To Kiss a King 2

Chapter 36

Chapter 36 

Nora begrudgingly boarded the carriage next to Eloise who was dressed like a yellow cake with pink trim. Truth be told she looked atrocious and almost laughable. But they were not on speaking terms, so Nora decided not to take it upon herself to tell her how the new french fashion look on her cousin. 

“You look lovely Nora.” Eloise said, surprising Nora out of her scrutiny. 

“...Thank you.” She replied softly, still in disbelief that her cousin had said something civil towards her. 

Eloise nodded in response and looked out the window. They sat in silence for a long time, all the while Nora brooded on their past conversation. If Eloise hadn’t have told everyone her secret...who had? Finally Nora couldn’t stand it any longer. 

“Tell me how everyone found out....” She began softly, looking down at her clenched hands. “If it wasn’t you who told...how?...who?” 

Eloise sighed heavily and looked sadly across at her on her blue velvet carriage seat. 

“You don’t want to know.” 

Nora furrowed her brow. “Tell me, please. I have to know.” 

Eloise looked at her pointedly. “Trust me Nora, you don’t want this information.” 

“Please, Eloise! I have a right to know!” 

They stared at each other for a long time until finally Eloise nodded cooly. 

“It was Erik’s mother’s doing.”

Nora shook her head roughly remembering the mothering plump redhead. 

“Erik told her one night how he had gotten you with child and planned to marry you. She beat him something awful when he finished his tale. She told him that a simple farm boy couldn’t raise or afford to have a child, let alone a wedding. If people knew that he was the father, they would expect him to help raise it, to pay for food and shelter.” 

Nora listened quietly as her insides turned to bricks. 

“Erik’s father had been killed in the war, just like yours. There was no male figure to bring in coin and they had a large farm to tend to with only Erik and his mother to work the fields and care for the animals. They could hardly afford a loaf of bread.” 

“I wouldn’t have asked him for a penny.” Nora said as tears began to run down her face. 

Eloise nodded and continued. “Afraid the court would seize her farm and give the profits to you for your babe, she took Erik to court one day in secret and made him confirm that you were with child by some unknown gentleman. And that is why I hate him. The man you yearned after for all these years was the one to betray you. You only thought it was me because I was the only one who knew besides your mother, of course. Then when you found out you had lost the baby...I let you believe it was me because I was afraid another heartbreak would end you.” 

Nora shook her head as tears spilled down her cheeks. “That can’t be true. It can’t be.” 

“I’m sorry Nora, you have had horrible tragedies in your life and I wish it weren’t true...but it is.”