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

like the most, to avoid trouble.”
    Grace’s protest died on her lips. William… yes, she
needed to do what William wanted. “Do you think so?”
    “I’m sure of it,” Tisha said softly. “I just spoke
with him. He doesn’t want to worry your mother.”
    “Oh, all right,” Grace said with reluctance. It would
be better this way. “But it won’t be an official charge, will it?
We’ll tell others, but they won’t be charged for my
kidnapping?”
    Tisha let out an exasperated noise. “If that’s what
you want.”
    “It is.”
    Tisha inclined his head. “Would you come down to the
sitting room with us?”
    Grace nodded. “Of course.”
    She took her father’s outstretched arm, and they left
her room together. She cleared her throat and asked Tisha, “Does
Marisa know about the families?”
    “To a certain point, yes,” Tisha said. “She’s trained
in combat, you know. That’s why we assigned her to you. She’ll be
able to protect you if anything goes wrong.”
    Grace thought of Marisa’s muscular frame. She’d
probably need Marisa sooner or later. Grace had plenty of
enemies.
    In the sitting room, William and Kyler stood by the
fireplace, chatting over glasses of wine. Grace smiled at the sight
of both of them and hurried over to them. “Kyler, are you feeling
well? I hardly saw you during the trip.”
    “Yes, I’m practically back to normal,” Kyler
said.
    Grace had heard an arrow had hit him in the shoulder;
he spent most of the trip back to Renaul in a special carriage with
the doctor. She’d hardly spoken with him. She examined his right
shoulder, but it looked normal.
    “Don’t worry; it’s healing,” he assured her. “Still a
little painful, but fine.”
    “Good.” Grace thought back to the battle: she
remembered they were fighting as Kyler tried to make Father let her
leave. She’d been so concerned with Dar. His wound had been so
deep. But Dar was okay now. He’d… something had happened,
obviously, or he wouldn’t be alive… but what? Had the Thieran
traveling with the Protectors healed him? Why would he heal an
Avialie?
    “Lady Grace?” William asked.
    Grace’s confusion fled, and she beamed at the prince.
“Your Highness,” she said, inclining her head.
    “You’re looking well,” William said. “Much better
than we pulled you out of the jungle.”
    Grace’s face grew warm, and she laughed. “I hope so.
I wasn’t at my best then.”
    A wail behind her alerted Grace to her mother’s
presence, and she turned around, her shoulders tensing. Mother
threw her arms around Grace, barely holding back sobs. “Oh, Grace,
it’s so wonderful to see you. I’ve been so so worried!”
    Grace smiled tightly, rubbing her mother’s back.
    Mother quickly pulled away, sure not to make a fool
of herself in front of so many men. She wiped her cheeks and
touched the sides of Grace’s face. “You look ravishing!” She
motioned to her dress. “Your things are being taken to your room,
but this dress is absolutely stunning on you.”
    Grace smoothed down the fabrics. “Thank you. It’s
Lady Sashe’s.”
    “Well, I’ll have to thank her myself.” Mother brushed
a strand of hair out of Grace’s face and smiled. She curtsied to
the prince and hugged Kyler. “I heard about your shoulder. How are
you feeling?”
    “Oh, I’m on the mend.” Kyler lifted his shoulder
slightly, but his face grimaced in pain a little bit. He let out a
chuckle. “Well, I could hardly do that yesterday.”
    Mother’s chest swelled with pride. “You and your
father, dashing off to save Grace! Such heroes.”
    Grace looked at Mother indignantly. She didn’t need
saving. She’d saved herself this time. Both her and Dar. Hadn’t
she? No matter how hard she tried, her mind couldn’t make the
connection between what happened in the cave to her reunion with
William. She only felt sure that she and Dar were safe now because
of her.
    “But of course, the prince deserves much of the
praise,” Mother