CHAPTER TWELVE
After the events of the stables, Evangeline had started spending more time on her own, partaking in general activities that required no assistance. Avoiding both Glais and Baxter, and Quintus because she did not wish to explain to the King why she was avoiding his sons, left her very few places free to roam. Knowing that either of them could find her and corner her, Evangeline had taken recently to venturing through the open gardens. Many exit points and very few corners made the location preferable.
Walking through the gardens and appreciating their fresh and healthy look, Evangeline came to sit on a bench. On top of ignoring the royals, she was also avoiding the staff in an effort to stop their gossiping ways. It was far easier to ignore the glances of the servants when she met less of them. Evangeline was embarrassed to admit how long it took for her to learn that lesson. If her heritage and planned future did not get people talking, her eating habits surely did. Once again she had not eaten breakfast that morning. She simply could not settle her stomach. That unease and build of anxiety made her feel like she could not keep any food down. The flip-flop twisting of her stomach hadn’t settled much since she first got here and Baxter’s attack in the barn had only intensified it. With all of her support stolen from her, Evangeline’s anxiety was out of control.
She needed a friend. Deprived of both Teagan and Viviana since coming to Braykith, Evangeline had suffered through the week of being locked inside her own head. She felt like a dog chasing her own tail, yet she was aware enough to realise it was a madly driven hunt. Wick said nothing still and Glais was worse than distant. Kyleigh spoke to her during meals and seemed pleasant but the conversations were never mentally stimulating, and, of course, Baxter’s attempts to woo her had forced Evangeline to avoid him as much as possible. Quintus was King of the land and, therefore, no friendship could be cultivated, and Adeline was too young.
Even if the Princess was closer to Evangeline’s age, she doubted that she could find the kind of support that Evangeline was accustomed too. Adeline would have established friendships of her own and would not need her sister in law ruining her childish fun. Evangeline remembered her own desires to run lose from the watchful eye of her tutors and parents. Adeline seemed to have her same wandering spirit.
Every day was like the day before it and Glais was only putting more space between them. Evangeline was lost, homesick and with no guidance. She had done all that had been asked of her and yet it seemed that this life would sooner kill her than give her the new start she had imagined. It was not just going to work itself out. To make it all worse, Evangeline had never been in this situation before and so whenever she attempted new plans, the reality worked out much differently to her fantasy conclusions. Before, if she needed anything she would speak to Viviana and she would then have it as soon as it was possible. There were no such luxuries here as far as Evangeline could see.
Rising from her seat, Evangeline started going through the names of all the people she knew here in Braykith and recounted all of the interactions with staff looking for any small hope she could cling to. Suddenly she remembered there was one person she knew who could not be written off too quickly.
Sigourney was advisor and negotiator for Quintus.
In her position as his negotiator, she was often trusted with some of the most valuable information of the Kingdom. Sigourney had seemed friendly enough when they had first met, and she didn’t instantly make Evangeline want to roll her eyes like some of the conversation she endured with Kyleigh.
Evangeline headed back into the castle proper. Seeing one of the maids, she steadied her nerves and approached the young man.
“Hello?”
The boy stopped and looked first one way and then another before he realised it was indeed him that she was addressing. “Lady Evangeline.” He bowed to her and Evangeline was quick to motion for him to rise.
“I am looking for Sigourney, and I am still not familiar enough with her routine to make a judgement.” She prompted him to give her the answers she needed.
“Of course. The library is the best bet. She is still learning the King’s trade.”
Evangeline nodded. “Yes, of course. Thankyou.” She moved off before the interaction got awkward. It seemed that the locals of Braykith were still uncertain on how best to interact with her. She wondered if they had their own rumours about Crimah just as she had been raised on legends of dragons and demons.
The library was one of the rooms that she as quite good at finding regardless of her position in the castle. She was unsure why, but her feet simply found the heavy doors without much determination to set them in motion. She was confident that she could find it again now armed with the directions from the young boy.
Turning down the now familiar hallway, Evangeline was practising a mental introduction. She was trying to find the right way to start this friendship and did not want to sound desperate or as sad as she actually felt. Was this how life usually worked? Evangeline did not think it was usual for her. She never knew loneliness before coming to Braykith and it tainted all that she did now. Repeating the introduction for Sigourney in her head, Glais’ bedroom door opened.
She froze mid-step and came face to face with the girl who was sneaking out. She jumped when she recognised who Evangeline was and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry.” The girl whispered, but it seemed so loud to Evangeline as she struggled to try to breathe, let alone find an appropriate response to her.
Quickly her hand snapped out and Evangeline was surprised that she had the girl by the jaw and forced her to look up and meet her eyes to eye. “What is your name?” Evangeline demanded. Not yet strong enough in her own voice Evangeline was still doing mimics of her mother during times like this. The intimidation worked surprisingly well on Braykith servants, but also gave them gossip.
