“Do you think I’m some stupid idiot that is just going to ignore this?!” she bellowed, clenching her fists at her sides.
“Make it quick, woman. I’m sleep-deprived, so my patience is already wearing thin.”
She stepped closer, her brown eyes squinted. “Mark my words, when we are married, she won’t be welcome in the palace again.”
I couldn’t muster an angry thought, I was so exhausted. This was ridiculous, and what good was it for me to scream at her? She didn’t listen anyway. Let her think what she wanted; what she thought was going to happen, never would. John was already putting evidence together about her nightly activities over the last few weeks.
“Do you think I am jesting, my Lord? She will be exiled!”
“Under whose orders?” I taunted. She was becoming more delusional by the day.
“I had it put into our marriage agreement,” she seethed.
“There is no marriage agreement.” I countered, pulling off my boots.
What had this bitch been up to since I’d been gone?
“My father spoke to His Majesty this morning. It is being drawn up. You should be hearing from your father shortly to sign.”
I wouldn’t be signing a thing, and Lord Chitwood was obviously just as delusional if he thought he could make my father, the King, agree to anything. He was probably just entertaining the idea to get him out of the room. I would talk to him about it later; right now, my comfortable bed was beckoning me.
“I’m sure I will.” I yawned, kicking my shoes off and pulling the blankets back. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I looked at her. “Was there anything else?”
“I don’t want you near her again,” Sophia bit out.
I raised an eyebrow and leaned my arms on my knees, challenging her. “And what are you going to do about it?”
“I already told you. She will be banished.”
“I believe only a king can do that,” I advised. “And my father has nothing but love for Lady Barlow, so you need to come back down to reality and realize that you won’t win this.”
Sophia leaned up against my liquor cabinet. “I win everything. That is what you and I both have in common. We are determined, driven; we’d make a good team.”
“I prefer to choose who I ‘work’ with,” I opposed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a rendezvous with my pillow.”
“We aren’t through speaking on this matter.”
“Can’t wait,” I replied sarcastically. She ignored my tone, huffing and muttering, but left the room. I was deep in sleep before I hit the pillow.
Ava
Chapter 27
“Don’t you think having several stone statues made of yourself is a little vain?” Eve asked, as we returned inside the castle from the palace gardens, a week later. “I counted at least four or five.”
During our tour, Eve laughed every time we passed another statue of the queen posed in an innocent stance. She was made to look loving and caring when, in reality, she was the exact opposite of those two words.
“I believe ‘vain’ is putting it nicely,” I replied with a laugh, opening up one of the double glass doors that led us into one of the grand halls.
Eve linked her arm with mine. “This place is massive; they should hand out maps.”
“Or your own personal tour guide.” I stopped to admire a painting of the shoreline.
Eve tugged on my arm. “Ava,” she whispered, “there’s a woman heading this way, and she doesn’t look happy. Is that the—”
“Lady Barlow.” The voice cut through Eve’s words. I looked over to see Sophia Chitwood making her way to us. My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my blood. “I must speak to you on an urgent manner.”
I didn’t say a word, taken aback by her puckered forehead painted in red; from annoyance or rage, I wasn’t sure which. I bet on both, though, as she approached, hands clenched in fists at her sides.
“We must discuss Lord Cranfield,” she continued, her face serious and determined.
“I’d rather not,” I replied, crossing my arms, annoyance in my voice.
Sophia glared at me. “Lord Cranfield and I have had relations. You, Lady Barlow, are a nuisance to my future. I won’t stand for it.”
“And what is it that you aren’t standing for?”
“You are trying to cloud his mind,” Sophia accused, pointing a finger at me. “We both know the ending to this story; I just don’t think you want to accept it. You were assumed to be the future queen, until you were rejected by His Grace. Now, to keep yourself within the family, you’ve gone for his older brother, who is my fiancé.”
I let out a small laugh. “You don’t know anything about my ties with the royal family. Shouldn’t you be discussing this with Lord Cranfield?”
“I already have; in fact, I just left his bedchambers moments ago.” A smirk plastered on her face.
That ticked a nerve inside me. She could just waltz in his room and he let her?
“I’ll speak to whomever I please, Lady Chitwood. Furthermore, if you think this ‘talk’ is to scare me or warn me away, you are sadly mistaken. I’ve been through far worse than this petty warning you’re handing me. I think we are done here.” I linked my arm with Eve’s to walk away, but Sophia entered my personal space, stepping in front of me, mere inches away.
“We are not done until I hear you say that you will stay away from him,” she sneered, seething. “You have everyone here fooled, but I see right through you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were behind all these attacks on the royals.” She tried to tower over me, but we were about the same height, so half an inch didn’t do her much good.
“Don’t push me, Chitwood. I have no problem slapping the ignorance out of that blonde little head of yours.” Eve placed a hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off. I could handle her on my own. I didn’t need to calm down. I had a right to be pissed.
“How dare you try to threaten me!” Sophia screeched, grinding her jaw. “I will have you excommunicated by everyone in this palace, mark my words. Enjoy the last small amount of time you have left here. Our wedding will be by the year’s end.” She pointed to herself. “Cranfield is mine, and no little convent whore is going to take him away from me.”
Red burned into my gaze. Suddenly, Sophia yelped, holding her cheek and stepping backward. Her eyes rounded before they narrowed, the rage returning into them. I had punched her; hard, apparently, because my fist stung.
“You bitch!” she bellowed, rubbing her cheek. As she removed her hand, I saw the red mark from my fist. Sophia went to slap me, but Eve stepped in front of her.
“That’s enough!” Eve cried. “There is more where that came from, trust me. It is in your best interest to leave.” Sophia looked at Eve, her face twisting.
“She hit me!” she gawked. Eve stood her ground, inching closer to protect me, but I placed my hand on her shoulder to move her.
“I got this, Eve. She couldn’t hit to save her own damn life,” I ground out, looking at Sophia in silent challenge.
“Oh, I can hit you, all right,” Sophia spit. “I’ve had my fair share of vexing females.”
“I’m sure you have; probably from you sleeping with their husbands.” Sophia flew toward me, her arm outstretched for my hair, when a voice bellowed through the halls, halting her steps.
“Well, what do we have here, ladies?”
It was George. Sophia looked at him and tamped down her temper. I, on the other hand, didn’t. My nostrils flared. I wanted to kill her, rip her apart with my bare hands. I flexed my fingers, itching at the thought that she was going to give me exactly what I wanted—another reason to inflict more pain. I couldn’t remember a time when I was so mad; even more than when George had thrown my favorite doll out a window. I remembered punching him too. Hence, one of his black eyes.
The stress and aggravation I’d been feeling the last few days crawled through my veins, turning me into a violent, envious woman. And I didn’t like the person it was turning me into.
This was too much.