BOOK 3 of The Ostler's Boy Series
-----
Love. Duty. Valor.
Court & Class.
A pseudo-medieval romance through the eyes of a reckless princess.
-----
After Svana and her Knight, there was a Princess and her love of adventure.
Eliza Rose, the wildes...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Even the good things?" I asked.
He nodded. "Even the good things," he said. "If they didn't, how could we appreciate them for their worth?"
"I'll miss Willem, too. And Mom and Dad, but especially Will," I decided. "We're always fighting, but he's a good brother, and he'll make a good King and better husband, I think."
"Is your brother engaged?" he asked. "What did I miss at the Hunt?"
"No," I said. "Will isn't engaged, but I'm sure he will be soon. You know how our family is."
"To whom?" he asked. "I hadn't known he was courting anyone."
"He's not," I said. "Not yet, but Mama said that he could marry Mr. Henrik and not have to give up the throne to do it, so I–"
"He's confessed to Mr. Henrik?" he asked.
"No, not yet," I said.
"But you said that he'd be married soon?"
"Willoughby," I groaned. "Look at him. Look at Mr. Henrik. Look at the way they look at each other. Tell me, where is the lie?'' I asked.
"I see your reason, but I... I need to sit down." His brows went up. "I'm happy for him. That is a weight he's carried for so long. I'm happy for them both. I had no idea they were seeing each other outside of their sessions."
"What sessions?" I asked.
Willoughby paused. "Nothing important. Painting. Will commissioned him for classes and some sort of collection."
"Classes? Collection? Of what?" I croaked.
"Landscapes, I believe."
"Are there any other secrets that you're keeping?" I asked.
He glanced at me. "She asked the knight?"
"...You're very good at your job, Ser," I told him. "I will be very happy for and not at all envious of anyone who should have you are their sentry next."
"Thank you for saying that," he said.
"So my brother is learning to paint?" I asked. "And these artworks... You're telling me that he's commissioned our painter to paint a bunch of pictures for him?" I shook my head. "Tell me you love someone without telling me you love someone."
Willoughby yawned. "Is that what you wish your message to say?" he asked. "Cause I could just say that?"
"Oh, no," I worried. "Oh, Willoughby, oh, no!"
"What!? What is it?" He perked up.
"I... I told him I was in love with him."
"The Duke?"
"No! Kristjan!" I said.
"You told Kristjan you—"
"Oh, my God. I'm going to draw you a picture at this point! Do keep up! I told Askar that I was– er, that I had been in love with Krist. That I... That I had wanted to be his wife."
