visit with us since the number of sisters at home has doubled.”
“Yes, but I’m here.” Ella tried to say this in a light hearted, self-deprecating manner, but instead she just sounded sad.
“It’s not as though she hates you, Ella.”
“No indeed, she just avoids me if at all possible because she hates my husband.” I didn’t know what to say to that. “I never have been able to figure out what we did to offend her so deeply.”
“She only gets under your skin because you let her,” I pointed out.
Ella smiled and shook her head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And she doesn’t hate Gavin. She disapproves because she doesn’t understand.”
Ella shrugged. “The result is the same.”
The conversation turned to more trivial matters and I reveled in the companionship of my sisters. I got along with Lorraina just fine, but it wasn’t the same as the deep connections I shared with my other sisters.
“Well, dearest,” Ella said as she stood. “Now that I’ve assured myself of your well-being, I’m afraid I must be on my way.”
“But you’ve been here less than a day.”
“I love you, Lylin, but the longer I am away from this place, the less I want to come back.”
“Yes, you escaped. Don’t remind me or I’m liable to get jealous.”
“It may wear on you once in a while, but you belong here. You know that, don’t you?”
I managed a smile and a nod. “I know. And I really am content most of the time. I just miss your company, is all.” I turned to Kalina. “You’re staying for a while, aren’t you?”
She snorted. “Do you think I would get back in that carriage any time soon? No, thank you. It may be a short trip, but I plan on avoiding it for several days at least.”
Ella bent to give Kalina a hug. “Take care of her,” she said.
“I will,” Kalina and I responded in unison.
Ella just smiled, not bothering to clarify who she had been speaking to. “Good,” she said as she hugged me in parting.
Chapter 9
T HE NEXT MORNING , I sat poised at my desk but unable to put quill to paper. I was determined to write this letter before anything else today. But how did one go about writing a letter of gratitude when it also had to be an introduction of your actual identity? I started several times, but discarded each one before deciding that formality was my best option.
Dear Lord Fallon,
I’m sure you’re wondering why you’ve received a personal letter bearing the royal crest, so I’ll get right to the point. When I stayed in your home, you knew me as Lily. In actuality, I am Princess Lylin, seventh daughter of King Forrester Milandaro.
First allow me to apologize for my deceit. It was unfair of me to take advantage of your gracious hospitality without revealing myself, but let me assure you, I had no sinister intentions. I was only trying to safeguard myself in the best way I knew how. My fear of the unknown propelled me to hide my identity as a means of protection, not only for myself, but for my family as well.
It didn’t take me long to realize that I had nothing to fear from you, but I didn’t know how to go about admitting the truth without ruining the friendship we had built. In addition, I did not wish to cause you any undo anxiety or discomfort in knowing that you harbored a member of the royal family. Please know that while I may have changed my name, I was utterly honest otherwise. I sought to tell you as much truth as possible and never lied for the sake of lying.
I hold you in the very highest respect and cannot begin to express my gratitude for all that you did for me, for the excellent care and comfort that I received while in your company. Please accept my deepest gratitude.
Yours, very gratefully, etc...
Princess Lylin Milandaro
“Lily”
Adding my false name to the bottom of the letter was not planned, but it didn’t seem right to only sign it with my official title. I wanted him to remember me as Lily so that, hopefully, he
“Yes, but I’m here.” Ella tried to say this in a light hearted, self-deprecating manner, but instead she just sounded sad.
“It’s not as though she hates you, Ella.”
“No indeed, she just avoids me if at all possible because she hates my husband.” I didn’t know what to say to that. “I never have been able to figure out what we did to offend her so deeply.”
“She only gets under your skin because you let her,” I pointed out.
Ella smiled and shook her head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And she doesn’t hate Gavin. She disapproves because she doesn’t understand.”
Ella shrugged. “The result is the same.”
The conversation turned to more trivial matters and I reveled in the companionship of my sisters. I got along with Lorraina just fine, but it wasn’t the same as the deep connections I shared with my other sisters.
“Well, dearest,” Ella said as she stood. “Now that I’ve assured myself of your well-being, I’m afraid I must be on my way.”
“But you’ve been here less than a day.”
“I love you, Lylin, but the longer I am away from this place, the less I want to come back.”
“Yes, you escaped. Don’t remind me or I’m liable to get jealous.”
“It may wear on you once in a while, but you belong here. You know that, don’t you?”
I managed a smile and a nod. “I know. And I really am content most of the time. I just miss your company, is all.” I turned to Kalina. “You’re staying for a while, aren’t you?”
She snorted. “Do you think I would get back in that carriage any time soon? No, thank you. It may be a short trip, but I plan on avoiding it for several days at least.”
Ella bent to give Kalina a hug. “Take care of her,” she said.
“I will,” Kalina and I responded in unison.
Ella just smiled, not bothering to clarify who she had been speaking to. “Good,” she said as she hugged me in parting.
Chapter 9
T HE NEXT MORNING , I sat poised at my desk but unable to put quill to paper. I was determined to write this letter before anything else today. But how did one go about writing a letter of gratitude when it also had to be an introduction of your actual identity? I started several times, but discarded each one before deciding that formality was my best option.
Dear Lord Fallon,
I’m sure you’re wondering why you’ve received a personal letter bearing the royal crest, so I’ll get right to the point. When I stayed in your home, you knew me as Lily. In actuality, I am Princess Lylin, seventh daughter of King Forrester Milandaro.
First allow me to apologize for my deceit. It was unfair of me to take advantage of your gracious hospitality without revealing myself, but let me assure you, I had no sinister intentions. I was only trying to safeguard myself in the best way I knew how. My fear of the unknown propelled me to hide my identity as a means of protection, not only for myself, but for my family as well.
It didn’t take me long to realize that I had nothing to fear from you, but I didn’t know how to go about admitting the truth without ruining the friendship we had built. In addition, I did not wish to cause you any undo anxiety or discomfort in knowing that you harbored a member of the royal family. Please know that while I may have changed my name, I was utterly honest otherwise. I sought to tell you as much truth as possible and never lied for the sake of lying.
I hold you in the very highest respect and cannot begin to express my gratitude for all that you did for me, for the excellent care and comfort that I received while in your company. Please accept my deepest gratitude.
Yours, very gratefully, etc...
Princess Lylin Milandaro
“Lily”
Adding my false name to the bottom of the letter was not planned, but it didn’t seem right to only sign it with my official title. I wanted him to remember me as Lily so that, hopefully, he
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