The Abandoned Vampire Bride Walked Away novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: Genevieve's Offer
Genevieve walked across the gravel toward me with her hands open.
She had on the gray cloak, and under it a pale cardigan, and her eyes were wet.
"Rosalind," she said. "Thank God. I came as fast as I could."
Darian got out of the car and stood at my shoulder.
He didn't say a word.
"You're in the Council's carriage," I said.
"They asked me to bring you something." She glanced at Alaric on his knees and pressed her fingers to her mouth. "Oh, Alaric. Look at you."
"Don't," Alaric said.
"The envoy has found a way out," Genevieve said, to me, as if nobody else were there. "The old law lets another woman take a pledge if the bride steps aside and the heir agrees. I'll do it. I'll wear the ring."
"Why would you?"
"Because you shouldn't have to stand in front of four hundred people and be stared at." She said it softly, and it sounded like love. "I've known Alaric since I was six. I can't watch him burn."
I looked at her round, kind face.
Nobody in the world could have heard that speech and thought she was lying.
"A human can't take a pledge without the old words," Darian said.
"I know the words."
"Few living people do."
"My father was the steward here for thirty years." Her smile didn't move. "He kept the House books, and he taught me to read them."
The carriage door opened again.
The Lord of Crowhurst climbed down, one hand on the frame.
He looked ten years older than he had at the garden.
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