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I did as Lord Crestwood requested of me and stayed in the safety of my own chambers for the rest of the day. I spent many hours pacing back and forth, reciting and replaying what I would say when I saw my father again.
A maid came to my room with my mid-day meal, though the meat and bread sat on the table untouched; I couldn’t bear the idea of eating. My thoughts did not drift away from Klaus or the time we had spent together. There, in the tranquil forest, I learned how to trust again. In his strong arms, I had fallen in love. Knowing he was spending his time with another – his promised wife – tore my heart and soul into tiny slivers of nothing. Was this a part of my mother’s curse?
I watched from the window as carriages began to arrive, bringing the many guests Lord Crestwood had i
