Chapter 2

One of the wealthy young men sneered, "Isabelle, you can dress him in silk, but it will not make him a gentleman. Do you think he has the bearing for it?"

I snapped back, "Shut your mouth! Edward would look better in that coat than any of you pretenders."

I did not notice how tightly Edward clenched his fists or the icy look in his eyes.

He took the coat, studied it for a moment, then handed it back to me. "Thank you for the thought, Miss Sinclair, but I cannot accept it."

The mockery began again. "Oh, Edward has such lofty principles, does he? He refuses a gift from Miss Sinclair. I suppose none of us can measure up to that."

"If Edward does not want it, pass it to me. I will be your devoted follower from now on."

Laughter rippled through the group.

I glared at them. "Laugh again, and I will tear your mouths apart."

They stopped mocking and began showering me with flattery instead. "Miss Sinclair, your voice is so sweet. Even your threats sound pleasant."

I called them a pack of rogues, but Edward had already turned and walked away.

I hurried after him, my dress making it difficult to move quickly. "Edward, wait for me."

He glanced back at me, his expression cold and laced with contempt.

Still, I loved him. This was only a small incident. I quickly put it behind me and kept finding ways to cross paths with him.

I took up embroidery to make something for him.

My father was so delighted that he could not stop smiling. "My little wild girl is learning needlework? Your mother and I had never expected it."

Edward threw himself into his studies, determined to make a name for himself.

But no matter how hard he worked, he remained a poor scholar. He had to borrow books and painstakingly copy them by hand. Even his ink and pens were gifts from friends.

To make ends meet, he wrote poems for the wealthy young men, earning a few coins.

I could not bear to watch him struggle, so I tried to help, but he refused every time.

Setting aside all pretense of propriety, I took his hand and asked, "Why will you not let me help you, Edward?"

He only repeated that he needed no assistance.

Eventually, I understood how much his pride meant to him, so I gave the money to one of his friends instead and asked him to help Edward on my behalf.

When I visited him, we would talk about the news around town.

I felt as though we were growing a little closer.

For his sake, I was willing to buy Lily's freedom, the courtesan he spent his time with.

He worked diligently and soon caught the attention of a minor nobleman who agreed to become his patron. The next step was seeking favour with a more powerful lord, which required more funds than he had.

He had already borrowed so much from his friends that he was too ashamed to ask again. So I persuaded my father to step in and help Edward.

The day before his departure, he said very little.

I walked with him to the outskirts of town. He looked at me for a long while before asking, "Miss Sinclair, why do you do all this for me?"

I thought he meant why I kept being so kind to him, and my heart nearly burst with joy. At last, all my efforts had paid off.

"Because I care for you, Edward," I said.

Any other girl would never dare speak so plainly. But I had always been a little bold, and when it came to the one I loved, I saw no reason to be shy.

"I have been so kind to you. Should you do something for me in return?" I teased.

I wanted to take his hand, but I knew that would be too forward, so I tugged at his sleeve. "If you earn a position at court and become one of the king's favoured men, you have to marry me. Agreed?"

Edward said nothing. He turned and walked away. I took his silence as consent.

Edward's talent was unmatched. His brilliance won over the nobles who served as his patrons and soon reached the king himself.

He gained a place at court, and then a royal appointment, and before long, his name was on everyone's lips in the capital.

As he had promised me at our parting, he married me in the end.

But there was no proposal, no betrothal gifts, no grand procession, and no real ceremony. Only a handful of guests at a hasty party, and that was all.

After our marriage, Edward remained as cold and distant as ever. He was never close, but never rejected me. I told myself this was his aloof nature.

I believed we were husband and wife and we would grow old together, even if we were little more than polite companions.

What I never saw coming was that his heart had never belonged to me.