Promising Hope by Emily Ann Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

dark eyes wide. She
glanced at Marisa again, then her own maidservant. Grace wondered
if the servants at the palace knew about the magical families. If
not, she’d definitely enlightened Marisa with the last few
conversations she’d had.
    “I…” Sashe trailed off. “That doesn’t explain what
you’re doing here.”
    “I’m done. I can’t help the Avialies and be with the
prince. I choose William.”
    Sashe stared at Grace, her shock morphing into
disdain.
    “Don’t look at me like that.” Grace’s face grew warm.
“You chose, didn’t you? You chose your baby instead of the
Avialies.”
    Sashe’s face darkened, but she lightened her voice.
Grace knew it was in case anyone was listening, and they must be.
If the prince didn’t trust her, how could Tisha or Kilar? “You’re
right,” Sashe said. “I did. I’ll see you at dinner.”
    She swept out of the room, her maidservant hurrying
behind her.
    Grace sighed as the door shut. Marisa stepped in
front of her, her gaze on the ground. “Are you ready for your
dress?”
    Marisa dressed Grace silently in all of the
trappings: undergarments, hosiery, underskirt, and of course, the
corset. “Finished, m’lady,” Marisa said.
    Grace turned to look in the mirror next to the
wardrobe. She just noticed the dress was adorned with jewels and
Marisa had woven matching ones through Grace’s hair. Marisa had
painted her face with light make-up, accentuating her eyes.
Finally, Grace looked like she belonged at the palace.
    Another knock on the door caught Grace’s breath—if
she could breathe in this blasted corset. She knew she should get
used to it since she was back to her normal life now. Though part
of her doubted life would ever truly return to normal.
    Tisha stepped in, her father behind him. Tisha’s
hair, the color of ink, was combed back, and his dark eyes scanned
the room before he approached Grace. “Lady Grace, I trust you’ve
rested from your trip?”
    “Yes,” Grace said. Actually, she was more tired now
than she had been when they’d returned, but there was no reason to
share that with Tisha.
    “You look beautiful,” Father said, stepping forward
and kissing her on the cheek.
    “Thank you, Father.” She smiled up at him. He gazed
back at her with a strange look on his face, and her smile
faltered. Before she could ask what was wrong, Tisha spoke.
    “Your mother is nearly here, as are the guests the
king invited to lunch,” he said, “which means we must discuss where
you’ve been all this time. Or rather, where we’re going to say
you’ve been.”
    Grace grimaced. “I see.” She was surprised they
hadn’t spoken about it earlier.
    “It would be best to stick with the kidnapping.”
    “But I wasn’t kidnapped.”
    “You weren’t in your right mind, either,” Father
said.
    Grace clenched her hands into fists. “Didn’t Kyler
tell you why I left? I heard the two of you talking about what to
do with me. Why would I stay around after that?”
    Father’s face fell, and he uncrossed his arms.
“Grace… we were just looking out for you.”
    Forcing her hands to relax, Grace shook her head.
“No, you were trying to punish me and keep me from the
Avialies.”
    “Well, look what they’ve done to you!” Father said,
raising his voice.
    “What have they done?” Grace asked.
    Tisha glared at Father, who clenched his jaw and fell
silent. Tisha looked at Grace and said, “Would you have us tell
everyone you ran away to help with a magical curse?”
    Grace half-glanced at Marisa, who was busying herself
in the bathroom, before flicking her faze back to Tisha. “I think
you just don’t want to tell everyone you were wrong.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Of course we don’t. And we
won’t.”
    “And who will you say kidnapped me?”
    “Evan and Sierra Avialie.”
    “But they—” Grace began.
    “They wanted a ransom,” Tisha continued as if she
hadn’t spoken, “but William rescued you. I think that’s what
William would