Stolen by the Crown

ears

rp awareness of temperament made the difference between getting Falmouth 's attention and being overlooked. Neglect was widely sought after. Amby, on the other hand, treated her sisters with caution, as if she had not dared trust their companionship, as if throughout her life she had stood by herself, on the outside looking in. Bleakly delighted at his insight-or was he just presuming she was the same as him?-he grinned broadly at Amby. She stepped back on purpose. Without words, the two of them had a really good conversation. And nobody else understood they were hardly speaking at all. "We ought to get ready for the ball tonight." Mirabel held Amby's arm. Come on, Amby; it will be great! Xavier watched Amby hesitate for the first time. She seemed not to agree, yet her features started to show a forlorn yearning.Surrounded by the other girls, they left Xavier except Helena, who dropped by his side to lay her hand on his arm. He placed his hand over Helena's and they walked following the hurriedly speaking girls. Mirabel and his other sisters had been the cushion that had lessened the shocks of his life; in turn, he had tried to cushion them as well. Falmouth 's concentration had been on him, the son; yet, with a father like theirs, the girls had been neglected, humiliated, and subjected to cruelty. Falmouth left traces of his negligent scorn for his daughters based on nothing more than their gender. Their mother had done what she could, but during Xavier's stay in England, she had suffered at least two miscarriages as well as a stillbirth, all males. The strong, attractive, contemptuous aristocrat he had first encountered had become a thin, depressed mother wracked with loss for her dead sons. As the eldest, Helena had been in charge of looking for her younger sisters and, when she could, Xavier. She tutored and cared for her younger siblings. Though he questioned her ability to stand giving so much of her young life for her family, he nevertheless valued her goodness. Now Helena stated, "Mirabel persuaded Miss George to let the girls dress her in one of Lorraine's yet-unseen gowns. They are the same height, and Miss George will be charming tonight with a few tweaks for her figure and more maturity. Do you agree? She will indeed do this. But does she not own any gowns? She does, and they are all in a terrible state. Her stepfather grudges every dollar spent on her. "She chose school over clothes when given a decision between them. She is learning to make her living by attending the Distinguished Academy of Governesses. She has a great will, a wonderful sensibility, and a real talent for languages, and I think she will have a successful service life. Indeed. I believe her mother, a poor creature fairly cowed by the stepfather, stood up and urged Miss George to go instead of staying home and looking after her siblings."Why, my darling Helena, are you sharing with me?" "I wanted you to know she has nothing to look forward to and you could perhaps stop your peacock posturing." With a giggle, he turned to her. "Is that how I have been acting?"Helena did not chuckle in reply. "Miss George is quite beautiful, but she has a reputation that needs to remain polished beyond question." He was aware of her caution. Though he found it objectionable, he understood it. Indeed. I would not conceive of ruining her with my holy speeches "Modesty will suit you, King Salem." "You mock me with the title, but it is sweet to hear my true name again." She tugged him to stop, her already austere expression darkening. "Mirabel says you will be leaving us shortly to get back to Erduian." You will soon be claiming your reign. "That is not as simple as it seems. The newspaper stories confirm tha