Page 13 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“Not for men. You are a catch with the money you have. Though Lord Gothar didn't have much to his name other than an older family title, but you have all that he had now and his title.” Isabel bit into a biscuit crumbs falling to the ground.
Adorra glanced back at the letter she had in a death grip. “I only just stopped wearing my mourning clothes. Can’t they wait until I give signs that I’m ready for suitors?”
“The moment you stopped wearing mourning clothes was the moment it was fine for them to court you.” Isabel put the rest of the biscuit down on her plate.
“So, if I still wore mourning clothes these letters would cease?” She glanced over at Isabel.
Isabel shook her head of brown curls. “The proper mourning time has passed. They would still send you letters, so don’t you dare think about wearing those god-awful black gowns.” Isabel visibly shivered in disgust. “I was never a fan of black.” She brushed a hand down her blue dress with love.
Adorra heaved a sigh. She wasn’t ready for this amount of attention.
“It’s fine to reject them, Adorra. No one would expect you to take any of them seriously. At least, not now. But at some point, your remarriage would be expected.” Isabel sipped some tea from her glass. “A woman in your position would need to remarry. You have enough money right now, but later on down the road?” Isabel shrugged.
Her two guards chose that moment to stride into the hall.
“Leave!” Adorra pointed a finger at them as she stood up from her seat. She was done with this. Enough was enough already.
They stopped, their eyes going wide at her outburst.
“I’m done being followed. No more!” She swiped her hand through the air. “If the killer wanted me dead, I would be dead by now. Be gone!”
They looked between themselves and then over at Isabel.
“Don’t you look at her!” Adorra dropped the latest marriage proposal and grabbed a letter she’d written. “Take this to our king.” She strode over to them and shoved the letter in one of the guard’s faces. They both just stood there staring at their feet. “I pay your wages, so if you wish to continue to be employed, you best hop to it.”
One of the guards snatched the letter out of her hand, and they both left quickly, tearing through the doors of the hall and into the courtyard. She didn’t enjoy threatening their lively hood, but she couldn’t take being watched for one more second.
“Finally. They’re gone.” Adorra felt some relief finally wash over her. Her shoulders sagged a bit as the stress of being watched left her.
“They were here to protect you,” Isabel said calmly from where she still sat. “Don’t take your displeasure out on them.”
Adorra raised a few fingertips to her forehead and rubbed her temple. “They were here because of my advisors. They were here to drive me insane. If the killer wanted me dead, I’d be long gone. He isn’t coming back for me.”
“You don’t know that for sure though, Adorra.” Isabel pierced her with hazel eyes.
“I do, Isabel.” She was growing weary of everyone acting like she was a delicate flower that’d been crushed. Yes, her petals were bruised after all the recent events, but all she’d needed was some time for her heart and mind to heal. “It’s time I take back the running of the manor and my life.”
Isabel nodded. “I agree with that. There is no way you can recover from all this unhappiness until you return to a normal life and get back into a rhythym.”
“Will you go back to court and give this letter to someone for me?” Adorra reached into a hidden pocket she’d sewn into the skirts of her dress, withdrew it, and handed it to Isabel.
“Yes.” Isabel reached out and took the letter from her with a couple of fingers. “Who should I give it to?” She asked as she noticed there was no name written on the outside of the parchment.
“My friend, Lady Alice Cheeseman.”
“I will give it to her the moment I arrive,” Isabel promised, and she knew she could trust Isabel. They’d been friends ever since they’d met at court… she was almost like a sister.
Adorra grasped Isabel’s hands. “Thank you.”
Isabel sighed. “I suppose it’s time for me to leave. My bags have been packed and loaded onto a carriage.”
“I’ll miss you, but this is the right thing to do. You need to head back to your life at court, and I need to continue mine.”
“Be sure to write me. I want to know you are well, and if at any moment you need me, I will come back. Or you can join me at court.” Isabel pinned her with her eyes. “I mean it. Your welcome at any moment.”
“I’m not ready for court yet.” Even the thought of court had her stomach rolling. “Those women have enough to gossip about without me adding to their fuel. They will only renew the scars that are finally scabbing over.” She might be healing, but she knew those ladies at court would dig in their claws and rip her apart for their own amusement to distract themselves from their own horrible lives.
“True.” Isabel agreed. “Then write me for now. Just let me know if there is anything else I can do.”
