Page 80 of Waking Roslyn

I dusted off my hands, wondering if she’d be able to see me or if these plants were thick enough to hide my bulky form. But she didn’t look up to search the grounds, so maybe she wasn’t looking for me. She looked distracted and lost in thought. She dug her thumb into the palm of her hand the way she always did when she was anxious, even though that hand also held a letter.

I wanted to call out and ask if all was well, but I was too worried that someone might see us. Luckily she meandered down the stairs, her feet taking the familiar path into the gardens I was tending even while she seemed preoccupied with whatever was troubling her.

Since she was heading in my direction, I waited until she was close enough that I didn’t have to raise my voice for her to hear me. “Something is on your mind.”

She looked over at me, startled. “What?”

I smiled, since she’d just proved my point. “I said, something is on your mind.”

“Oh.” She looked down at the paper, then looked back at me, her bright eyes concerned and her brow furrowed. “Yes.”

“Will you tell me what?” I asked, dusting off the knees of my trousers as she neared.

She held up the paper she’d been reading. “It’s a letter.”

“Who is it from?”

“My parents.”

I knew she received regular letters from her mother, but they didn’t usually cause her distress. “And what do your parents have to say?”

She took a deep breath. “The King and Queen of Saldine have just welcomed a new child. My parents, they say…they say it’s time for me to return home.” Her voice trailed off into such quiet tones that I barely heard the last few words. But I was confused by her obvious melancholy. She’d been wanting this, preparing for it the entire time I’d known her. Yet she looked as though the news were dreadful.

A healthy heir to the throne meant she was less of a threat and should be safer. “That is good news, is it not?” I gestured toward a nearby bench. It was surrounded by tall bushes that would hide us from view if anyone looked down from the house.

“Yes. Yes, of course.” She sat on the bench. “I just…I’ve been hoping for this for so many years—I’m not sure I really believe it’s true.”

“That’s understandable.”

“And there’s also…”

“What?” I sank down beside her.

“I like it here. I’ll miss…” She turned to me, her mouth trying to form words that wouldn’t come out for several moments before she dropped her gaze in frustration. “I’ve enjoyed training. With you.”

My throat felt swollen. Was she saying she would miss me? I swallowed down my nerves and dug deep for some courage. “I’ll be sad to see you go,” I admitted.

She looked back up at me, like my confession was a relief to her. Then she pressed her lips and shook her head as her eyes became glossy with tears. “I don’t want to leave you.”

The surge of feeling that reared inside me at her words was nearly overwhelming. I wrapped an arm around her, wanting to do more but remembering that this moment of distress was about her, not me. “I will miss you, Rose.”

She clung to me for a moment and I realized she was trembling. Concern tightened my chest. “What else is wrong?”

She took a deep breath and then pulled back. “My parents think that it will be safe, but what if…” Her voice trailed off again, and she swallowed.

Yes. What if? “You’ll have protection, won’t you?”

“Yes. My parents have a contingent of soldiers in their employ.”

“And for the journey?” She needed protection while traveling as well.

“I don’t know.”

Her lack of surety made my gut twist. “Surely Lord Rockwell will not send you without protection.”

“I’m certain everything will be fine.”

My brow furrowed. Her weak reassurance was not enough. Plus, her obvious nerves served only to increase my own. “When must you go?”