Masquerade by Felicity Harper

Author:Felicity Harper [Harper, Felicity]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: YA, adaptations, heroines, tale, re-telling, fantasy, Regency, A re-imagining of the classic fairy-tale Cinderella., clean, HEA, Romance, Adult, short, Teen, fairy, witty, sweet, novella, funny, and, Cinderella, Young
Publisher: Endeavours Partnership
Published: 2017-04-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“I can’t go, Delphi!” Astrid cried. She buried her head back into her pillow.

“Why ever not?” Delphi sat on the edge of the bed on which her sister was sprawled face down. “Astrid, do stop muttering into your pillow, I cannot understand a word you are saying.”

Astrid sat up, her face red and puffy from crying. “I said I can’t go because I love him!”

“Am I missing something? Surely loving the man you are to marry is a good thing?

Astrid threw her hands up in the air. “Not if he’s fallen for someone else it isn’t!”

Delphi frowned. “But, just yesterday, you said you had enjoyed each other’s company and that you had had fun on your walk.” Delphi had wondered at the time why Astrid, usually so keen to elaborate and embroider her tales, had sounded so forlorn and been reticent about sharing the details of this particular adventure.

“Yes but that was before .…” Astrid looked away, unable to meet her sister’s eye.

“Uh-oh! What did you do?”

“Don’t sigh, Delphi. I had no choice! Roman held onto me at the Hunt in front of Mother. To have denied him would have caused a scene. Of course I had to meet him last night. It was Roman’s fault - all of it - not mine.”

“Just tell me.”

“Very well - but don’t grrr or condemn me before you have heard what I have to say.”

“I’ll try. Don’t look at me like that, Astrid! It can be very difficult just to listen to you sometimes!”

“Then at least try!”

Astrid accepted the handkerchief her sister held out as a peace offering and and dried her eyes. “Last night, after I left the Palace, I came back here and changed into a disguise.” Delphi drew a sharp breath. Astrid stopped and gave her a stern look. “I already told you I had no choice. I had to meet Roman at the Royal Pavilion, pretending to be the Contessa, and - and I told him that I could not see him again.”

Delphi smiled. “Well then - that’s that!” she said, relieved nothing worse had happened.

“I haven’t finished.”

“Oh!” Delphi said with a sense of foreboding. Tears were streaming down Astrid’s face faster than the small handkerchief could cope. “Here,” she said quietly, handing Astrid another hanky. “Tell me the rest.”

“Oh, Delphi! He - he said that, now he had met her, he wants her! And her pert bottom!” she hiccupped through the tears. “I think he’s f-falling in l-love with h-her.”

Delphi put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and stroked her hair. “Astrid,” she said, “I’m going to tell you this because you’re my sister and I love you.”

Astrid muttered something against her shoulder that sounded like, ‘Oh no’ but Delphi did not let that deter her. “There are times, like now, when I am astounded you are my older sister and even more astonished that I actually look up to you.”

Astrid pulled away and glared at her. “How can you be so mean, Delphi?”

“No, Astrid: how can

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