Read Online Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) by Lisa Manifold - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lisa Manifold
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of matrimony.”
“What do you mean?” Sybbl interjected. “You fared extremely well!”
“Not as you might think. Father did not tell me that Sebastian had asked for my hand. I only discovered it at the same time as everyone else. I had no idea he had accepted the proposal. I feel a great deal of surprise at Father’s actions.” She stopped, not wanting to continue.
“But you are happy with the betrothal?” Beatrix leaned forward, her face creased with concern.
“I...I don’t know.” Thea stumbled at such direct questioning. “I will not pretend, though, that I had any inkling of it, or that I previously thought of Sebastian in that fashion. He’s a good man from a good family, and I think he will be a good leader. Other than that, I do not know him well.” Thea looked down, not wanting anyone to see the tears that were threatening.
“Now that things have been settled, I can’t imagine he would rush you,” said Adelaide, also looking down.
Her tone was off. Again. Thea looked up, her own distress momentarily forgotten. “Addy?” She leaned over to her sister, placing her hand on top of Adelaide’s.
“It’s nothing, my dearest,” Adelaide looked up, a bright smile on her face. “I just feel…sad that you are not overjoyed. That our father may have had something to do with dampening that joy.”
“I’ll live,” Thea said, smiling herself. She didn’t wish to say anything that she would feel bound to, and this conversation was causing pain to more than herself. “Now, ladies, how is everyone feeling this morning?”
“I told you, I feel wretched,” Isobel frowned as she stretched. “Was there something amiss with dinner last night? I have not felt right since the night of the ball.”
“Nor I,” said Beatrix.
“I must confess, I don’t feel my usual self,” said Esmay.
“It has to be the food, if we are all ill,” Sybbl said. “We shall need to let Father know. Who knows who else may be sick?”
“I am not so sure it was the food.” Thea stood up and walked to one of the windows. She stared out onto the gardens, thinking. Turning back to where most of her sisters now sat, she asked the question she was afraid to hear the answer to. “Have you had odd dreams lately?”
“I have,” Isobel said. “No doubt the result of spoiled food.”
Thea could see her sisters nodding in agreement. She sighed. She didn’t really want to pursue it, so she let the matter drop. Serafina and Angharad had come in, both yawning and stretching. They looked tired as well.
“Then let Father know,” Thea directed her words to Isobel.
“What?” Isobel stared at Thea. “Did you just hand off responsibility?”
Thea started. All her sisters were looking at her as though she’d sprouted a second head. She laughed. “I am not at the top of Father’s list of favorites at the moment. Hearing potentially bad news would be best coming from someone he didn’t just have a shouting match with.”
Emaline stepped close to Thea. “You shouted at one another?”
“We did.” Thea felt her face close down. No matter which direction she went, it was somewhere she didn’t want to go.
“But—” Sybbl interjected.
“It doesn’t matter, does it? He decided this was the match for me, and told me about it at a ball. That’s why I am angry with him. He didn’t consider me at all in his deliberations. And what,” Thea said, brushing angrily at her gown, “Does that tell my future husband? That I am not to be consulted on things that are important? Father has raised me—raised us all—to be capable of ruling; to be strong and capable. His actions with Sebastian do not say that. It troubles me,” she finished, sitting down again.
Silence greeted her outburst. When she looked around, she could see varying levels of discomfort on the faces of her sisters.
Serafina spoke first. “I don’t think Father chose Sebastian for any reason other than he thought he’d be a good match for you,
“What do you mean?” Sybbl interjected. “You fared extremely well!”
“Not as you might think. Father did not tell me that Sebastian had asked for my hand. I only discovered it at the same time as everyone else. I had no idea he had accepted the proposal. I feel a great deal of surprise at Father’s actions.” She stopped, not wanting to continue.
“But you are happy with the betrothal?” Beatrix leaned forward, her face creased with concern.
“I...I don’t know.” Thea stumbled at such direct questioning. “I will not pretend, though, that I had any inkling of it, or that I previously thought of Sebastian in that fashion. He’s a good man from a good family, and I think he will be a good leader. Other than that, I do not know him well.” Thea looked down, not wanting anyone to see the tears that were threatening.
“Now that things have been settled, I can’t imagine he would rush you,” said Adelaide, also looking down.
Her tone was off. Again. Thea looked up, her own distress momentarily forgotten. “Addy?” She leaned over to her sister, placing her hand on top of Adelaide’s.
“It’s nothing, my dearest,” Adelaide looked up, a bright smile on her face. “I just feel…sad that you are not overjoyed. That our father may have had something to do with dampening that joy.”
“I’ll live,” Thea said, smiling herself. She didn’t wish to say anything that she would feel bound to, and this conversation was causing pain to more than herself. “Now, ladies, how is everyone feeling this morning?”
“I told you, I feel wretched,” Isobel frowned as she stretched. “Was there something amiss with dinner last night? I have not felt right since the night of the ball.”
“Nor I,” said Beatrix.
“I must confess, I don’t feel my usual self,” said Esmay.
“It has to be the food, if we are all ill,” Sybbl said. “We shall need to let Father know. Who knows who else may be sick?”
“I am not so sure it was the food.” Thea stood up and walked to one of the windows. She stared out onto the gardens, thinking. Turning back to where most of her sisters now sat, she asked the question she was afraid to hear the answer to. “Have you had odd dreams lately?”
“I have,” Isobel said. “No doubt the result of spoiled food.”
Thea could see her sisters nodding in agreement. She sighed. She didn’t really want to pursue it, so she let the matter drop. Serafina and Angharad had come in, both yawning and stretching. They looked tired as well.
“Then let Father know,” Thea directed her words to Isobel.
“What?” Isobel stared at Thea. “Did you just hand off responsibility?”
Thea started. All her sisters were looking at her as though she’d sprouted a second head. She laughed. “I am not at the top of Father’s list of favorites at the moment. Hearing potentially bad news would be best coming from someone he didn’t just have a shouting match with.”
Emaline stepped close to Thea. “You shouted at one another?”
“We did.” Thea felt her face close down. No matter which direction she went, it was somewhere she didn’t want to go.
“But—” Sybbl interjected.
“It doesn’t matter, does it? He decided this was the match for me, and told me about it at a ball. That’s why I am angry with him. He didn’t consider me at all in his deliberations. And what,” Thea said, brushing angrily at her gown, “Does that tell my future husband? That I am not to be consulted on things that are important? Father has raised me—raised us all—to be capable of ruling; to be strong and capable. His actions with Sebastian do not say that. It troubles me,” she finished, sitting down again.
Silence greeted her outburst. When she looked around, she could see varying levels of discomfort on the faces of her sisters.
Serafina spoke first. “I don’t think Father chose Sebastian for any reason other than he thought he’d be a good match for you,
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