Lady Diana's Disguise (Seven Wishes Book 3)

by Bree Verity

  A vinegar Valentine contained a message of disregard, much different to a proper Valentine which of course included a note of affection. It was the last, desperate thing Mary had tried to do to get Sir Prosperine to leave her alone.

  "Maybe you addressed the cards incorrectly?"

  Her brother John piped up in his melodious baritone, but today to Mary it sounded as toneless as Mrs. Hedley's singing at church.

  "And sent Sir Percival's Valentine to Sir Prosperine," added Louisa, her already shrill voice even higher.

  Mary had suspected as much as soon as her father had mentioned Sir Prosperine, but to have two of her siblings confirm her suspicions meant she would have to confront the hideous truth.

  "Has there been any word at all from Sir Percival?" Her tone was timid, tinged with forlorn hope, which her father quashed instantly.

  "Not a word," he said from behind his paper.

  Because he did not look at her, Mary felt sure her father did not wish to be bothered further about the matter. He was very well known for ignoring matters that made him uncomfortable. But Mary had to at least make the attempt. Her future happiness was at stake.

  "Papa, you need to write to Sir Prosperine and tell him that I do not wish to marry him."

  The newspaper did not move.

  "I saw the declaration you sent him, Mary" he said mildly from behind it. "How do you suggest I now tell him you have changed your mind?"

  "I have not changed my mind," Mary insisted. "Rather, an error was made."

  'But it was your error, not mine."

  "But I cannot approach Sir Prosperine. It would be improper."

  She looked to her mother for assistance but her mother, knowing that Papa would not rouse himself to action, just shook her head sadly.

  Mary's heart pattered tumultuously in her chest. With shaking hands she patted her lips on the crisp white napkin despite no food having passed her lips, and said with deceptive calm, "I fear I have no further appetite for breakfast. Pray excuse me."

  Feeling the eyes of her entire family upon her (except for Papa, who remained firmly behind his paper), Mary made a dignified exit that lasted only until she was out of sight. Then, hoisting up her skirts, she ran like a hoyden to her hiding place, the library.

  Lady Mary's Muddle is available for preorder from Amazon.

  Author's Notes

  Thanks so much for reading!

  As I get deeper into this series, I realise there's lots of fae lore that you may not be familiar with (since you are a human, I presume.)

  For example, the Epic Journey of Gnythe Morsteyn, which is a well-worn fable in Byd Tal'm, but which has never graced the story books on Earth.

  One day, when I have a spare moment, I'll try to translate the epic journey from Hyrdese into English, so you may enjoy its many stanzas.

  But for the sake of right now, just to fill the question in your mind, the Epic Journey is the tale of how Gnythe Morsteyn, troubled over fae having to take human souls to pay the soul tithe to Hell, journeyed all over Byd Tal'm trying to find a way to the gods, so she could petition them on behalf of fae and mortal alike.

  Eventually she reached the lands of the ice giants, climbed the mountains and found the way, only to be told her impertinence insulted the gods.

  Gnythe kept petitioning them until Rianna, the least patient of the gods, cast her from the mountains, but told her that by granting humans their happily ever afters, the soul tithe would be forfeit.

  Rejoicing, Gnythe stood tall at the base of the mountain, where she fell, and proclaimed to all that would listen, the god's words.

  And fairy godmothers were born.

  Professor Grimshaw of Caryg'n University asked whether Gnythe Morsteyn's words were a blessing or a curse, but others have questioned the veracity of the story at all.

  The problem is, the only way to test that is to stop granting happily ever afters. And if they were to do that, and it turned out it WAS true, the hordes of hell might be unleashed upon them.

  As you can see, it's a quandary, and one of many if you examine the fae literature.

  I've enjoyed weaving these questions into Fenella's stories, and I hope I've made it enjoyable for you too.

  Cheers

  Bree Verity