Page 4 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
"I'm sorry."
"Why? Do you think I care?" Her voice cracks slightly as she says it.
"Yes." It's a risk to say as much, but after she caught me with Linc, I think we've gotten to a place where it's safe for me to. "But I don't think it's that he's forgotten you. He suggested you as one of my ladies-in-waiting."
She gives me a curious look. "Is that so?"
"Yes. And I know I would like that." I feel surprisingly nervous asking her, even if this isn't the official way to do that. "I'm going to need someone who will tell me the truth of things."
Bella laughs. "You're not wrong about that. But to be clear, I'm not sitting outside any doors while you and the Prince have your fun."
"No one is going to be sitting outside our door," I mutter.
She raises an eyebrow. "You'll probably find that there's at least one guard there at all times, whether you want there to be or not."
"That doesn't sound good."
She snorts. "You didn't seem to care that someone could walk in on you during Bastian's wedding."
A flush rises to my cheeks. "We got carried away."
"Mmhmm. And no doubt you'll get carried away more in the next few weeks too."
"We've not done anything more." And there's a part of me that's disappointed by that, but I don't want to admit that to Bella.
"It doesn't matter to me whether or not you have," she responds. "What's the worst that could happen? Rumours that you're sleeping with the Prince won't do either of you any harm, and considering the chances of you getting pregnant are low to begin with, that's hardly going to be an issue. It's not like he's going to deny the child is his even if you do."
"I hadn't thought about that," I admit, realising that court would be so much worse if I had a child to look after at the same time. There are already enough people I care about here for me to worry about playing the political game.
I reach down and touch Pip's head.
Bella shrugs. "Like I said, it's not likely to happen. There are people at court who've been together much longer than you have and they've never had a child. You're hardly going to be an exception."
"But I could be."
"I suppose so."
"Are there things I can do to stop it from happening?" I ask, certain that there will be, I just need to find out what they are and do them.
"I'm sure there are, but that's not something I can give you any advice on. Beyond not performing the act that can get you pregnant."
"Right." I look down at my empty plate and consider that. I don't really know enough about it to be able to make a decision. If I'm lucky, Linc will know. But if not, I'm sure he can ask questions I can't.
"I should get going," Bella says. "I have an appointment with the dressmaker."
I nod as she gets to her feet.
"And I'll be your lady-in-waiting," Bella says. "But I want the most important position."
I laugh. "I don't think Lord Fallmartin would let me give you anything less."
"That's because he knows what's good for him." The small smile on her face makes me hope that she feels a little better about seeing me as Lord Fallmartin's favourite. I'm sure it's only a temporary status anyway. Either Bastian or one of my cousins will do something that means his attention will turn away from me. And I can't say I mind, even if I'm currently reaping the benefits of Lord Fallmartin's favour. Having a tutor to help me better understand the skills I'm going to need to survive here and to be the best wife to Linc that I can be.
I finish my breakfast and put the book Bella left me under my arm. I'm curious about what's inside, but I need to take Pip out on a walk before I go to meet Linc in the library, so it's just going to have to wait until I'm there, even if I'm intrigued now.
TWO
I nod to Eric as I make my way to Linc's private room, glad that the bodyguard seems to like me. Or more accurately, he doesn't actively dislike me. Considering how much time he's probably going to spend escorting me and Linc around once we're married, I can only assume that's a good thing.