“Mary.” She looked everywhere but at Evangeline. She could force her head up but she couldn’t force Mary’s eyes to stop darting around the hallway and looking anywhere but directly at her. Evangeline stayed silent, letting it work its magic on the girl until she started speaking. “I didn’t think.”
“You didn’t think.” Evangeline sneered and shoved her away with such force that Mary stumbled and only just managed to stay standing.
“It isn’t what you think it is.” Mary attempted to clear her name and reputation. Evangeline paused and took a deep breath to steady herself. It would do no one any good for people to find their future queen in a brawl with a servant girl. She was also quite aware that all the pain of the past weeks was coming down on this one girl, but secretly Evangeline felt she deserved it.
Mary stammered over her words, her hands planted against the wall beside the door as she dared not move after almost falling backwards by Evangeline’s shove. Mary was trying to find the words to explain what she was doing sneaking out of Glais’ room. That was not an easy task when the threat of her own death loomed over her if Mary dared speak out loud. She was quick to stop when Evangeline silenced her with a single gesture.
“Mary, if you felt the need to apologise upon seeing who I was then you were not in the room changing my husband’s sheets.” Mary lowered her head in shame and Evangeline enjoyed her victory for just moments before the door opened again and Glais appeared.
“Evangeline.” He addressed her by her full name with the same indifference as every other time he had seen her. It was all a grand disguise, Glais such a master of the art he was sure that Evangeline could not even guess at his real feelings. Since the stables, he had been more careful about the women. In truth, this was not a deliberate show of his activities, but rather an accidental run-in. She may not believe it but he did not mean for Evangeline to see Mary, or any of them really. Evangeline seemed to be a creature of habit with her daily activities not differing much over time. She shouldn’t have been in the hallway at this time of day.
He was not a cruel man but Glais was hoping that if he showed her short attention then perhaps in some
way she would find a way to live on without him. All Glais wanted for Evangeline was for her to find some kind of peace in Braykith and yet it seemed that all he did was bring her pain. There were facts about him that she couldn’t know and so this was his solution. His mother had told him it would only hurt her further but Glais felt better having a plan, even if it was obviously flawed. He was hoping if perhaps Evangeline could find it in her heart to hate him, then Glais would not need to see her hurt.
“Mary, come back.” Glais forced himself to say it even though he no appetite for anything she could offer him.
Evangeline felt cold, but she would not force herself to watch Glais take another woman over her, or give him the opportunity to make her more of a fool. “One day Glais we need to talk.” She had been trying to talk to him for days but he was avoiding her and seemed three steps ahead at all times. This couldn’t continue, not like this but it seemed Glais didn’t even care enough for that small decency.
“One day, we might. But not today.” Glais offered Mary his hand but she gently refused. Evangeline wasn’t sure if it was because she was standing right there or not. She would not ask to find out. Stepping past Mary, she resumed her mission for the library.
Glais watched her leave. He had the unfortunate pleasure of watching her retreat often and had an excellent appreciation for her backside. He knew when she walked angrily she had an extra sway to her hips, the garments that had been made for her exaggerated the shapes of her body and only made her more appealing. Glais sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head gently. It was a cruel trick from Xado himself that he should be blessed with such a woman and yet could not have her in fear of the eventual outcome.
“Sir?” Mary asked and interrupted him. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on but she needed to know if Glais did need her again or was she truly free to go as he had promised.
“No. Go.” Glais waved her off. “I was only looking to save you from her further torment.”
Mary nodded but she didn’t walk away like she knew she should. Mary pulled her dark hair forward over her shoulder, twisting it in her hands before she realised it violated the hair ruling of Braykith and quickly she dropped it back like a curtain. “She needs to know about you, sir. It would be better for us all.” Mary’s voice stumbled over itself as she forced herself to finish what she had started. She was afraid to express her opinions, wondering if anything she said would put her in the grave before her time. It was a tricky thing, to know a secret and never knowing what was safe and what wasn’t.
Mary had never spoken to Glais about this before, and she wasn’t sure if anyone else had been brave enough to bring it up either. Often when they were alone, they did not spend time on speaking. After the act, Glais was quick to clean her up and let her leave. She had never said so many words at once to him before, and Mary was not sure on how well Glais could take her criticism. Looking at him now, Mary knew she shouldn’t have said a thing.
“I will decide what my wife needs to know.” Mary’s advice echoed inside his head, though, affecting him more than she would realise and he would never give her credit for it. What she had said was very close to what his father had told him, and yet Glais still ignored the advice because he believed that he knew better. Glais certainly knew himself better and sharing this part of his life with Evangeline was not something either of them would survive. How could she accept it?
If she struggled with what she thought was the truth now, how could she react to knowing the curse that had befallen his family? Being forced into a betrothal was a mistake his parents had made, but no one could force him to move through the motions as they dictated. He would marry Evangeline because it was his duty, and he would spend his lifetime keeping her from ever discovering the truth. It was the only way to ensured that she survived Braykith. Glais cleared his throat gently, running his hand back through his hair. The action smoothed it out as his fingers pulled the strands back. “Do you want to be removed from my menu?” Glais asked Mary.
