“I should read the newssheets as well as books so I do not appear ignorant if Petra visits again.”
Had his sister done as he asked?
“She visited me earlier.” Nina’s smile was a little sad. “It was nice to have a discussion with someone new. I hope she returns before your family takes their leave of Nightshade Manor again.”
He would have to thank Petra and encourage her to return.
“Petra is also going to work on a spell to free me from this place,” Nina offered with a chuckle.
Orion would have assumed that his mother or aunts had probably tried to free Nina already. “Then I will be certain to bring you newssheets so that you are up to date on all the news and gossip and not lost when you step from the grove.”
She laughed, a tinkling of enjoyment. “We both know that it will not happen. But thank you for indulging me.”
Orion reached over and grasped her hand. “We do not know that it is impossible.”
“Do not hope for too much, Orion, for the disappointment is all the greater.”
Such sadness, even though she said those words with a smile, and his heart ached for her.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the stars twinkled against the nearly black of the sky.
Nina loved it here on the window seat where she could look out at the sky, or over the sea once the sun had set. Tonight, the moon reflected on gentle waves below and she couldn’t help but wonder what lay beyond.
She had always assumed that on the few occasions that Cassian did share news of the world that he was also honest, such as when Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804. At least that was the way Cassian had told the story when in truth, Napoleon seized political power in 1799 in a coup d'état and crowned himself emperor. Cassian had also never once mentioned war on the Continent. It had been Orion who told her the truth.
What else was happening in the world that she should know about.
“A package from Orion,” Cassian announced none too pleasantly as he strode into the parlor and slammed down something wrapped in paper.
Frowning, Nina rose and walked to the table. What had he sent her? He had teased about buying all the books in Pennick’s Bookshop, but the package didn’t look like it could contain books.
She tore at the wrapping and was delighted to find a stack of newssheets and a note.
Nina,
This is all we had at Nightshade Manor, and some are not current, but I will send more as I gather them.
Your friend,
Orion
“Newssheets! What do you need with those?” Cassian demanded. “Are the books I provide not enough?”
The anger that had been simmering just below surfaced and she turned on her brother. “No, they are not.”
“Why?”
“Why?” she nearly screeched. “Did you not think it important that I know a war was being fought on the Continent between France and England and…” she couldn’t remember who else was involved, nor had Napoleon limited himself to the Continent, but seemed intent on taking over the world.
“It does not affect you here.”
His answer was so simple, and it infuriated her.
“How can you say such? The war may not be here, but I have a right to know what is happening in the country of my birth.”
“Calm down, Nina. You are upset for no reason.”
“No reason!” Her pitch was even higher now. “What else have you not told me because it does not affect me?”
