The Discarded Countess

a

ight about Annes, was

n traveling together E

because she had alread

easy child and was ha

t cradle Annes had cre

n wondered how she had

topic had not come up

lan would not ask and

just as Lady Glendennin

was born within th

T

g the end of it's jou

, and one that Elan had

state, her home as a

ents. Elan expecte

much since the last

It was a sturdy stone

or the Glendenning e

hat her parents had ot

not recognize and ser

her parents colors we

colors and wondered wh

h

"

Annes asked, snapping

"

ome in a long ti

erst

he subject drop and s

ve their trunks brou

and followed behind t

putting it off any lon

she would be at her n

ing a deep breath Ela

ll to her p

S

l by Aeron, her parent

od to have you back La

ter by you

"

ron, it's been too lon

t de

ll

t were lies. She would

ched place, but she ha

did not wish to burde

e forced a placid sm

e hall. Where her pare

ught

her planting a dutif

good of you to pay us

al... given your

E

ling like a fool, "I'm

n inconvenie

"

cut her off. "I thoug

Yet now I hear that yo

E

d she dug her fingernai

nger. Barely keeping he

ything I could mothe

situation had become

ys

"

" Elan's father now j

cism

"

s settlement," Elan

from the church. It s

ble t

"

e amicable terms?" Ela

e an embarrassment to

s and sisters! We n

liat

E

hers and sisters had br

her scandal. It gave

attention circled bac

ny excuse to be scand

ildren. As far back as

been criticizing, co

t. They found fault wi

rtyn had an

te children, Addiena

g and drink; and Bronwy

ged to do all of these

to please t

"

r," Elan murmured lowe

"

tonight," Elan's fat

he threatened h

"

nd Aedan Tirel," Ela

"

onded in surprise.

"

mily called Tirel?" E

self scarce. Keep q

. We will not have th

out how we insulted th

erh

I just avoided din

nothing better than to

Annes and her guard th

e pr

Th

father snapped back.

iding

"

we will introduce you

and politely as yo

tru

"

Elan said

it

lowed behind her pare

eated. Elan had never

briefly, once as a gi

e young men definitel

most men and muscula

r, Aedan, was the more

sparkling blue eyes,

his presence. Elidyr,

harsher way. He seeme

appearance more neatl

ter and his face clean

e torchlight almost loo

her chest as she lo

ear

introduced her to th

an

T

fully at her. Eager to

n's father quickly sea

and immediately struck

t carried on, and Ela

lence waiting for an o

alk with her father,

m more than once steal

of her divorce and wa

n, and her fingers gre

knife with al

W

one, Elan rose and qui

atigued from her journe

her when Prince E

erh

Lady Elan to

E

oked as if he'd been

Th

y Prince, but Elan is

u need not we

It

eplied. "It is only

ely seen to

"

father said, he was

prin

Th

lan said dutifully.

E

table, as she moved

hissed into her ear:

to further tarnish yo

iled blankly and nodde

a goodnight inste

li

d they left the dining

boring into her