Chapter 93: A Bitter Dose
Rose sat anxiously in Lady Delphine’s room. She didn’t want to wait alone, and even though business for the day had started and customers were already rushing into the building, Lady Delphine kept her promise to stay with Rose until it was time for her to leave.
"Do you think the crown prince ’as gotten the letter?" Rose asked for the umpteenth time, her fingers twisting as she waited anxiously.
Lady Delphine chuckled. "The answer hasn’t changed from the last time you asked, Rose."
Rose nodded and looked at the wall. She wasn’t really looking at anything, she just stared.
Slade had been gone for quite some time now, and according to Lady Delphine, the manor wasn’t that far from the castle—yet no one had arrived to take her there. Her thoughts were spinning in every direction.
Why was rejection frightening? It would be a good thing if the crown prince didn’t want her anymore. She would have a mountain of debt, but at least she would have freedom. Besides, this was a different kind of captivity now that money was involved. She was practically being sold to the crown prince.
He had treated her no better than a slave when she was with him. Now that she really was a slave, how would he treat her? Rose didn’t want to find out, but she also couldn’t let Lady Delphine regret helping her.
"Your anxiousness is getting to me too," Lady Delphine said as she prepared her pipe. Lighting it with the lamp, she went back to lie on the long chair.
"I’m sorry," Rose said immediately.
"I don’t fault you," Lady Delphine replied, pausing as she inhaled, then blew the smoke out. Rose watched it float to the ceiling. "I am also anxious too. His Highness is unpredictable, and I’m sorry this is the only option we have."