Star of Wonder by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Anthology
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Published: 2021-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

This was Elizabeth’s favorite part. Not the pudding, nor the fact she’d have another jest under her belt against her family, who were much too strait-laced for her.

No, her favorite moment was any time Drystan was by her side. Over the years, she wondered if it was her antics she loved or the moment when Drystan arrived to share in her jests. Oh, he may call it cleaning up her messes, but there were plenty of times he could have stopped her, but instead, he helped her.

The jests were fun, a chance to laugh and ruffle feathers—a moment to share laughter with Drystan and others. Despite everything separating them, she wanted to share laughter with him. She wanted…him.

She liked the way the wind roughed up his hair as he swiftly walked toward her, the thickness of those eyelashes that framed his dark brown eyes. Nothing escaped his fierce gaze. His father had possessed the same shrewd look, one that didn’t brook any nonsense.

But when Drystan was close to her, like now, there was another reflection to his eyes, some softness, something warm. It was distracting. As was his clean, masculine, and evergreen scent and the width of his shoulders she could compare to the oak table they stood by.

She compared every man, every thought, and every deed to Drystan. Next to him, she found everything else wanting.

Especially John Evans, her neighbor and enemy ever since he suggested she lift her skirts so he could kneel and—No! She’d never want him, but that didn’t matter. Not when she spied the Evanses talking with her father. Not when she saw shaking hands between her father and John. Not when the servants looked at her with pity. She knew her father was concerned about the estate and understood the Evans estate was on higher ground and fared better than theirs.

It wouldn’t be the most advantageous match, but it would secure her future and tie her to a fate she never wanted. John was not Drystan and could never be.

Drystan had been her constant companion. When they were younger, it was almost easy to slip by her governess or tutors and find the steward’s young boy. An hour, perhaps two, they’d had, whilst they both avoided their lessons and duties. As they grew, those times were more difficult to achieve. So, she’d simply tried harder.

Now that she reflected on it all, now that she stood next to him and her palms grew damp merely from being this close, she could easily believe her mischief was so Drystan could find her! Oh, but there was a cost to those later, grander jests. It was like she couldn’t help it. The stricter her father became, the more Drystan was pulled away by his father neglecting his duties, she became almost desperate to keep him close.

Shame swept through her remembering the antics she’d done in those years! What Drystan had done for her, the punishments he shouldered when they should have been her responsibility!

She was the one who hid frogs in the housekeeper’s bed, but Drystan had taken the scolding.

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