Page 32 of Glass Hearts
I simply shake my head. “That’s not quite how I’d put it, ma’am.” I smile; her bright demeanor lifts my sour mood.
“Pfft, ‘Ma’am’ is my mother! Call me Margie, please, sweetie. Are they treating you all right?”
“Well—” I look around the room, “—the room and accommodations are quite nice, for a prisoner,” I tease.
“Foolish boys. I will smack them next time I see them.” She winks at me. “Regretfully, I must get back to the kitchens”
“Wait! You are a chef in the kitchens?”
“Why yes, I am—head chef, that is.” She elbows me conspiratorially.
“The food has been delicious, thank you so much. I would give anything to get my hands on that petit four recipe.”
Unexpectedly, she embraces me in a hug. “Of course, deary. Hopefully, they will release you from solitary confinement soon. I apologize; I must lock you back up. But Sy can be a bit of a hard-ass if you didn’t notice.” She chuckles.
“We like her, Arabelly, but what gifts did the dark prince bring us?!”
“I understand. It was nice meeting you, Margie.”
My mice and I take apart the basket as soon as Margie leaves. It has lavender bath salts, vanilla soap, candles, two more bottles of wine, chocolates, two little pieces of cheese wrapped up, and book two of the Duchess and Rake series. I open the book and notice a note on the first page:
My dearest Duchess,
I am not much of a rhymer, but you fill me with desire.
For words cannot describe,
How much you’re on my mind.
Your body is divine,
Can’t wait until you’re mine.
-Gray, your rake and future husband.
PS: I asked Margie to add one corked bottle, you will have to get me to uncork your bottle ;)
P.S.S: Please mark the chapters you would like to try with me.
See—CONFUSING. Why send such a sweet and considerate basket and silly littlepoem?!
I pop one chocolate into my mouth and decide to continue my education of the duchess and the rake out onto the balcony. It’s a lovely spring day, the birds are bickering (you would think it’s just chirping, but they are yelling at each other), and the sun is shining with no clouds in the sky.
The romantic scenes have me swooning. The rake finally makes his move to the duchess, confessing his undying love after her father forced her to marry an uptight duke. My body feels like it’s heating until I hear the shrill voices of my stepsisters, breaking the mood instantly. Trying to stay hidden, I overlookthe gardens from my patio. I see my stepsisters dressed in their finery, with a prince on their arm. My heart aches at the sight.
Four sets of eyes meet mine, as if they could feel my eyes on them from up here. I go back into my dark room, hiding to avoid my stepfamily from seeing me. Before I can close the door, a crow flies in.
“Mistress Arabelly! Finally found you, been flying all over this darn castle!”
“Petra! I am so happy to see you!” I offer her a bit of my toast from this morning’s breakfast. Seeing a note attached to her neck, I go to untie it.
“Mistress Elora was quite upset. So she asked me to find you immediately with this note.”
“Thank you, Petra. Must you be off right away, or can you stay?”
“I’m sorry, Arabelly, I spent most of the night and this morning flying. My murder must be quite worried about me.”
“Of course, I understand, friend.” I scratch her head right before she takes off in flight.
