The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt Read Free Book Online Page B

him to be in his early twenties—what did such a young and handsome man want with me?
    The next evening, his demeanor was strangely awkward. We walked the streets in silence. I sensed he had something to say, that his purpose in getting to know me would finally be revealed. However, we walked six straight blocks before he even began to broach the subject.
    “You have probably guessed that I am nobly born,” he began.
    “It’s evident.”
    “It is traditional among my class for a young man to find an older woman to—Not that you seem that much older than I…” he amended in a rush of words.
    “How old are you?” I asked.
    “I am two and twenty.”
    “I am ten years older than you.”
    “Yes, well…it’s difficult to know whom you can trust, you see. I believe you have spoken to me from the heart. I believe I can trust you.”
    “Trust me with what?”
    “My…education.”
    “I have no education. You seem much better educated than—”
    “Not that kind of education.” He turned to face me and looked me square in the eye. He took my hands in his. He looked like he was facing down a mortal enemy as he opened his mouth and spoke again.
    “I want you to make a man of me.”
    My mouth dropped in the most profound shock I ever felt. I was unable to speak.
    I could see his face turn dark as a flush overtook it. “You see, a man in my position cannot command the respect of his men unless he has been…touched by a woman. What’s more, a woman of my class expects the man who brings her to his marriage bed to have skill enough to…to perform without awkwardness, and to be able to relieve her of her…of her maidenhood without undue pain.”
    “I don’t think—”
    “Do you find me undesirable?”
    “What? Of course not! But…but you cannot find me desirable!”
    “Of course I do.”
    I didn’t know how to respond. He took away the need.
    “I know you think yourself ugly, Talia. But you are a very desirable woman. Not beautiful, certainly, but desirable just the same. I’m sure many men think so.”
    “No, you must be wrong.”
    “I know I am right. I would not be asking you this, otherwise. Will you do this for me?”
    I looked away. “It would be wrong of me to take away your purity.”
    “I assure you, if it’s not you, I will find someone else.”
    “No, you must not. Save yourself for your future wife.”
    “Why? So she will laugh at me in the marriage bed? So she will ridicule my ineptness with her friends the next day? No, I will not be mocked in such a manner.” I stared at him. “You don’t understand such marriages,” he said. “My future wife—whoever she is—will be a political partner, nothing more. Love is unlikely. But I must have her respect.”
    “No, I meant for your original betrothed.”
    “I told you that is impossible.”
    “Perhaps a way could be found.”
    “No!”
    I silenced. He held up a key.
    “This is the key to a small house by the river.” He placed it on the wall of the bridge and told me how to get there. “If you agree, take the key and be there at nine tomorrow night. If you cannot do it, then leave the key. Good night.”
    With that, he walked off.
    I touched the key. The river flowed by under the bridge as I pondered. A cloud swallowed the wavy reflection of the moon.
    Finally, I picked up the key and put it in my pocket.
    ***
    I arrived before he did. I found a house that had been prepared by now-absent servants. A banked fire burned in the kitchen. Covered plates of wine and cheese were in a sitting room. Another chamber had a bed with the quilt turned down and a fire burning low.
    He arrived.
    “Thank you for coming,” he said as he doffed his cape.
    “I’m not here for the reason you think,” I said. I had thought about his proposal all day, and had come to a decision.
    He paused and looked at me.
    “I wanted to tell you something else about Willard and me.”
    “Very well,” he said. His voice was somewhat frosty, so different from