Chapter 25 - Marcy (1/2)

”Your lessons will commence in the morning, Catherine. For now, Alpheus will show you around the castle. He has nothing better to do.”

Ouch. Blatant disrespect from his mother.

Al stood stiffly, his happiness clearly dimmed, and held out a hand to help me off the settee. We bowed/curtsied to take our leave as the countess stayed behind to talk wedding arrangements.

”Uh, is she always like that?” I dared to ask.

He let out a heavy sigh. ”Yes.”

”What's her problem?” I demanded. ”You just let her treat you like that?”

He shrugged helplessly. ”It's all I know.”

I didn't like the way he looked when he said that, like all hope was lost. The sadness in his eyes I had noticed in the beginning was back. No wonder he wanted to run away.

”Don't listen to her, she's full of it.”

Al's eyes widened. I don't think he understood what I said but my tone was clear.

”I mean it. Don't let her get to you. Your value is your own; it doesn't come from anybody else so they can't diminish it unless you let them.”

”You…have very strange ideas.”

”Do I?”

It was something my mom told me once after I'd been picked on at school because I was a chubby kid with coke-bottle glasses who finished the homework way too fast.

”Mmhmm.” It was a noncommittal noise but he seemed a bit happier. ”I imagine you'll want to see the library or stables first?”

My eyes widened in anticipation. He had promised me a great library when he originally proposed.

”Library first!”

Al talked a bit about certain features of the palace as we passed various rooms and servants going to and fro. The architecture here was far more impressive than back at the earl's manor.

I was engrossed, drinking in everything I saw. So much so that I didn't notice when I bumped into a person.

Al pulled me out of the way, saving me from a head-on collision, but we still knocked shoulders.

”I'm so sorry!” the girl cried. ”Please forgive me Your Highness!”

Your Highness? I wasn't any sort of Highness yet. Was she talking to Al?

”It was my fault, don't worry about it,” I replied before nearly gasping aloud.

Marcy! I ran right into Marcy! I scanned Al's face for any signs of infatuation but didn't even find recognition. This was not good.

She curtsied deeply. ”If you'll excuse me, Your Highnesses, I must get back to my duties.”

I wanted to protest but she was already gone.

Al frowned at me. ”You should really watch where you're going, you could have gotten hurt.”