Page 13 of Pawns of Fate
He guided Rose toward the silk market in the center of town.
The swaths of fabric dyed in more colors than Nicholas could have ever dreamed had always enchanted him, even if the dyes’ strong, rotting vegetable smell permeated that section of town.
Hopefully, the wind would push it in the opposite direction today.
“The servants told me that you manage the household and the finances,” Rose offered up this tidbit of conversation as they made their way along the crowded street .
Nicholas waved off a vendor aggressively shoving some jewelry in Rose’s face.
He tugged Rose a little closer to him. “Yes, the servants are correct. When my mother passed away, I was twelve, and York was six. My father mourned her loss very deeply for almost a year. I picked up many of my responsibilities then.”
“At twelve years old?”
“My father loved my mother so deeply. He was devastated after she passed… For a while, I worried he might die of a broken heart. He’ll never marry again.
” He paused, lost in memories of his short-lived childhood.
Rose gave his hand a tentative squeeze, and he cleared his throat.
“About two years after my mother passed, he was able to take back most of his duties as marquess. As he ages, however, he continues slowly giving them back to me.” Nicholas chuckled.
“I don’t mind. It’s all part of holding my title.
Lots of responsibilities come along with it. ” He shrugged.
They strolled past a house with an especially large box of flowers hanging out of the windows.
“Can I help you with any of the duties? Maybe not now, but after I return from my stay with the Ojoh clan, I’ll want to fulfill all my duties as your wife and the future marchioness.”
Rose’s offering softened something inside him. Even knowing their marriage wasn’t of love and he’d use her as a pawn, as her uncle had, Rose still wanted to rise to her role as the future marchioness. He’d chosen the right bride.
“Tomorrow night, there will be a banquet to introduce you to all House Sharp’s soldiers and servants. Making a good impression on them will be vital to your duties as the future marchioness,” Nicholas said.
“I’ll do my best at the banquet, then,” Rose replied with a sure nod. “If there is anything else, please tell me.”
They reached the edges of the market and wandered into a stall filled with silks dyed in various shades of blue.
Rose cautiously stroked a swath of the soft material that was a darker hue than the midnight sky.
Nicholas looked at the owner of the stall and held up two fingers.
The vendor grinned and began writing things down on a notepad.
Occasionally, there were perks to being the well-known son of a marquess.
It certainly made shopping easier. He’d have two dresses’ worth of this fabric at the castle tomorrow.
Rose’s attention drifted to a lighter swath of silk. “This one’s the same color as your eyes,” she said with a smile. Nicholas’s pulse quickened. He held up two more fingers to the merchant.
They wandered to the next stall, which was filled with various green silks. Nicholas might buy a few for himself. Green was his favorite color, or at least it had been until he’d seen Rose’s pink hair. He ran his fingers along the edge of a swath the color of limes.
“I know it’s a bit impractical to hand much over to me since I’ll be leaving soon, but maybe I could help with wedding planning?” Rose asked as they continued to peruse the market.
“Can you read and write? I need help with addressing and writing out all of the invitations. Not many of our servants are literate.”
“I can!” she replied eagerly. “Reading is actually one of my favorite pastimes. I’ll help you with the invitations.”
This woman was growing more attractive to him by the hour.
He didn’t often have a chance to celebrate his love of reading with others.
His father stuck mostly to dry, informational texts about magic, politics, and economics.
York hated studying and avoided reading.
Ava, well, Nicholas wasn’t entirely sure that Ava could read even after a year with his family, but he’d never figured out a tactful way to ask her, because York had insisted on being his wife’s personal reading and writing tutor.
“Wonderful! I’ll have to show you the second-floor library when we return to the castle.”
“Didn’t you show me a library yesterday?”
“That was the first-floor library. The second-floor library is much larger and has many more interesting books. Do you like novels?”
“I like reading almost anything.” Rose’s face lit up. “But I love novels, especially romances.”
“Some of my mother’s old books might suit you.” Nicholas felt his heart swell.
They reached the end of the silk market. The pungent odor of the dye houses reached their noses. Rose’s eyes began to water.
“What is that smell?” she asked.
“The dye for the silks produces a strong odor. Let’s go back to the castle instead of exploring further. I want to show you the second-floor library.”
Rose nodded her agreement. Nicholas squeezed her hand. His heart filled with satisfaction that the date had succeeded after all. He hoped his relationship with Rose continued to grow, even with her impending stay with the Ojoh looming over their happiness.