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Ch 17: A keepsake and a warning
publish date:
2025-07-01 04:16:45
Latest chapter
The War Bride Ch 46: The Vale's estate
The days that followed left Clara with little room to breathe.Cerelith had taken it upon herself to order an entirely new wardrobe, lighter fabrics, brighter colors, all meant to reflect what she called her new self. Seamstresses came and went, arms full of silks and sketches, their voices filling the halls with endless chatter.Darrell, meanwhile, had thrown himself into assisting Edmund with renovations and moving in.And I ....... had the estate.Winter had loosened its hold, and with it came a thousand responsibilities. I oversaw the transition carefully,storehouses, gardens, staff rotations. New uniforms were being commissioned for the servants, something more suited to the warmer months.I sat now with a merchant, a catalogue spread open before me , fingers brushing over samples of fabric as he spoke at length about quality and stitching.“…this weave, my lady, will hold its color even after repeated washing.....”The door opened. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Ce
The War Bride Ch 45: A new her
The ride back to the estate was silent.Coral had chosen to stay behind at the cabin, needing time to process everything. I had insisted I would be fine on my own, but the emptiness beside me in the carriage felt heavier than expected.Darrell didn’t say a word. His eyes were fixed forward, calm, almost unreadable.I watched the trees sliding past the window, the frost of winter had given way to the green. The world seemed to change quietly around us, and yet the tension inside the carriage remained unchanged.The rhythm of the horses’ hooves was the only sound that punctuated the long stretch of road.Eventually, the carriage slowed, pulling up to the estate. Darrell stepped down first. “Here we are,” he said, his voice low, measured.He extended a hand toward me.His grip was firm, steady, grounding in a way that made the air around us feel suddenly lighter.As I stepped down, our eyes met, and for the first time that day, it felt as if words weren’t necessary. The estate loomed befo
The War Bride Ch 44: Goodbye by the lake
Lady Meridia’s funeral had been a quiet affair, held by the cabin near the lake she had loved. No grand procession. No crowd. Only a handful of people, and the stillness of a place that seemed to understand what had been lost.I could not stop comparing it to the last time I had stood there. Then, the world had been covered in white. The lake frozen solid, the air sharp but alive.I walked slowly along the water’s edge, her steps unhurried, my gaze fixed on the gentle ripples where ice had once been.I remembered gliding across it, laughter caught in the cold air, my breath visible with every turn. I remembered how carefree it had felt.I remembered Darrell. He had stood with his grandmother then, something unguarded in him as he listened to her speak. There had been warmth in his expression, a quiet kind of joy I understood at the time.Now, that warmth felt like something borrowed from another life. The snow was gone. The ice had melted. The lake looked… ordinary.Or perhaps....
The War Bride Ch 43: A letter for him
That evening, the estate had settled into a hush. I sat before the mirror in my chamber, fingers working slowly through my hair as I braided it over my shoulder, the steady motion giving me something to focus on.The door opened softly behind me. I caught Coral’s reflection before I turned. She lingered by the doorway, in her nightgown, her shawl clutched tightly in her hands.She looked… nervous.“Coral,” I said gently, though I did not rise. “You needn’t hover there. Come in.”She stepped forward hesitantly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shawl, twisting it in small, restless motions.For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then I exhaled quietly and set my hands still against my lap.“I won’t tell Darrell anything,” I said, my voice calm, meeting her gaze through the mirror.“But,” I added, turning slightly to face her more fully, “I think it would be wise if you did… at some point.”Her eyes dropped, the weight of the unspoken settling heavily between us.Silence stretched
The War Bride Ch 42: Back home
The next morning arrived softer than expected.The gardens were quiet, kissed by a gentle breeze that carried the scent of blooming flowers and damp earth. I sat beneath the shade of an old tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves above, casting shifting patterns across her skirts.Across from me sat Edmund. For a time, he spoke, and I listened.He told me of the roads he had traveled, of shifting alliances, of whispers that had turned into something far more dangerous. His tone remained steady, but I knew him well enough to hear what lay beneath it the caution, the weight, the things he chose not to say aloud.“And you?” he asked at last, his gaze sharpening slightly as it settled on her. “How have you been here?”I hesitated, my fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of my sleeve.“The Storms have treated me well,” I said, my voice even, composed. “There is nothing I lack.”It was not a lie. But it was not the truth either.Edmund studied me for a moment longer than n
The War Bride Ch 41:A new man
The warmth of the hug lingered in my arms long after Edmund pulled back, his faint smile still lighting his features.But the moment felt fragile, like a dream I wasn’t allowed to fully savor.“I—I have to settle my men at the family home,” he said softly, a hint of regret in his tone. His hand brushed briefly against mine before he stepped back. “There’s much to organize before tomorrow.”I nodded, trying to steady my racing heart. “Of course…You're settling at the Rosendal's estate?""I hope it didn't crumble down...."he joked, like he always did.“Tomorrow,” he added quickly, catching my eye. “I will visit. I promise. You will not have to wait long.”I forced a smile, though the hollow ache of parting already pressed against my chest. “I’ll hold you to that,” I whispered.With a final glance, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the courtyard, the echo of his presence lingering long after his boots had faded into the distance.Coral’s hand brushed against my arm, gentl
The War Bride Ch 28: The witch, the Duke and the child
The room was quiet now, save for Coral's soft, shallow breaths.Young master Halden had done what he could, gave her a tonic to ease a fever, after we helped her into dry clothes. And then he guided her into a fragile sleep. Cerelith was pacing again.She moved like a cat caught in too tight a cag
The War Bride Ch 27: White lies and winter cries
The air was crisper now, thinner, with the faint scent of thaw clinging to every breath. The storm had broken at last.Outside the tall windows, the servants were already hard at work, shoveling the snow and clearing the twisted, broken branches left behind. Winter was beginning to release its grip
The War Bride Ch 26: Eyes at the Door
Coral screamed again, her voice raw, rising above the howling wind outside. The midwife steadied her knees, eyes sharp with focus."That's it, my lady. He's nearly here. One more strong push."Coral clutched my hand so tightly I thought her nails might break my skin. Her whole body trembled."You c
The War Bride Ch 25: A secret and A guest
The kitchen was sweltering, a sharp contrast to the cold halls. Steam curled from pots, and the scent of boiling herbs filled the air. The midwife had requested a tonic to help ease Coral's pain. I was watching the cook grind dried roots when Cerelith entered.Poised as ever, she swept the room. He
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