Lady Aurora walked briskly with her husband and Count Derrin up from the ship’s dock. Her heart swelled and a grin stretched across her cheeks when she had greeted her husband and learned that Derrin had expressed an interest in her daughter. My beautiful child. All grown up, and married.

As they entered into the house, she pecked her husband on the cheek and went to look for Raine. She’ll make such a pretty bride. “Nurse,” she called out to the woman who was coming down the stairs.

“Yes ma’am?”

“Where’s my daughter? Bring her to my chambers for me.”

With a curtsy, the nurse turned and climbed back up the stairs. Her skirts swishing about her rhythmically as she dashed away to do Lady Aurora’s bidding.

Lady Aurora entered her room and looked around. Soon her daughter could have a chamber like this all her own. She wandered over to the window and looked out over the sea. She knew her husband wasn’t thrilled at the idea of their child marrying so young, but Derrin was a Razadakite. They married young over there, and if they wanted to secure this trade partnership, it would be worth it to bend their rules a little.

The door opened and the woman bustled in. “Here she is, my lady.” Hazel flourished behind her as though to present someone, but no one else arrived. “Oh good grief, where is that girl.” Aurora half-smiled as her daughter’s nurse stepped halfway into the hall and looked back the way she had presumably come from. “Raine!”

“Yes?” answered Raine from the hall. “You said my mother was looking for me?”

“Yes. Yes.” Hazel waved her hand towards the door. “Come quick.”

The pattering of footsteps beyond the door quickened, and soon Raine stepped into the room. “I’m here mother. What do you need?”

Lady Aurora walked over and cupped her daughter’s cheeks between her hands. “To speak with you, my child. Nurse, please leave us. I wish to speak in private.”

Hazel’s eyes widened and she gave a small indignant squeak. Her skirts slapped the wall as she spun to leave.

“Wait,” called Lady Aurora. “You may stay.” For all of her years, Nurse was a flighty woman. Prone to romanticising every action. Her presence might be useful should Raine hold her father’s apprehensions. She brushed a few strands of Raine’s hair from her face. “You are such a beautiful girl, my child.” Over Raine’s shoulder, Aurora saw Hazel beaming.

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“That she is, my lady. I can’t believe she’s almost sixteen.”

“Two weeks,” murmured Aurora as she smiled down at Raine. Sighing, she pulled her in for a brief hug pushing her back to arm’s length.

“I remember when she was a wee thing,” she chuckled and looked at Lady Aurora. “It was time for her to stop nursing, but—the stubborn sweet thing—she didn’t think she was ready. But, well, time is time. So I put wormwood on my chest. You should have seen her face, my lady.” She wiped her damp eyes with her apron. “Poor thing waddled away as fast as her little legs could take her, but her legs got away from her and the wee thing fell on her face. My husband—” Laughter spilled out of her uncontrollably and she gripped her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. “My husband—” she attempted again before dissolving into laughter once more.

“Enough of this,” said Lady Aurora.

“Yes madam,” said the nurse with another hiccough. “I just can’t help laughing. It was so funny. There she was with this big bump on her forehead. And my husband just saying, ‘When you’re older you’ll remember to fall backwards,’ and this dear sweet child agreed with him.”

“Please,” said Raine, a hint of embarrassment bubbled up in her voice. “Enough of this nurse.”

“Alright, alright.” The nurse patted her on the back. “I’m done. It’s just that you’re the prettiest child I ever nursed, and I would love to see you married before I die.”

Lady Aurora beamed. Yes, keeping Nurse was the right choice. “Yes, marriage. That’s why I wanted to speak to you, my child.” She cupped Raine’s chin. The top of her daughter’s head was level with her nose. She tilted her daughter’s chin up and looked into her eyes. “What would you think of being married?”

“Married?” Raine stepped back. “I haven’t given any thought to being married.”

Lady Aurora saw the nurse clasp her hands together excitedly over Raine’s head. “Well think of it now my love. In Razadak, women get married even younger than you are now. And now Count Derrin has sailed over the treacherous waters to let it be known that he has taken a particular interest in you.”

“Derrin,” gasped Nurse. “I saw that man walk up from the docks. He’s impossibly handsome.”

Raine stepped back so she could see the nurse too.

Lady Aurora nodded her agreement. “You will not find someone better looking here.”

Nurse nodded vigorously. “It’s true. It’s true. There’s no one here like him.”

“This evening at the feast, spend some time looking at him. See if his face is one you can imagine waking up beside for the rest of your life.” She brushed her daughter’s hair back again. Raine shied away from her mother’s touch. “I promise you my love, you won’t lose yourself to marriage.”

“It’s true,” interjected Nurse. “Women find themselves in marriage.”

“So, my child,” said Lady Aurora. “What do you say? Can you look on Derrin and consider marrying him? Consider being loved by him and loving him?”

Raine sighed. “I will look at him. If he is as handsome as you say…” she shook her head listlessly, “well, we’ll see.”

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation as a servant walked in. “The guests are arriving my Lady.”

“Let us finish getting ready then and be down.” Lady Aurora ushered everyone out of the room save for the new servant. With a smile she acknowledged that Hazel would ensure Raine looked her absolute best. Yes, this marriage was a good idea. And what child could refuse a man like Derrin who was doting upon them? His looks alone would sway anyone.