Raine felt a weight settle into her chest where her heart once rested. Her jaw dropped open as she stared at the ground in shock. “No,” she breathed as fresh tears started to pool in her eyes. “How could you? He tricked me. He’s looks hid a horrible monster. I was so swept up by his touch, his eyes, his lips, that I never saw the shadows within him.” She looked over at the nurse as the tears spilled over. “How could someone who seems so kind, be so merciless?”
The nurse wiped her eyes and wrapped her arms around her charge as Raine sobbed. “I’m sorry Raine. Men can’t be trusted. They’re all liars and deceivers. As soon as they give you a promise they’ll break it.” She hiccupped through her own tears. “Oh my sweet, sweet girl. These sorrows and horrible tidings, they’re what make me old. I hope Cidaris gets what he deserves.”
“Shut your mouth, woman. How dare you say such a thing about Cidaris.” She shoved the nurse back and stood in front of her with her arms crossed. “He’s wonderful. He doesn’t deserve banishment. He’s kind and considerate. Ugh.” Swallowing hard, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I can’t believe I said all those horrid things about him.”
“You have good things to say about the creature who killed your cousin?”
Her gaze drifted skywards as she took a deep breath. “Well, I’m not going to speak poorly of my husband. We’ve been married for all of three hours, and I’m already blowing it. How can I be a good wife, when I accuse him so harshly? But, why oh why did you have to kill Garrick? Would he have killed you?” She ran her fingers along the lace edgings of her sleeves, before wiping her eyes again. “Gah! Stop crying. I need to stop crying. Yes, Garrick is dead, but my husband is not. Cidaris must have only killed Garrick, because Garrick was going to kill him.” She wiped her face ferociously. “This should be comforting.” Her voice raised as she glared at the nurse between her flailing hands. Though she was careful not to get too loud lest it carry to the manor behind them, and before she continued, she dropped it again. “This should be comforting. My husband is not dead, but still I cry.”
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She sniffed. “I think, I think it’s because when you told me of Garrick’s death, you also mentioned that Cidaris has been banished.” She sank to her knees on the stone path. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I can’t believe he’s been banished. It would have been bad enough to just hear that Garrick has died. But grief apparently needs a friend and so come cruel fate has decided to not only share with me the death of my cousin, but the banishment of my new husband. It would have been easier to hear that my parents were also dead, than to hear that my love will be gone forever.” Hair drifted across her cheeks and clung to the damp spots as she lifted her head to look at her nurse. “Where are my parents, nurse?”
“Oh dear girl, your parents are in the house weeping over the loss of Garrick. Shall I bring you to them? You can find comfort in their grieving?”
Raine shook her head. “No, they only care about Garrick’s death. And it would be too hard for me to be there and weep with people who only care for half my pain. They’ll probably be rejoicing through their tears at Cidaris’ banishment. So no, I do not wish to go to them. I wish to see Cidaris. I would like…” she shuddered and pulled herself to her feet. “I am newly married, and I feel like I’m about to die, I would rather not die still a virgin. I wish to see my husband.”
Sighing softly, the nurse brushed the stuck strands of hair from Raine’s cheeks. “Go to your room dear girl and make yourself presentable. I’m sure your husband will come and see you before he goes. I’ll come and help you sneak down to the gardens when the tide and moon are high.”
Nodding, Raine removed one of her rings and folded the nurse’s fingers around it. “Please, try to find him and give him this. Tell him I wish to see him one last time.”
Blinking back her own tears, the nurse stood and ambled out of the garden gate once more.