Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Rosalyn’s eyes brighten at that. “Compensation? Well, yes. Jasmine is very upset, as you can see. She barely slept all night for crying, and the damage to her public image is quite considerable.”
“Of course, I understand entirely,” my mother says, sitting upright. She smiles. “It is regrettable that she’s a topic of conversation right now. Hopefully, as the rollout of the engagement fills the newspaper columns, there will be less talk about her and much more about the upcoming royal wedding.”
I eye her. What is she up to, referencing compensation? There’s nothing to compensate them for.
“Then what are you considering, Your Majesty?” Rosalyn continues. “William and I would be amenable to a discussion regarding a suitor for Jasmine, if you would be so kind.”
Wow.
“Oh, I’m not considering a thing.” My mother’s smile turns cold. “You must have missed the part where I said ‘normally.’”
The chill that runs through the air licks at my skin, icy and venomous, enough to stop even the hardiest of cold weather animals in their tracks.
“You see, any goodwill I may have had for your situation was exhausted the moment I learnt of Harriet’s real name. You’ve lied to me for two years. You’ve led me to believe that Harriet was still missing, if not dead, when the truth was living under your roof the entire time.” She clasps her hands in her lap and focuses on William. “You hid one daughter to further the ambitions of another with little thought or care for the consequences. The only ‘compensation’ your family shall be receiving from the Royal Family is a promise that we will not make it known how horrifically you’ve treated the poor girl.”
Rosalyn opens her mouth, but William silences her with a raise of his hand.
“I understand, Your Majesty.” He bows his head. “I apologise greatly for my deception. I should have told you that Harriet had returned to us. I handled everything incorrectly, and I will forever regret the way she’s been treated.”
“Again, I am not the one who is in need of an apology from you, William. Nor do I care for it. We’ve known each other long enough that we need not partake in these unnecessary niceties.” She sighs wearily. “There will also be a discussion about ensuring Harriet’s full access to her trust—” She pauses as someone knocks at the door. “Rowan, did I not insist that we are not to be disturbed?”
He slides out of the corner of the room. “You did, Your Majesty. Please allow me to handle this.”
Has he been here the whole time?
Smart.
“Please do,” Mum says. “Now, as I was saying, we will be discuss—”
Rowan rushes over to me and leans over the back of the sofa. “You need to return to your bedroom. Miss Harriet has woken up and is having a panic attack,” he whispers.
“Shit.” I push off the sofa and run to the door, ignoring my mother asking what the hell is going on, because I don’t care.
I care about nothing other than Hattie.
She needs me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE – FINN
“Your Royal Highness,” one of the maids says hurriedly. “She’s—”
“It’s fine, thank you.” I yank open the door and rush into the room. Harriet is sitting in the middle of the bed with her hands in her hair and her head bowed. Her harsh, ragged breaths fill the room, and a maid is sitting next to her, softly rubbing her back and whispering gentle words.
“Your Royal Highness.” The maid looks up at me. “I—I know Her Majesty said not to disturb you, but we can’t calm her, and we didn’t know what to do.”
“No, you did the right thing. Thank you for staying with her. You may leave now. I’ll be fine with her.”
She nods quickly and slides off the bed, giving Harriet one last worried look as she does.
A sob breaks free from Hattie, and I slide onto the bed in front of her. She’s facing right ahead, looking right at me, but she’s not seeing me. Her eyes are glassy and unfocused, as if she’s in a completely different place right now, locked in a world nobody else can break through into.
And I…
Shit.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how I can help her. I’ve never seen anyone having a panic attack before. I don’t know how to calm her down or what she needs. I didn’t even know this is something she deals with.
What the fuck am I supposed to do?
Is it like a nightmare where you don’t wake them? Should I disturb her or let her ride it out? Will it stop by itself? Can it stop by itself? Should I be calling a doctor for her right now?
She drags her hands from her hair, practically tugging it out of her scalp. Her hands form fists almost instantly in what I now know is her grounding action, and the way my heart clenches so tightly should be studied.