Ginny Hartman Read Online Free Page B

felt his head beginning to lower towards hers.
    Just as his eyes were beginning to drift closed, he heard her inhale sharply and felt her step away. “But you, sir, have forgotten about super. I only came to tell you that dinner has begun. The first course is being served now.”
    He watched in surprised confusion as she turned and fled into the castle, worried that he had scared her by his almost overwhelming desire to kiss her, the inexpressible need to feel her soft lips on his own. Cursing himself for acting so foolish, he waited until she was out of sight before slowly making his way back into the great hall, vowing to forget about the intoxicating imp that had rattled his brain.
     

Chapter 4
    An Unfortunate Encounter
     
    Rosalind grew more and more impatient as she waited for her chambermaid to finish dressing her hair. She had naively convinced herself that being granted her entrance wouldn't alter her life drastically, but she had been wrong. During the last week she had spent more time grooming than she had spent out in the gardens, and the lack of contact with nature was beginning to wear on her nerves.
    Feeling uncharacteristically testy, she found herself snapping at the poor maid when the brush she was using to tame her locks caught on a knot, causing her head to jerk back, as sharp pin-pricks of pain scattered on her scalp. “Brigit, enough! I order you to put that brush down this instant and stop subjecting me to its cruelty.”
    Guilt washed over her instantaneously as she turned to watch a stunned Brigit lower the brush cautiously to the table in front of her. “I'm sorry, my lady. Mayhap I was working too vigorously. For that I do apologize.”
    Rosalind immediately felt contrite. Reaching forward, she placed one hand on top of Brigit's hand, the hand that still had a tentative hold on her brush. “I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have gotten after you like that. I'm having a hard time seeing why all of this is necessary, why everything had to change because the High King saw fit to declare me eligible.”
    “You are a woman now, no longer a child.” Brigit stated softly yet firmly.
    “But I'm still just me, Rosalind Harcourt, the girl who can't keep her dress clean. I'm not interested in pursuing men now any more than I was before my entrance. Why does it matter what my hair looks like or what clothing I wear?”
    “Because Prince Samuel is here to call on you; that's why.” A stern voice bellowed throughout her chambers, causing both Rosalind and Brigit to turn in surprise, as her mother, Queen Constance, strode through the door.
    “You can't be serious, mother. I don't even know who Prince Samuel is.”
    “Well you will soon enough. I suggest you allow Brigit to finish with your hair and hurry along; the prince is waiting for you in the courtyard.”
    Rosalind wanted to groan but refrained herself when she saw the steely look in her mother's eyes. It wouldn't do to try and push her right now, for she was likely to explode. Instead, she solemnly turned and offered her back to Brigit so she could once more resume the task of dressing her hair.
    ***
    “Princess Rosalind, have you heard a word I've said?”
    Rosalind startled at the pointed question. She and Prince Samuel, who hailed from the kingdom of Moar, had been strolling leisurely through the pergola on the west side of the castle gardens. The pergola was overgrown with honeysuckle and pink, silky roses, the heavenly aroma wafting around her, making Rosalind feel content for the first time in days. She had been distracted by the various red strawberries on the bushes lining the path, anxious to pick a handful to sample, when Prince Samuel interrupted her thoughts.
    Feeling contrite, she turned and looked at the Prince. “Please forgive me, I find it is much too easy for me to become distracted when I'm out in nature. There's so much to see and smell and feel, I find it hard to focus on anything else.”
    The prince's