Read Online Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) by Lisa Manifold - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lisa Manifold
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never thought to hear my father say such a thing.” She rested her head on Esmay’s shoulder.
No one spoke. Tired as she was, Thea felt better. They all turned as more of their sisters came in.
“Are we all feeling slow and stupid?” Isobel asked. Beatrix and Sybbl were behind her, Sybbl yawning.
“Did you dream last night?” Viviana asked. Thea wished she hadn’t. The fact that three of them had similar dreams was unsettling enough.
Isobel giggled, and it sounded very loud, disturbing the peace of the solarium. “I did. Mostly of one fine young man, a princely visitor.”
Beatrix giggled with her. “And just who might that be?”
“There’s only so many princes about as of late. I think the field is rather small,” Isobel said archly.
“Oh, please do elaborate, Isobel. I’m fine with not being the only princess facing marriage.” Thea put a smile on her face.
“Why are you being coy?” Viviana bounced a little on her settee. “There are only two princes at court! Are you in love with Casimir?”
“Vivi, don’t tease. Isobel doesn’t have to say anything if she doesn’t wish it,” Adelaide spoke to Viviana while glancing at Thea.
“Oh, it’s all right, Addy,” Isobel twirled around, lifting her arms and shawl over her head. “I can’t think why I didn’t notice him before. After all, he rather grew up with us, did he not? Casimir is a fine man. And a Crown Prince,” she finished with a smile.
“He is a fine man,” said Thea. She kept her face still, smile in place, not allowing her features to change. She must not. “He’s a good match for any princess.” She thought she might choke on the words, but other than a quick flash of the eyes from Adelaide, no one seemed to notice.
Isobel hugged her shawl to her. “He is. He is a good match. He’s handsome, and charming, and I danced with him most of the evening at the ball! We must not all hope for your good fortune, Thea!” She smiled at Thea. Thea couldn’t help it—she started.
Isobel was the grumpy sister. She complained. She found fault. Her voice strident no matter what she said. But this, this was a different Isobel.
She really liked Casimir, Thea thought. She knew he didn’t love Isobel— she knew he loved her—but to see Isobel, the skeptical, wary Isobel, behaving like a lovesick girl startled her. What did Casimir mean by this? Surely he knew that to toy with a woman’s affections was not appropriate? She’d have to speak to him. Provided she could pry him away from Isobel. Provided she could get free of Sebastian.
She huffed inwardly, struggling to keep her expression still.
“Well?”
Thea looked up. All her sisters faced her expectantly. She must have missed something important. “I’m sorry?”
“What do you think, Thea? Do you think Father would entertain him? How long has he been at odds with Casimir’s father?” Isobel frowned at her, impatience making her tap her foot.
Was it her imagination or did some of her sisters look very uncomfortable with this conversation? She glanced around again. They did. Isobel was still tapping her foot, waiting for an answer. So answer she must.
“I have not been part of their conversation, but Father did say that he and Casimir had come to common ground last night,” Thea said slowly. “And Father did ask him to travel to the Empress of Samir’s kingdom to fetch her son. That is a sign of his favor.”
“That is a matter of opinion,” Isobel said with a grimace. “He will be gone for ages!” She flung herself across from Thea onto a couch.
“Indeed, he will,” Esmay said. “That does not mean that he will forget you, Isobel.” She patted Isobel’s hand. Even as she consoled Isobel, her eyes flew to Thea’s.
Thea could feel sweat beading at the base of her skull. She could not bear this talk of Casimir. She felt Adelaide’s eyes on her, and she ignored it.
“I am not sure what to advise you,” said Thea. “I did not fare so well in concerns
No one spoke. Tired as she was, Thea felt better. They all turned as more of their sisters came in.
“Are we all feeling slow and stupid?” Isobel asked. Beatrix and Sybbl were behind her, Sybbl yawning.
“Did you dream last night?” Viviana asked. Thea wished she hadn’t. The fact that three of them had similar dreams was unsettling enough.
Isobel giggled, and it sounded very loud, disturbing the peace of the solarium. “I did. Mostly of one fine young man, a princely visitor.”
Beatrix giggled with her. “And just who might that be?”
“There’s only so many princes about as of late. I think the field is rather small,” Isobel said archly.
“Oh, please do elaborate, Isobel. I’m fine with not being the only princess facing marriage.” Thea put a smile on her face.
“Why are you being coy?” Viviana bounced a little on her settee. “There are only two princes at court! Are you in love with Casimir?”
“Vivi, don’t tease. Isobel doesn’t have to say anything if she doesn’t wish it,” Adelaide spoke to Viviana while glancing at Thea.
“Oh, it’s all right, Addy,” Isobel twirled around, lifting her arms and shawl over her head. “I can’t think why I didn’t notice him before. After all, he rather grew up with us, did he not? Casimir is a fine man. And a Crown Prince,” she finished with a smile.
“He is a fine man,” said Thea. She kept her face still, smile in place, not allowing her features to change. She must not. “He’s a good match for any princess.” She thought she might choke on the words, but other than a quick flash of the eyes from Adelaide, no one seemed to notice.
Isobel hugged her shawl to her. “He is. He is a good match. He’s handsome, and charming, and I danced with him most of the evening at the ball! We must not all hope for your good fortune, Thea!” She smiled at Thea. Thea couldn’t help it—she started.
Isobel was the grumpy sister. She complained. She found fault. Her voice strident no matter what she said. But this, this was a different Isobel.
She really liked Casimir, Thea thought. She knew he didn’t love Isobel— she knew he loved her—but to see Isobel, the skeptical, wary Isobel, behaving like a lovesick girl startled her. What did Casimir mean by this? Surely he knew that to toy with a woman’s affections was not appropriate? She’d have to speak to him. Provided she could pry him away from Isobel. Provided she could get free of Sebastian.
She huffed inwardly, struggling to keep her expression still.
“Well?”
Thea looked up. All her sisters faced her expectantly. She must have missed something important. “I’m sorry?”
“What do you think, Thea? Do you think Father would entertain him? How long has he been at odds with Casimir’s father?” Isobel frowned at her, impatience making her tap her foot.
Was it her imagination or did some of her sisters look very uncomfortable with this conversation? She glanced around again. They did. Isobel was still tapping her foot, waiting for an answer. So answer she must.
“I have not been part of their conversation, but Father did say that he and Casimir had come to common ground last night,” Thea said slowly. “And Father did ask him to travel to the Empress of Samir’s kingdom to fetch her son. That is a sign of his favor.”
“That is a matter of opinion,” Isobel said with a grimace. “He will be gone for ages!” She flung herself across from Thea onto a couch.
“Indeed, he will,” Esmay said. “That does not mean that he will forget you, Isobel.” She patted Isobel’s hand. Even as she consoled Isobel, her eyes flew to Thea’s.
Thea could feel sweat beading at the base of her skull. She could not bear this talk of Casimir. She felt Adelaide’s eyes on her, and she ignored it.
“I am not sure what to advise you,” said Thea. “I did not fare so well in concerns
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