Chapter 7

Oriel paced back and forth in the empty great hall, a frown puckering his face. Three days had passed since Nicolae had delivered his gift to his mystery maiden. Yet he had received no response from her. The ceremony was supposed to happen tomorrow evening. And he was growing more anxious by the minute. Was everything still fine? Was his last letter too much? Was his gift too forward?

A thousand possibilities ran through his mind of how he might have scared her away. But which transgression had he committed?

To his immense relief, Nicolae materialized into the large room as if the window opened to allow snow to drift inside. But then his relief turned into dismay when he noticed the grim expression on his grandfather’s face.

Wordlessly, he took the letter from Nicolae and read it. His face fell, and he slumped into a chair at one of the long tables. This could not be happening…

Lord Covaci, I regret to inform you that I cannot go through with the ceremony. I express my sincerest apologies, and I wish you luck elsewhere.

Cosette “Cosette…” he whispered her name. The name sounded familiar, but he didn’t know any Cosettes, nor had he ever known a Cosette. It was a beautiful name. But one that also filled him with deep sadness. Curse his bad luck! He had been so close. The ceremony had only been a day away, and yet it fell through his fingers.

He hid his face in his hand as he tried to conceal his despair. Even a female he didn’t know would reject him. Coming up with the idea of an arranged union had been a horrible proposition. Why did he think it would turn out any differently for him? Was it simply a case of bad luck, or was he an unlikeable person? He thought of himself as friendly and approachable. But perhaps he was wrong.

“I will leave you, then,” Nicolae said.

“Wait!” he cried as he sprang from his seat. A stack of parchment lay on a table in the corner of the room, and he quickly grabbed it along with a quill and ink. He returned to his seat where he scratched furiously on a single sheet of parchment. He would not give Cosette up. Not without a fight. Even with how little he knew about her, he liked her. And he wanted to be given the opportunity to love her.

Cosette, I regret to inform you that I am stubborn where it counts. I must know what I have done wrong. Was I too forward? Did I offend you? Offer me some explanation, and I will accept your rejection. But I have to know. Please.

Oriel He only bothered to fold the letter in half before handing it over to his grandfather. Nicolae raised a single blond eyebrow. “Can you not deliver it yourself?”

“I don’t know who Cosette is.”

Nicolae sighed and nodded. “I assume there will be much correspondence, then. I believe I have my afternoon cut out for me.” When he disappeared, Oriel resumed pacing the large room. A half dozen windows lined each side of the great hall, and he stopped pacing long enough to gaze out of one of them. The sky darkened with each passing minute, the city streets growing darker in the waning light. Time seemed to quicken, reminding him of how little of it remained until tomorrow.

He tapped his foot nervously and ran a hand through his hair before he began pacing again, and he didn’t stop until Nicolae returned in a flurry of snow, holding another letter.

His heart fluttered anxiously. Perhaps there was still hope he could change her mind.

Hastily, he unfolded the letter and quickly scanned its contents.

Lord Covaci, You have misinterpreted my words. I am the reason I cannot go through with the ceremony. You are not to blame.

Cosette The letter was infuriatingly short and didn’t explain anything at all. So he began scratching out more words on another piece of parchment, hoping to gain further insight into her rejection. It was all he wanted. An explanation.

Cosette, Will you please explain? Or perhaps it will help if we spoke in person? Even if I meet you before the ceremony, if it were to happen, I wouldn’t change my mind. I would very much like to meet you.

Oriel Again, Nicolae disappeared to deliver the letter, and it took all of Oriel’s self-control to keep himself grounded in his chair rather than pacing across the large, empty room. Unfortunately, Nicolae took much longer to return this time, and his anxiety grew. He might not know Cosette, but he would do anything to keep her. Anything.

He released a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. They could resolve this entire thing much quicker in person, surely. Would she agree to it?

Nicolae returned with an amused expression, as if he had been privy to a quip Oriel had not been part of. He handed the letter over and said, “I’ve told you before that Cosette is a timid beauty. She will not speak to you in person. I believe you will find out why in the letter.”

Oriel opened it and read.

Lord Covaci, I am…apprehensive. I am afraid you will regret the ceremony and, in turn, regret anything to do with me. As you might very well be able to remember, I could not even be near you without fleeing down the hallway. Even if you looked ridiculous covered in mud. I wish better for you than someone like me.

Cosette His eyes widened as he recalled the female who had given him the cloth to wipe the mud from his eyes after the courtyard incident. She had worn fine clothing and possessed a grace about her in every movement, despite having hidden her face from him with her shawl.

He smiled softly, finding it a fond memory now that he knew she had been his Cosette. She certainly had been timid, but she had held a conversation with him, even if he had done most of the speaking. He had learned several things from their short encounter. Cosette had been brave enough to speak to him in the first place, she had been kind, and her lavender scent was enthralling. No…he could not simply allow this matter to drop. She would be kneeling across the altar from him no matter how long it took him to achieve it.

Dearest Cosette, I am quite fond of that memory of you, no matter how fleeting. There are several characteristics of yours I found endearing. Your bravery. Your kindness. Your grace. I wish you would not doubt yourself as you do. There is not a single thing I find wrong with you. Rather, I am convinced it must have been my gift. Was it too forward? Or perhaps not forward enough?

Yours, Oriel Now he was teasing her, and he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as he handed the letter to Nicolae, eager to receive a reply. His mind drifted to the female in the silver and purple dress a week earlier. She had exuded beauty, even though he could not see her face. He had been able to see her gentle hands, her long fingers, the graceful way she held her shawl closed. He hadn’t missed the feminine tone of her voice or the way she held herself as if she could have danced from the room on a cloud of powdery snow.

He sighed, his expression now dreamy. Nicolae returned with a twitching mouth, as if trying to hold back a smile.

Lord Covaci, Oh, your gift wasn’t forward enough. No doubt about it. But honestly… It was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. It was beautiful. My brother won’t stop asking about the carving. I think he has begun to suspect. I believe he would be the first on the list to use a battering ram to break down the cathedral doors. I warned you. Don’t forget.

Cosette His heart soared with hope. He didn’t bother writing a formal address, his excitement getting the better of him.

Am I to believe the ceremony will still happen tomorrow?

Nicolae returned again, and this time, he didn’t try to conceal his smile. Only one word had been written on the parchment, but the word could have had him jumping up and down in excitement or howling at the moon with happiness.

Yes.

“Oh, thank the stars.” He rested his forehead on the table and heaved a sigh. He had been so close to losing her. He wanted it to be tomorrow already so she wouldn’t change her mind again. He took a deep breath and let it out, thankful the ceremony would still happen.

Finally, he lifted his head and offered Nicolae a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“I did nothing.” Nicolae chuckled. “But I am surprised she had the audacity to continue writing with her father breathing down her neck and hanging onto her every word as if it was juicy gossip, and with me taking a peek. He is a nosy fellow. Made her blush more than once.”

“Her father?” Oriel perked up. “Who is he?”

Nicolae smiled secretively before making his way toward the exit with his arms held behind his back, almost as if he were gliding rather than walking. “I believe you will find out tomorrow.”