An all consuming, magical love story between a Prince who is hundreds of years old and the abandoned Count's daughter.
When Ava was 7 her Dad, the Count and leader of their magical Kingdom, disappeared without a trace. Not long after she met the Pr...
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Lord Ainsworth
Lord Ainsworth was a tall, skinny, rake of a man, who carried all of the bravery and confidence of a lemming. He had a thin face with a large forehead, pasty skin and a receding hairline.
As he got within a few feet of me I noticed Mrs Parrish's disapproving look again and had to stifle a giggle. Prompting Kate to look at me disapprovingly, she had always greatly respected the advisors.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to defend myself as Ainsworth chose that moment to awkwardly position himself in front of us, as though we were interviewing him.
"Erm, Lord Beckett has requested a meeting with you in the war room, Miss Ava" He choked out looking as though he wished the earth would swallow him whole.
I had been the abandoned daughter of the missing Count long enough to know 'requested' really meant ordered and as for the war room, the last war was hundreds of years ago. I've come to believe they keep the title purely because it makes them feel important.
I let out a sigh and replied, "lead the way, Lord Ainsworth." If he noticed my reluctance he didn't say anything but then again, I don't think he would have dared.
I followed him out of the hall and through the castle. The war room was in the farthest end of the castle from the main entrance and getting there involved many complicated, hard to remember twists and turns. The war room was where all the advisers, and my dad when he was here, made all the important decisions involving running the kingdom and daily life in the castle. I had only been twice before; once when I was informed my dad was nowhere to be found and once again when I was informed I would not take over leadership of the Kingdom in adulthood because it would show lack of faith my dad would return, after all he left a note promising he would.
We reached a big wooden door with symbols on it. Here we go again. Ainsworth pushed the door open then stood back to allow me to walk in first. I awkwardly stepped around him and into the room where all of the advisers were waiting in silence on the other side of a huge, old, wooden table. Ainsworth closed the door behind us and went to stand far behind the others, leaving me standing there gormlessly.
"Erm, I was told you wanted to speak to me?" I asked more than stated.
"Yes, of course. Please sit down Miss Ava." Lord Beckett said while gesturing to an old wooden chair on my side of the table. I nervously moved forward, pulled back the chair and then slumped into it. I didn't mean to slump but the shape of the chair kind of forced me to. Beckett guestured wordlessly to the others who proceeded to all follow him in taking a seat.
"We wanted to discuss with you the conditions in which you will take over as Countess." Lord Beckett began. For a moment I thought he was going to say it was about time but that was giving him far too much credit. He continued, "We have decided that you will not take over the leadership of our Kingdom until this matter is resolved and you have found a husband."
I was aghast. I suppose the matter of guards dying was a reasonable reason, seen as I already wasn't supposed to take over for many years but the husband part was something else. Stupid, old, white men!
I was about to make my outrage at needing a husband to fulfill my birthright known when I collected myself. I'd often learnt making your feelings known isn't the best idea and surely this was no different.
"Why exactly do I need a husband?" I tried to ask indifferently.
"Well, this is a hard thing to say but you see we don't exactly think you are in the most stable frame of mind." Beckett said, looking as though it wasn't a hard thing to say at all.
I suddenly realised something. Oh for god sake! Will's dad was one of the lesser advisors, he'd probably told them I'm losing it to get back at me.
"How exactly would a husband fix my supposedly fractured mind?" I struggled to contain my anger."Oh I see, to rule in my place while I sit in the back."
Many of the advisors looked uncomfortable now, especially Will's dad; Lord Colton. Lord Beckett warily stood.
"I think that shall be all, Miss Ava. I trust you can find your way back to the main castle." He said with a clear tone of dismissal.
I was outraged but I held it together, barely. I rose and hastily made my way out of the room.
