Lady Verity and Rosalind let out a deep sigh as they leaned against the shelves. They had gone through most of the books, and it had been a fruitless search. The books here were mostly political and historical, while only a few carried any hint of romance, but even those offered nothing Rosalind could truly learn from.
Rosalind glanced at her footman. Perhaps he would know where they could get such a thing. "Where do you suggest we go then?" she asked him.
Rowan answered with his head slightly bowed. "Not every place carries them, my lady. The market is your best chance."
Rosalind's eyes narrowed thoughtfully before she turned to Verity. "Do you think we can leave the castle?" she asked.
"I'm not so sure, but we can ask the steward," Verity offered, and soon they began making their way out of the library.
Rosalind and Verity headed toward the steward's chamber, with Rowan trailing just a step behind them.
At their arrival, the steward looked up from the papers spread across his desk. He was a tall man with a sharp gaze that seemed to miss nothing. "My lady… Lady Verity," he said, bowing slightly as he addressed Verity by name, clearly familiar with her. "How may I assist you?"
Verity stepped forward, her voice steady yet polite. "We would like permission to leave the castle to acquire certain books for study. We will return before dusk."
The steward's eyes flicked toward Rosalind, taking in her expression, before shifting to the footman behind her. "Books, you say?" he asked, one brow lifting. "Leaving the castle requires reason and assurance that no harm will come to you."
Rosalind straightened her shoulders and this time her voice came out firm. "We have a purpose, and we will be accompanied."
Her eyes briefly flicked toward Rowan, who did not move but merely inclined his head.
The steward tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, glancing down at the papers as though weighing whether the request was worth the trouble. "Very well. You may leave, but only with a servant present and under watch. The king is in council, but I will inform him of your departure. You are expected back promptly," he said firmly.
Verity inclined her head. "Thank you. We will be careful."
Soon, a carriage was prepared for them, and it rolled forward with the coachman holding the reins of his horses. He greeted with a bow, and they returned the greeting.
As the carriage door was opened, Lady Verity gathered her skirts, lifting them gracefully as she stepped smoothly inside.
When it was Rosalind's turn, she gathered her skirts as usual and placed a foot on the first step. But as she made her way to the final one, her footing slipped and a sharp gasp caught in her throat.
Rosalind would have hit the ground if it had not been for her footman, who caught her swiftly in his arms.
Her eyes widened as she found herself staring straight into his dark eyes, and suddenly she could hear the loud thump of her own heartbeat in her chest. Rowan looked back at her with that same expressionless face, yet the steadiness of his hold sent an unfamiliar heat rushing to her cheeks.
Rosalind slowly averted her gaze and cleared her throat while he helped her back onto her feet. "Thank you" she said quickly.
He held out his hand for her to take, offering assistance so she could climb in without another mishap. Rosalind looked at him, still burning with embarrassment over what had just happened, before she hesitantly placed her hand in his. His grip was firm and steady as he guided her safely up the steps and into the carriage.
Once she was seated, Rowan moved to his place beside the coachman, and soon the carriage began to roll away.
The ride was slow at first, but gradually it picked up speed, and the wind swept past them. Rosalind watched as the trees drifted by before houses and people slowly began to fill the roads.
She gazed out through the window and wondered what it must feel like to walk freely like all those people outside.
If only I could find a way to escape right now… she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly in deep thought.
"There are at least two guards in the shadows watching our movements, Lady Rosalind," Verity said calmly.
Rosalind responded with a nervous little laugh as she waved a hand dismissively. "I wasn't thinking of escaping,"
Why would I even think of that? she added inwardly as the laughter quickly died on her lips.
So even with Rowan, the king's servant, following them, they were still being watched by guards hidden in the shadows where she could not even see them?
This was another level of control entirely!
Rosalind turned her gaze back to the window, but then slowly, the surroundings began to look familiar. Her breath caught in her throat. They had entered the very part of town where she lived.
Rosalind's heart thumped wildly in her chest as she looked out more intently, with hope in her hazel eyes… until at last her eyes landed on her house. Her breath left her in a rush.
Someone was pushing her mother's wheelchair toward the entrance.
Rosalind's heart squeezed painfully at the sight, and for one aching moment, all she wanted was to stop the carriage, throw open the door, and run home just to be with them.
Rosalind was usually the one who pushed her mother's wheelchair since the woman was unable to move, and now being unable to do anything about it made the sadness sink deep into her bones. She doubted she would be allowed to visit her own home.
