The Bastard (Darling #2) [complete]

Chapter Thirty-Three

L O U E L L E  J U M P E D nearly a foot off of her bed when she heard a knock placed on her door. She was sitting on the edge of her mattress with an old, wilted flower crown held in her hands. It was one Thatcher had made for her the previous summer - in the beginning of the season when her most favorite flowers began to bloom.

He had always taken care of her, and always found a way to make certain he did. It was silly that only a few months ago, she had kept her feelings for him hidden; even from herself. It was even sillier for her to assume he did not reciprocate the way she felt; especially since he'd proven time and time again in their growing up that she was his most favorite person.

She wondered how life would have been for them if they would've confessed earlier on. Would the arrangement ever have been planned? Would the arrangement be between the two of them instead? Would she have gained acceptance from King James? Would she still be with child, or would she have ever fallen with child at all?

She had wondered if life would have been different at all, or if it would have remained the same.

Even though in the last few months she'd undergone near-unsurvivable heartbreak, she still wouldn't dare to wish to turn back time. She and her prince, soon to be king, had grown closer due to the heartbreak. It made her love and appreciate him more, and she believed it made him feel the same in return.

Louelle had been cleared by the castle's doctor to get up on her feet and move about - which meant she was able to return to her own bedchambers. She had missed her own bed, but knew she would miss the comfort of Thatcher's as well. Although she wasn't very fond of it, she had grown accustomed to being waited on hands and feet. Again, she didn't quite like it, but she knew it was something she could get used to enjoying.

But she was also growing stir-crazy. She was unable to do anything except lay in the bed for hours and hours, with the exception of getting out of bed (with required assistance). All she wished to do was eat her meals in the dining hall with everyone else, visit the sewing room to work on designs, or sit in the library to reread one of her favorite books.

She was going mad.

When she had clearance to do all of the things she had longed to do for days, she was ecstatic, but she was also slightly saddened that she would leave for the safety of Thatcher's bedchambers to go back to her own.

Especially since she would be forced to see her parents again.

She wasn't certain of what they had been told in regards to her not being around, but she could only assume they were furious with her for not being around in the country's time of need. Because, during a time of need, families needed to show a united front. Since the country was in a transition of kings, they needed to be more united than ever since their position in court was held up in the air.

Barclay and Elizabeth weren't upset at her for her disappearance, though. In fact, they didn't seem to realize she wasn't present for any events at all.