Chapter 25

What was I thinking, to be so bold as to declare to Fitz I was heading to his room tonight. He may well have his door locked after the thunderous slap I gave him.

Of course Edmund inevitably appeared. I made sure I looked ill-tempered and flustered, fanning myself by the hearth as he hobbled into my sunny parlour.

"Are you well Vanessa" he said quietly, not fully entering the room. By leaning against the door frame he became an audience, studying my performance within the parlour with his thin face.

"To tell the truth I have just rowed with Mr Fitz..he has not been at the stables recently so I thought it pleasant to feed Amber some apples. He was there and he, oh he was not proper!"

"What was said?"

"He…he was crude."

"Vanessa I want you to tell me what was said-"

"Edmund please do not ask that of me. I confess I slapped him but it was deserved!"

Dropping my voice for fear of servants or the ever-present Doctor Farrers I kept my eyes to the floor.

"I am doing what you asked.