After all, they had told the steward they were leaving in search of books, and if it was reported that she had gone home instead, Alaric would surely punish her for it. She was supposed to avoid his punishments at all costs because there was always something cruel hidden in them.
Rosalind leaned back into the carriage seat as the carriage rolled past her house, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.
Her gaze shifted to Verity, who sat opposite her with her hands resting calmly on her lap, her expression as serene as ever.
Rosalind found herself asking, "If I may… how did you get tangled with the king?"
Verity looked at her for a moment, clearly not expecting the question, before saying quietly, "That is not a very good thing to recall."
"It isn't for me too," Rosalind said softly in agreement.
Verity lowered her gaze slightly. "I would rather not speak of it."
Rosalind nodded in understanding and did not press further, but when Verity looked away, Rosalind caught the sadness that briefly crossed her face before it disappeared again. It only made Rosalind more curious about what had happened to leave Verity trapped within those castle walls.
Soon the carriage began to slow as they reached the bustling market, and the sounds of voices and movement drifted into Rosalind's ears. A moment later, the carriage door was opened and Rowan stood there, ready to assist them.
"We shall return here once we have finished what we came for," Verity said to the coachman, who bowed his head in response.
Then the three of them made their way through the market. The road was narrow and crowded with people walking past, buying goods, and calling out to merchants while the sellers displayed their wares.
Rosalind looked from side to side, watching the lively streets with a small smile on her lips.
The walk through the market was long since their destination lay near the far end. Then Rosalind's eyes caught sight of sugar-coated sweets, and her expression softened at once. She had missed the taste of them.
Verity followed her gaze and smiled faintly. "I did not know you had a sweet tooth."
Rosalind quickly tore her eyes away. "They are for children, Lady Verity. You wouldn't expect me to be interested in them."
"I enjoy them though," Verity said.
"Really?" Rosalind asked in surprise.
With the faintest smirk, Verity took Rosalind lightly by the arm and led her toward the stall. "Mister, I would like all of them."
Rosalind stared in surprise, just as the seller did, before he quickly nodded and accepted the coins Verity handed over. Moments later, they walked away with the sweets.
"Thank you so much. You're very kind," Rosalind said, her words slightly muffled by the candy already in her mouth.
Verity, on the other hand, ate hers with elegance as one hand lightly covered her lips.
She simply shrugged as if it were nothing, while Rosalind was already on her third bite.
She truly did have a sweet tooth, Verity thought with amusement in her eyes.
After a while, Rosalind grew tired of holding the remaining candy sticks in one hand, so she turned around to face Rowan and stretched her hand toward him.
"Here."
He paused for a moment, just enough to be caught off guard.
"Hold it for me, and don't let it melt," she added, rolling her eyes slightly.
Then he took them without a word, his expression as unreadable as ever, and Rosalind turned back, muttering to herself. As if I would offer you sweets.
At last, they reached the end of the market and entered a store lined with shelves upon shelves of books. The scent of old parchment filled the air, and from the moment Rosalind stepped inside, she felt a flicker of hope. Surely, if anywhere had what she was looking for, it would be here.
A woman stood behind the counter selling the books, and they approached her after exchanging greetings.
Rosalind and Verity glanced at each other, each silently waiting for the other to speak first.
Rosalind gathered her courage. "We are looking for a book about courtship… and how to please men," she said, her cheeks warming instantly.
A slow, knowing smile spread across the woman's lips. "Then you have come to the right place. Just a moment, please."
They nodded as the woman disappeared between the shelves.
While waiting, Verity wandered toward another section and began reading the titles of the books there, meanwhile,Rosalind looked around.
Moments later, the woman returned and set several books down on the table. "These are the ones you need."
Rosalind reached for the first one.
At first, the title seemed harmless enough.
But the moment she opened it and flipped through a few pages, her eyes landed on a particular sentence and her entire face burned with shame.
She quickly glanced over her shoulders before snapping the book shut at once.
The woman only smiled knowingly. "You will certainly return for more," she said.
Rosalind swallowed hard.
"Is it what you need, Lady Rosalind?" Verity asked.
Rosalind nodded quickly.
After making the payment, they thanked the woman and left the store.
And once again, Rowan was made to carry all the books, along with the remaining candy sticks still in his hands.
Rosalind's face was still red with embarrassment. She certainly would not be coming back for more books.
Who in the world writes such things?