Page 132 of The Throne Seeker

“Roman?”

He turned back.

“Why are you doing all of this?” she asked softly, still not sure why the change of heart.

Roman kept his face controlled as he looked down at the scar on his arm and then at her. “I owe you my life… The least I can do is make yours a little better.”

She gazed at him gratefully. “Thank you.”

He gave her a cross look. “What have I told you about thanking me?”

She shrugged. “It’s a habit of mine when someone does something nice.”

He let out a harsh sound—a laugh or scoff, she couldn’t be sure. “I’ll see you at noon,” he said over his shoulder, heading for the door. “I’d pack warm clothes. It gets cold at night, even in the summer. But don’t bother bringing too much. Harriet has a closet full that could dress a small army.”

Rose almost smiled, knowing it was probably true.

Rose’s mother came to help pack her few belongings, and for the first time in days, her heart pumped freely—it still didn’t feel real.

“Well, that’s the last of it,” her mother said, scanning the room for anything else they’d missed. “I think you have everything you’ll need.”

“Are you sure you won’t come?” She’d asked the question for the hundredth time.

Her mother shook her head sharply. “Oh no, I’m quite content here. I’ll have much more company here than at theestate. It sounds like you two will be busy enough without worrying about me. Besides, I need to keep hunting for suitors while you are gone. I’ll send word once I have any good news. There’splentyof time left in the season.”

Rose stuffed a book into her bag. “What did Roman say to you this morning?” She would’ve givenanythingto be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

“Well… after the shock wore off—” her mother gave her a reprimanding stare, having already scolded her earlier, “—he told me he had an idea that might help you. I listened to what he had to say and… I agreed.”

“So you think it’s a good idea?”

With soft eyes, her mother swept Rose’s hair over her shoulder, her thumb stroking her cheek as she said, “I think it’s something you need.”

“Do you think Tristan will be angry when he comes back? I don’t want him taking it out on you.”

Her mother’s hand slid off her face, waving it, unconcerned. “You don’t need to worry about me. I can handle Tristan. He needs to come to terms with the fact that, at some point, you both have to move on.”

Some things were easier said than done.

Rose clasped the buckle on her bag as the dull ache in her heart sharpened. “Did I make a mistake letting him go? What if… what if I never love anyone like I loved him? What if…” Her words faltered. There was a more fearful question she couldn’t bring herself to voice. The one that had been haunting her since the ruins.

What if no one else ever loved her as much as Tristan did?

Her heart crippled.

Her mother put a gentle hand on her arm. “You won’t. You’ll never love anyone the same way twice. But there is a greater love out there for you, Rose. You may not feel that way now, butthere will be a love so strong and freeing, you won’t even imagine letting it go. I feel it in my bones.”

Rose looked at her mother pitifully. Who was she to sit and complain after all her mother had been through with her father? “I’m sorry you never got to have that kind of love. You deserve so much more than what he gave you.”

Despite the truth of it, her mother gave her a gracious smile. “Don’t worry, Rose. My life has been filled with more love than most. I have the greatest love I’ve ever known standing right here in front of me.”

Rose’s heart filled with pride. She didn’t know where her mother had gained so much strength. Perhaps if she had inherited more of her mother’s qualities, they wouldn’t be in this position.

She gave her mother a tight hug, expressing her thanks.

Her mother pulled back, gripping her forearms. “But I’ll tell you something I learned long ago. Your peace of mind isfarmore important than understanding why something happened the way it did. Don’t dwell on thoughts of things that could’ve been.”

Rose knew it. She merely nodded.