The Spark of a Feudling Read Online Free

supposed to present you to Society within the year! What will people think? The memory of her mother’s voice echoed in her head as she felt the ground staining her skirts. She pushed it away. She wasn’t ready to grow up, because growing up meant leaving Christian behind.
    She couldn’t do that.
    Finally, he tumbled free of the brambles and she followed, emerging next to the tiny pond they’d found years ago. As far as Ada knew, no one in her father’s employ knew of it, and she was certain her mother didn’t.
    â€œOkay. Enough, Christian, tell me.” She pushed her thick red and black curls away from her face; they were a tangled mess now.
    Still Christian peered around them. Ada sighed, leaning against the tree trunk and folding her arms over her chest, glaring until he spoke.
    â€œThere are rumors, Ada.”
    â€œYes, you’ve mentioned that,” she said dryly. Christian moved around to the other side of the pond, his feet squishing in the mud as he got too close to the water. He tore a branch off the tree above his head and plucked leaves off, tossing them in the pond. “You’re stalling,” Ada said, grinning. He was adorable. The sun broke through the thick branches above, catching the highlights in his dark brown hair. He knelt next to her. It was rare that they were alone — Charity was always with them.
    Ada’s heart pounded harder in her chest.
    â€œYou have to promise not to be angry with me, Ada Aleshire.” He leaned close, studying her face. He was nearly eighteen. A man. Her gaze dipped to his lips, and this time the flush swept up her neck and into her cheeks before she could fight it down. That slow grin lit up his face, brightening his eyes.
    She cleared her throat and backed away. Friends , she told herself sternly. “I promise not to be angry with you, Christian Buttercroft. Unless you don’t tell me right now, in which case I will be furious.” She tried to look fierce and he laughed.
    â€œOkay, okay.” He held his hands up to ward of her attack, which was smart of him, since she was indeed considering smacking him. Instantly, though, his face sobered. “There are rumors that your father…” his voice trailed off again.
    She was sure she would go mad before he ever got to the point. “Christian!”
    â€œAll right, all right! There are rumors that your father is funding the war and that he is playing all three sides — Queen Anne’s, the French and Spanish, and his own,” Christian said in a rush. “And there are rumors that your father is the one stealing the seers’ sight.”
    Ada felt like she’d been slapped. She stumbled backward, putting a hand to her cheek, feeling the heat there and not understanding why. “How can you say such things?” she whispered.
    â€œI didn’t want to! You forced me!” Christian said, following her. He grabbed her hand, twining her fingers with his, the pad of his thumb brushing against her tender skin. “I’m sorry, Ada. I truly am. But I’m worried for you.”
    â€œYou’re worried for me and yet you tell me such horrid things?” she screeched like an angry owl, wincing as she hurt her own ears.
    â€œAda.” Christian stopped following her backward, but he didn’t let go of her hand. He straightened to his full height, several inches taller than her. “You know I would never hurt you. I—” He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening.
    But she couldn’t worry about what he was going to say. She jerked her hand free and whirled, gathering her skirts up and dashing into the briars. She felt them tear at her dress, her arms, hair and face, until she was smart enough to drop to her knees. Without a backward glance she crawled through the dirt.
    â€œAda, wait! Please, Ada, you promised!”
    She muttered angrily under her breath but didn’t stop.
    â€œAda, just think about what I