Promising Hope by Emily Ann Ward Read Free Book Online

of Dar when William touched her?
    “I’ll see you at dinner,” William whispered. He
turned away and left without a backward glance at her.
    Grace leaned against the desk next to her, letting
out a breath. She glanced down at herself, at the semi-transparent
clothing that did little to hide her shape. What had she been
thinking? Unwillingly, her mind drifted back to the night in
Belisha and the chemise she’d been wearing in Dar’s presence. Her
memories of she and Dar blended with fantasies of intimate moments
with William. She groaned and touched her forehead. She had such an
ache behind her eyes; she’d had it for days.
    “Lady Grace?”
    Grace jumped; Marisa stood by the bathroom door. “How
long have you been there?” Grace asked.
    “This whole time,” Marisa said, staring at the
ground. “I never left.”
    “Oh, goodness,” Grace said breathlessly.
    A knock on the doors of the bedroom roused Marisa,
and she went to the doors. Grace hoped it wasn’t her mother.
    A maidservant walked in, a dress draped across her
arms, and Lady Sashe followed her in. “Lady Grace,” Sashe said, a
warm smile on her face.
    “Sashe,” Grace said, straightening up to hug Sashe.
“How are you?”
    Sashe looked as ravishing as ever. She wore an ivy
green dress lined with black, and her brown hair was pulled into an
intricate braid. Grace was struck by the resemblance to Sierra,
especially in her strong nose, and her head throbbed at the thought
of the Protectors hunting Sierra down. Sashe’s middle wasn’t as
thin as Grace recalled, and she remembered Sierra telling her Sashe
was pregnant with the king’s child.
    “I’m doing well, thank you,” Sashe said. “And you?
I’m so glad you’ve decided to visit us at the castle.”
    “Thank you. It’s good to see you, too.”
    “I brought you a dress to borrow, at least until your
mother gets here with your things.” Sashe motioned to the blue and
gold gown the maidservants were preparing for her. “I also brought
a corset and undergarments; I wasn’t sure if you had them.”
    “Thank you.” Grace hated wearing corsets; she’d
missed those contraptions the least since leaving.
    “Lady Grace, may I do your hair now?” Marisa
asked.
    Grace subjected herself to Marisa’s hands. Sashe
stayed, sitting in Grace’s desk chair, and Grace knew she wanted
answers. She must want to know where Sierra and Evan were.
    “The prince won’t tell me much about your
adventures,” Sashe said with a playful smile.
    Marisa started drying Grace’s hair, and Grace
hesitated before answering Sashe. She decided the truth would be
best. She’d find out eventually. “We found the ancient texts in
Mumbar Jungle.”
    Sashe’s eyes widened, and she looked at Marisa. “Do
you know the meaning of discretion?”
    “The Protectors know everything already,” Grace
said.
    “What?” Sashe snapped. “How?”
    “I told them.” Grace kept her eyes on the wall across
from her.
    Sashe stood up and put herself in Grace’s line of
vision. “Where’s Sierra?”
    “I don’t know. She left with the ancient texts. I
went to Dar; she went to the others.”
    Sashe narrowed her eyes. “Where are Dar and the
others?”
    “Dar’s somewhere here.” Grace wondered if she could
see him. No, seeking him out would be stupid. She was in love with
William, not Dar. “I don’t know about the others.”
    “Dar’s here at the palace? Where?”
    Grace finally looked at Sashe, gritting her teeth in
frustration. “I don’t know. He’s a prisoner.”
    Sashe’s mouth fell open. Her brow furrowed, staring
at Grace’s desk in thought.
    Marisa yanked on Grace’s hair, and Grace hissed at
the pain on her scalp, making her headache worse.
    “I’m sorry, m’lady,” Marisa whispered.
    “So, what are you doing here?” Sashe asked Grace.
    “I’m coming home,” Grace said. “I helped the
Avialies—”
    “How?”
    “We ended it. Sierra and I. The curse is gone.”
    Sashe took a step back, her