Page 65 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
"I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago, Beatrice." His expression returns to normal, as if he's put away any pain he might feel. "I wanted to give you this so that you remember where you came from, and that the position you're about to take is a dangerous one. You belong to House Rothorne, and we have enemies."
I nod. "Thank you. It truly is beautiful." I stare at the dagger, not fully knowing what to do with it. Especially considering I've never even thought about potentially owning a family heirloom. I suppose I have the wooden combs that used to belong to my mother, but I doubt they really count, and I can't wear them while maintaining the appearance of a proper lady of the court, even if there wasn't a part of me that's angry at my mother for the situation she got me in, I still feel a little sad about that.
"I'm glad you like it," Lord Fallmartin says. "I wouldn't stay up too late reading, tomorrow is an important day."
I nod, knowing he's right. It is an important day, and one I'm surprisingly looking forward to more than I ever imagined possible.
FOURTEEN
The mirror reflects back someone I don't think I really realised I'd become. My light brown hair is slicked back into an elegant hairstyle that I'd never be able to manage on my own, framing my face and making me look better than I ever thought I did. My dress is a finer quality than anything I've worn before, and the rubies Linc gifted me sit against my neck.
I reach up to touch them, glad for a connection to him when I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. It shouldn't feel like a long time to go without him, but I'm so used to seeing him so much that it feels different not to have him around.
The door opens, and I turn to see Bella walking in with an intricate veil of black and red lace. "I brought this for you."
I nod. "Where is it supposed to sit?"
"I'll do it." She heads over and gestures for me to turn around. "This is the veil worn by all House Rothorne brides." She unclips something and slides it into my hair.
"Even you?"
She nods. "Both times. It's supposed to bring good luck for the bride."
"Do you think it does?"
"Hard to say. I'm still alive. Does that count as lucky?" She deftly clips the veil in place. "When it's time, you flip this part in front of your face," she says, showing me the right part of the veil.
I nod. "I don't know if being alive is lucky," I respond to her earlier question.
"I suppose that makes sense. How do any of us really know what's good fortune and what isn't? I wore this for my first wedding, and that one ended in heartbreak. But I wore it again for marrying Thomas, and I suppose I'm happy. I love him, I'm just not in love with him."
"What's the difference?"
"I'm not sure I could describe it," she says, going over to sit on my bed. "I just know it's different."
I bite my lip and try not to think about what will happen if I'm in her position in another fifty years. If something happens to Linc, then I could be. I can't imagine myself falling in love for a second time, even if I know it should be possible.
"So, any advice for me?" I ask Bella.
"Well, considering you've already ignored my most important advice for staying alive and not getting hurt by falling in love, I'm not sure what I can offer you."
I twist around in my seat and look at her.
Bella sighs. "All right, fine. Make the most of it. Even if I think you're foolish to fall in love, I'm happy for you. There's really nothing like it."
I think back to all of the emotions I've felt in my life and compare them to how I feel about Linc, easily realising that there really isn't anything like it. At all. "Thank you," I tell her. "Not just for today, but for every day since I came here."
She chuckles. "I was determined to hate you."
"You did a good job at the beginning."
"Mmm, you have a way of getting under people's skin, Beatrice." She smiles to make it clear that it's not an insult. "I hope you don't come back here anytime soon."
"Thank you. I hope not either. Other than for the occasional visit."
"I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, and I'm going to deny it if anyone else asks, but I think I'm going to miss you," Bella admits.
