duties as the future marchioness,” Nicholas said.
“I’ll do my best at the banquet, then,” Rose replied with a sure nod. “If there is anything else, please tell me.”
They reached the edges of the market and wandered into a stall filled with silks dyed in various shades of blue. Rose cautiously stroked a swath of the soft material that was a darker hue than the midnight sky. Nicholas looked at the owner of the stall and held up two fingers. The vendor grinned and began writing things down on a notepad. Occasionally, there were perks to being the well-known son of a marquess. It certainly made shopping easier. He’d have two dresses’ worth of this fabric at the castle tomorrow.
Rose’s attention drifted to a lighter swath of silk. “This one’s the same color as your eyes,” she said with a smile. Nicholas’s pulse quickened. He held up two more fingers to the merchant.
They wandered to the next stall, which was filled with various green silks. Nicholas might buy a few for himself. Green was his favorite color, or at least it had been until he’d seen Rose’s pink hair. He ran his fingers along the edge of a swath the color of limes.
“I know it’s a bit impractical to hand much over to me since I’ll be leaving soon, but maybe I could help with wedding planning?” Rose asked as they continued to peruse the market.
“Can you read and write? I need help with addressing and writing out all of the invitations. Not many of our servants are literate.”
“I can!” she replied eagerly. “Reading is actually one of myfavorite pastimes. I’ll help you with the invitations.”
This woman was growing more attractive to him by the hour. He didn’t often have a chance to celebrate his love of reading with others. His father stuck mostly to dry, informational texts about magic, politics, and economics. York hated studying and avoided reading. Ava, well, Nicholas wasn’t entirely sure that Ava could read even after a year with his family, but he’d never figured out a tactful way to ask her, because York had insisted on being his wife’s personal reading and writing tutor.
“Wonderful! I’ll have to show you the second-floor library when we return to the castle.”
“Didn’t you show me a library yesterday?”
“That was the first-floor library. The second-floor library is much larger and has many more interesting books. Do you like novels?”
“I like reading almost anything.” Rose’s face lit up. “But I love novels, especially romances.”
“Some of my mother’s old books might suit you.” Nicholas felt his heart swell.
They reached the end of the silk market. The pungent odor of the dye houses reached their noses. Rose’s eyes began to water.
“What is that smell?” she asked.
“The dye for the silks produces a strong odor. Let’s go back to the castle instead of exploring further. I want to show you the second-floor library.”
Rose nodded her agreement. Nicholas squeezed her hand. His heart filled with satisfaction that the date had succeeded after all. He hoped his relationship with Rose continued to grow, even with her impending stay with the Ojoh looming over their happiness.
Chapter 7
SYZMAN
Syzman watched from the shadows as Rose entered a shop selling blue silks and Nicholas stumbled after her like a lovesick puppy dog. He’d served the Sharps for years and never known Nicholas to lose his head over a woman. He was supposed to be the rational, logical brother. But as Syzman watched the young nobleman order enough silk to make four dresses for his fiancée, he knew it was only a matter of time until Nicholas fell head over heels in love, if he hadn’t already.
“Idiot,” Syzman mumbled under his breath. He’d never be vulnerable like that. No woman in the world could make him lose hisrationality.
“Syzman,”Lyla’s sweet voice tugged on his mind.
Well, maybe there was one woman.But it wasn’t love, he thought. He and Lyla just had a long history. That was all. Even a shadow mage could develop a bond with their comrades if they went on enough missions together.
“Watch the shadows.”Lyla’s voice wound through his mind.
“I have been. You need to focus on Ava and York. I wasn’t even supposed to tag along on this outing. Joãohas this hand—”He saw it—the unnatural flicker of darkness. It was only an instant. An untrained eye wouldn’t have caught it. He wouldn’t have caught it if Lyla hadn’t warned him.
“I told you.”