Mary hesitated for a brief moment before she finally shook her head now. “It is an honour that you have chosen me my liege.” Her curtsey deep, she held the posture until Glais indicated for her to stand. Glais retreated back into his own rooms and left Mary to do whatever it was she did after their time together. He was aware that each girl had their own rituals. Each girl had a way of dealing with his perversions, and Glais did his best not to interrupt them. He was glad that Mary didn’t take him up on his offer to dismiss her permanently. He liked her.
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Evangeline, in her rush to escape the trauma in the hallway, had gone straight by the library doors. When she realised what she had done, doubling back she somehow managed to miss them again. Glais as playing on her mind and affecting her more than he deserved to. His actions since the barn had just proceeded to get worse and more distant. What he was doing now felt so far out of character, which in itself was madness because how well did she know Glais beyond one meeting on her arrival and a handful of non-committal letters exchanged? She was hardly the best judge of what was to be considered normal for him.
She had continued to wear the ring made of gold and onyx that he had presented her with at their first meeting because it seemed disrespectful to his family. Very quickly it had become a daily reminder of that first man who had walked her to her door on that first night. That man looked just like Glais, but he was not the man she had heard such stories about. His wit, his strength of character and with a sword were the stories she had been raised on, and comforted with when she did have doubts. Glais was a brave soul who had the blood of a leader in his veins. Once she had been proud of him. Now, Evangeline struggled as that invented Glais that lived in her imagination and battled against the devious truth regularly.
Glais was a gentleman of many unique attributes had never been real. She mourned him, and nightly she would struggle to find one good characteristic in Glais, a single positive that might be the starting point for them. Instead, she was greeted twice a day with a stony silence and no attempts to lighten the tension that would befall the family meals. Baxter had been so adamant that Glais was prone to skipping the family meals whenever he could. However, she was yet to witness these absences.
Opening the library doors, Evangeline was glad to see that Sigourney was sitting there and she could put a stop to the frazzled design of her own thoughts. Did Glais come to breakfast just to see her and torment her further? The only answer she had did not feel entirely accurate and so she had gone back and forth, sending herself crazy until Sigourney had become a welcomed distraction from her torture.
Sigourney was sitting in a high-backed chair, dressed very much like she had been the first time they had met. Evangeline was starting to recognise that the staff within the castle wore uniforms fitting to their station and jobs. The uniforms only made the elaborate costumes of the royals seem even more eye-catching.
Hunched over some papers that looked like maps, Evangeline approached carefully. “Sigourney,” Evangeline said her name just loud enough to get the other woman’s attention.
“Miss Evangeline.” She smiled and closed the book she had been looking at. “How can I be of assistance?”
“Would you like to come join me for tea?” Evangeline asked.
Sigourney frowned as if she had heard the request wrong or perhaps Evangeline had spoken another language. “Whatever you need me for, we do not need tea to keep us busy.” She was quick to decline the offer. She did not have the patience for dealing with Royals even though her job kept her in close contact with them.
“I don’t need your service.” Evangeline was embarrassed but she powered through, believing this would someday be something they laughed about. “I was hoping we could talk. Perhaps we could become friends.”
Sigourney settled back in her chair, taking the moment to collect her thoughts and consider her words carefully because this was quite tricky. She bothered with the maps before her, shuffling t
he papers and straightening her small stack of books. Evangeline was hopeful that this was a good sign, that Sigourney was packing up so she would be free to leave the library with her. That was dashed quickly with Sigourney’s next words.
“Evangeline, you are a lovely girl but we are not friends.” She didn’t mince words or try and sugar coat it at all. It was simply facts and she delivered them as kindly as she could.
“But in the carriage…” Evangeline tried to fight for their possible future but Sigourney shook her head and Evangeline knew whatever argument she had would fall on deaf ears because decisions had already been made without her consent.
“I am sorry if I ever gave you that impression of friendship.” At least, that sounded sincere and it was. Sigourney didn’t want to hurt Evangeline. She also did not wish to become the replacement for whatever friends Evangeline had left behind in Crimah.
“I understand.” Evangeline even managed a small smile after she spoke even though it did not reach her eyes which were already pooling with tears from the rejection. She had not realised how desperate she was for this friendship to work until suddenly it became impossible. Turning to leave Sigourney stopped her.
“Stay.” Sigourney really was apologetic, and somehow her kindness only made Evangeline feel worse about the whole situation. “Release this frustration and those tears. And when it is done, clean yourself up before anyone sees you.”
Evangeline nodded dumbly and with a final glance at her, Sigourney left the library without even a glance back in her direction and Evangeline was still as alone as ever before. She took the seat the other woman had vacated, sitting heavy on the plush cushion. Then tears did come but they were slow and barely even worth the energy it took to summon them. Evangeline had run out of tears that first day with Glais in the barn. She had nothing to waste on these new misadventures.
The Deviant Curse (The Braykith Series Book 1) Page 17