The Bastard (Darling #2) [complete]

Chapter Ten

L O U E L L E ' S H A N D S were shaking as she combed through her knotty hair. Breakfast would be served soon and she was aware that she needed to attend it.

She was nervous.

If the king had known of Thatcher's disappearance the day before, certainly her parents had learned of her's. She did not know what to expect as a reaction from them, but she was expecting the worst. She caused their precious king stress once again and she knew her mother, most of all, would have a hand of what punishment fit her the best.

She was curious to know how the prince's conversation was going with King James. Her stomach was in knots, much like her hair, not knowing the state of things. If things went badly between them, she'd hate herself even more for it.

Perhaps she was as ill mannered as the king claimed her to be. She behaved as if she was a child when she should have been acting as her sister had. In doing so, she could have prevented so many scars from ever being placed on Thatcher's skin; she could have prevented the pain he endured for her.

Because of her.

And again, if the meeting with the king was compromising to his physical being, it would have been because of her. The night she left, she caused him a lot of emotional pain. She was certain it would have been enough for him to fall out of love with her. It was what she wanted - truly. If she was erased from his life, it would've been better.

But alas, he could not live life without her, as he said. The feelings were reciprocated on her end, but she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to save him from the storm she knew they would have to overcome. They had been with one another for only two months and since then, all they had done was fight. They fought against King James; against her family. They fought for one another and they fought against each other. Did he truly wish to live a life with her when that was how it all appeared to be?

She was unsure of why he wanted to continue fighting for her. After everything, she was emotionally drained. She'd gotten her hopes up so many times because she was so excited to have their happily ever after. If King James and her parents continued to meddle with their lives, she knew there wasn't a way for them to have their happily ever after. It was just not plausible. It was not possible.

Thatcher would never let her go, though - not since knowing she was carrying their child. A life they had created together. Louelle had always been a part of him and now she was carrying a part of him. He had always put her above himself - which she had conflicting thoughts about - and because she was pregnant, he'd put her first even more than he had before.

With the frustration building up, she needed to release it somehow. By doing so, she took it out on the innocent comb attempting to tame her unruly hair. She threw it harshly onto her vanity and slapped her hands over her face to muffle her screams.

Why did he have to come after her? Why could he not just let her go? All she would continue to do (based off of what she knew of the past) was cause more and more problems that he would undoubtedly resolve for her.