This was the lady of the manor, and Caspian’s mother.
Why was she coming to talk to her? Was she going to be let go from her position?
Was a potential relationship with the son of the lord and lady considered a liability? She swallowed and licked her lips, which were suddenly completely dry, as Lady Rendon approached.
“Hello, Sophia,” she said sweetly. “I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
Sophia nodded and stared up at Lady Rendon, unable to speak. She clutched Mollie tighter, as if the baby goat was a shield from any potential bad news.
“I was wondering if you were going to the Fall Festival tomorrow,” Lady Rendon asked.
“I am,” Sophia said, her voice wobbling.
Was that it?
Lady Rendon smiled. “Well, then, I would like to invite you to come and get ready for the festival with me and Liliana tomorrow,” she said, “if that’s alright with you.”
Sophia’s eyes widened even further. “Yes, Lady Rendon,” she said after a moment. “I don’t know exactly what that means, but I would be honored.”
Lady Rendon laughed, a laugh that was so similar to Caspian’s. “It doesn’t mean much,” she said. “But if you want one of our ladies’ maids to do your hair, we could arrange that, and I have a dress that hasn’t fit me for years that I think would look absolutely stunning on you.”
Sophia glanced at Caspian, who was smiling at his mother.
This was good, right?
“Thank you, my lady,” she said. “That would be wonderful.”
Suddenly even more nervous about the festival, Sophia turned to Caspian. “I should get Mollie back to her mother,” she said before slipping away as quickly as she could, rubbing Mollie’s head.
She hardly knew what to think about everything that had happened in the last fifteen minutes.
How was this her life now?
Chapter fourteen
Caspian
Caspiananxiouslypacedatthe bottom of the stairs, waiting for his mother, sister, and Sophia to arrive, his heart beating faster every moment he waited.
She’d been upstairs for two hours now, preparing for the Fall Festival, and he didn’t know what to expect. The anticipation was going to be the death of him.
“We have to leave soon,” he said to Kellan, who grinned at him.
“It’s fun seeing you so nervous,” his brother said, shoving his shoulder. “You’re normally so unflappable.”
He glanced at Kellan with a frown. “What do you mean?”
His brother shrugged. “Usually you’re the most put together of the three of us. You’re always so on top of everything. It’s fun to watch you feel like you don’t have everything together.” He clapped Caspian on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll figure it all out again soon.”
Kellan thought he was the one who had his life together?
That was news to him.
Caspian grimaced. “I sure hope so. I don’t know if I will, though. This has me all turned upside down and inside out and I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
“Well, you’re still doing better than Gideon,” Kellan said.
“Gone again?” Caspian asked quietly.
