kindness for both of them than a strike against your character."
Bitter laughter bubbled past Rafe's lips before he could seal the sound away. "I've manipulated those around me since I was seven. I've lied in the process so no one can uncover what I've done." He looked up then, for some reason wanting this man, this fantasy turned reality, to believe him. "I built a business for myself before I was legally old enough, spinning lies so no one could find my true age. I manipulated those in my own house to believe me a frivolous idiot who abused someone precious so I could remain unscathed and so they would have an easier time moving through the day-to-day chores thrust upon them by a cruel twist of fate. I've maneuvered my sister toward a man so she will be out of the clutches of our mother. I have changed the strings of fate to protect myself. All I've done has been to protect me, because the people I hold dear are my weakness, and I can't have a weakness."
He pulled back, finding the strength to release himself from the man who'd let him unburden himself, but he couldn't stay. He turned away from the man who'd somehow, with a few simple words, allowed Rafe a moment to admit who he was. A few steps were all he could take before he saw her.
On the stairs, in a flowing gown that was several light shades of blue, stood Greta, a dark blue mask poised on her face. She looked beautiful, her lightly bronzed color complemented by the blue and the diamonds she wore. Rafe heard several people around him gasp at the sight of Greta, and when he turned, he saw his fantasy staring at her, enchanted by the image she presented. And who wouldn't be? A part of himself crumbled, and he wanted to laugh bitter tears as he realized where he'd met the man. It had been with Mr. Monel, when he'd brought the prince and marquess.
He'd been dancing with the prince, and he hadn't known it. Rafe looked back at Greta. Yes, the prince would do right by her. He knew it.
So why did he feel so bitter?
Chapter Six
It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, Rafe had to give it to Raquel. Once the marriage contract had been signed the day after the royal ball, his sister had celebrated. Congratulating him. He'd been so proud of his sister, of himself. And he'd gone home, given the deed to the house to Greta along with her father's money, and had the local guards evict his mother. It had hurt, listening to the words she'd thrown at him, but he'd stared at her, cold and indifferent, until she'd gone. Then he'd turned to Greta, asked that she give Raquel and himself time to remove their belongs, bowed, and left. Her fate was in her own hands now, as it should have been from the beginning.
The house he'd hoped to buy was in his name by the end of that same day, and his sister's dowry settled in an account for after the marriage. He hadn't had enough money to do much else, though he'd had some in case an emergency cropped up, such as the need for a cart so he could haul his belongs to his new home, storing Raquel's on the lower floors until after her wedding. The cart had also been used to move Jaq and his family into Rafe's home. They'd had a long talk, Rafe, Jaq, and Jaq's mother, and Rafe had taken Jaq's mother aside to let her know what he had done in the past. She, Venda bless her, had held his hand and told him he was a good boy. It had healed a part of himself Rafe had long given up hope of ever fixing. Soon after, word of what he had done to his mother spread quickly, and no one knew what to do.
Greta, bless her, did. She'd gone around making sure everyone knew what he'd done for her over the years, and soon enough, Duncan had stepped forward, having his daughter, who'd recently returned from abroad, translate his handwriting. Surprisingly enough, the stable master and gardener told everyone of how Rafe had treated the plants and animals, only going near them when he thought no one was around which was, apparently, a clear indication that he'd been playing a
Bitter laughter bubbled past Rafe's lips before he could seal the sound away. "I've manipulated those around me since I was seven. I've lied in the process so no one can uncover what I've done." He looked up then, for some reason wanting this man, this fantasy turned reality, to believe him. "I built a business for myself before I was legally old enough, spinning lies so no one could find my true age. I manipulated those in my own house to believe me a frivolous idiot who abused someone precious so I could remain unscathed and so they would have an easier time moving through the day-to-day chores thrust upon them by a cruel twist of fate. I've maneuvered my sister toward a man so she will be out of the clutches of our mother. I have changed the strings of fate to protect myself. All I've done has been to protect me, because the people I hold dear are my weakness, and I can't have a weakness."
He pulled back, finding the strength to release himself from the man who'd let him unburden himself, but he couldn't stay. He turned away from the man who'd somehow, with a few simple words, allowed Rafe a moment to admit who he was. A few steps were all he could take before he saw her.
On the stairs, in a flowing gown that was several light shades of blue, stood Greta, a dark blue mask poised on her face. She looked beautiful, her lightly bronzed color complemented by the blue and the diamonds she wore. Rafe heard several people around him gasp at the sight of Greta, and when he turned, he saw his fantasy staring at her, enchanted by the image she presented. And who wouldn't be? A part of himself crumbled, and he wanted to laugh bitter tears as he realized where he'd met the man. It had been with Mr. Monel, when he'd brought the prince and marquess.
He'd been dancing with the prince, and he hadn't known it. Rafe looked back at Greta. Yes, the prince would do right by her. He knew it.
So why did he feel so bitter?
Chapter Six
It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, Rafe had to give it to Raquel. Once the marriage contract had been signed the day after the royal ball, his sister had celebrated. Congratulating him. He'd been so proud of his sister, of himself. And he'd gone home, given the deed to the house to Greta along with her father's money, and had the local guards evict his mother. It had hurt, listening to the words she'd thrown at him, but he'd stared at her, cold and indifferent, until she'd gone. Then he'd turned to Greta, asked that she give Raquel and himself time to remove their belongs, bowed, and left. Her fate was in her own hands now, as it should have been from the beginning.
The house he'd hoped to buy was in his name by the end of that same day, and his sister's dowry settled in an account for after the marriage. He hadn't had enough money to do much else, though he'd had some in case an emergency cropped up, such as the need for a cart so he could haul his belongs to his new home, storing Raquel's on the lower floors until after her wedding. The cart had also been used to move Jaq and his family into Rafe's home. They'd had a long talk, Rafe, Jaq, and Jaq's mother, and Rafe had taken Jaq's mother aside to let her know what he had done in the past. She, Venda bless her, had held his hand and told him he was a good boy. It had healed a part of himself Rafe had long given up hope of ever fixing. Soon after, word of what he had done to his mother spread quickly, and no one knew what to do.
Greta, bless her, did. She'd gone around making sure everyone knew what he'd done for her over the years, and soon enough, Duncan had stepped forward, having his daughter, who'd recently returned from abroad, translate his handwriting. Surprisingly enough, the stable master and gardener told everyone of how Rafe had treated the plants and animals, only going near them when he thought no one was around which was, apparently, a clear indication that he'd been playing a
Similar Books
