Chapter 332: Before Dawn
Thomas narrowed his eyes as he stared at Rose. There were too many things he didn’t like. However, what was more obvious was the sadness in her eyes—so heavy he could almost feel it.
He had heard the dark news almost as soon as it happened. The crown prince had kept an eye on Rose, and the baron had been instructed to send any new information he had, which meant that as soon as her mother died, Thomas knew.
She was still grieving; he could see it from the way her shoulders hunched and from the way her smile faltered as though she wasn’t quite used to smiling yet.
Rose shuffled her feet under Thomas’s glare. If she weren’t already used to it, her first thought would have been to assume he was angry. However, she realized his serious and angry face looked the same. The only difference was that he was likely to strike her at the latter.
"How was the journey?" she asked to ease the awkwardness.
Thomas narrowed his eyes, and he looked even more displeased. "The same as the last time," he replied.
Rose nodded and internally swore. Of course, she couldn’t expect to have a proper conversation with Thomas, but she really was glad to see him. She leaned closer—was it her, or did he seem taller? It was only a few months, but he seemed so different.
Thomas adjusted the kettle hat, which he held with the bottom pressed against his body. "I heard about your mother," Thomas started to say. "I’m sorry for your loss."
Rose blinked once, then twice. She wasn’t surprised that Thomas knew about her mother’s death; she was surprised he would bring it up enough to try to console her.
Rose smiled tightly and wrapped her arms around herself as she looked away. "Thank you," she mumbled.
Thomas didn’t speak again—just kept his gaze on her as though he was studying her. Rose didn’t think she had changed much, but she did lose some weight, especially during the roughest periods before her mother’s death and after her death.
"Would you like to come in?" she offered, more for a lack of what else to say rather than wanting to invite them in.
It was also a little awkward standing in front of her little cottage with all the men lined up in front, and by the sound of the windows and doors opening, they were already a spectacle.
"No need," Thomas said curtly as he put the kettle helm back on. "I came to tell you to get ready. We leave before dawn, the day after next."
Rose wrapped her arms tighter around herself. "Okay," she mumbled.
Thomas peered down at her. His amber eyes held such intensity that it made her nervous. When he seemed to find what he was looking for, he pulled away.
"Move," he said to the men as he swiftly got on his horse.
"Goodbye, Lord Thomas," Rose said with a wave.
"Rose," he said curtly and rode the horse off.
Rose stood in her front yard as she watched the men ride off in the snow. All that rang in her head was that she was leaving in less than two days. Even though she had more than half a week to prepare it felt too soon.
"Rosie." Her father’s voice broke through her thoughts, and Rose almost jumped out of her skin.
"Father," she gasped, a hand to her chest as she turned around to see her father, an arm’s length away from her. "You frightened me."
"I apologize. I figured ye would ’ave ’eard me walkin’ to ye."
Rose shook her head. She didn’t hear a thing; someone could have crept up close enough to touch her, and she still wouldn’t have noticed.
She turned her whole body around and started walking towards him. "Sorry," she said. "I was distracted."
Her father looked past her in the direction the knights had taken, and Rose realized he had seen them. "Was tha...?"
"Yes," Rose said with a sigh before her father could finish asking his question. "The crown prince sent them to take me to him."
Rose didn’t stop as she got to her father; rather, she walked past him and towards the house. She opened the door and held it open until he walked in.
"W’en?" her father asked as she shut the door.
Rose sighed again, lingering against the door and hiding her face from him. "The day after next."
Vallyn closed his palms and took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice held no emotion. "I see."
"Yes," Rose replied as she pulled away from the door and started towards the fireplace. She’d better get dinner started.
"Did ye go out before tha men arrived?"
Rose frowned, wondering if her simply going to her mother’s grave had not escaped the lips of the gossipers.
"Why?" Rose asked instead of admitting it.
"Ye ’ave got more snow on ye t’an bein’ outside for a few moments," her father replied. As he spoke, he tried to dust the snow off the top of her hair and her shoulders.
Rose’s eyes softened. "Yes," she softly said as she stayed in place for her father to clean her up. "I went to see Mot’er."
Her father paused his hand midair but only for a moment before he resumed wiping her off again. "I am sure yer Mot’er was ’appy ye stopped by."
Rose nodded and stepped back as her father pulled his hand away. He looked like he wanted to stop her, but he simply dropped his hand to his side.
In no time, the day for her to leave finally arrived. Thomas arrived early; she had not seen him since he showed up at her doorstep two evenings ago. He was true to his word, arriving just before dawn.
Rose was awake and ready when they came; she had barely been able to sleep a wink the night before—her and her father. He had stayed up with her, chatting, and didn’t bring up the fact that she was leaving soon. Rose couldn’t bring up the topic herself, as she would have burst out crying.
The lanterns were the indication that they had come for her. Rose had seen the orange light slip through the cracks in her house.
"’E is ’ere," her father announced.
Rose nodded. She was seated on her mother’s bed, dressed in the gown she brought back with her and the coat was draped over her shoulders. Rose squinted her eyes as she realized the coat was now sentimental—it had been with her through her toughest period.
"Be safe," her father said.
"I will, Fat’er. Promise me ye’ll eat regularly and write me those letters ye promised."
Vallyn nodded. He wanted to bring up running away one more time, but his daughter was already doing something courageous; he didn’t want to chip at her strength.
Losing her mother had broken them both, and now they were about to lose each other. Vallyn really wished there was something he could do, but his idea wasn’t safe, and there was a high chance they couldn’t get away from the crown prince—and instead of trying to save her, he might end up jeopardizing her.
"I promise," he said and stretched out his hands.
Rose leaped out of the bed and jumped into her father’s arms. She buried her face against him, enjoying the warmth that poured into her.
"Please, be safe," she mumbled against his chest. She didn’t think she could survive losing another parent. "As soon as something is wrong, let me know—even if it’s unimportant, please."
"I will be fine, Rosie. I can take care of miself. It’s ye I am worried about."
"I am fine. I will write to ye as soon as I can. Madame Razel can read it to ye..." Rose thought about mentioning the baron’s wife but decided against it. She couldn’t trust her.
A loud knock interrupted their family time, and an impatient voice called her name. Thomas hadn’t changed one bit.
"Fat’er," Rose said as she pulled away. "I will miss you."
"As I ye," her father said.
Rose nodded and walked towards the door while her father didn’t move from the spot he stood. She opened the door and came face-to-face with Thomas.
He looked surprised to see her as though he hadn’t expected her to come to the door so quickly. He turned and started walking away.
"Get on this horse," he ordered with his back to her. "You still know how to ride?"
"Of course," Rose replied audaciously.
Thomas looked back at her, a glare in his eyes but he simply stopped in his tracks. Rose turned back, wondering what was behind her that could have caught his attention enough for him to react and her father’s eyes met hers.
"Fat’er..."
"May tha ’eavens be wit ye," he softly said.
"Thank you, Fat’er," she said and gave him one last hug before she pulled away. Rose wanted to memorize the sight of him—the lines on his face, the warmth in his eyes—so she could carry them with her
Thomas didn’t say anything at her father’s appearance; rather, he gave a curt nod as her father bowed. However, Rose believed she was seeing things—there was no way Thomas knew how to be respectful.
She got to the horse he had gestured to and tried to put her foot into the stirrup, but she slipped on the first attempt. However, she didn’t get a chance to try again as she felt hands on her waist.
"We don’t have all day," Thomas said as he lifted her onto the horse.