Read Betrothed for Free Online Page A

return.”
    Idalla took another bite of her roll, then gave Seri a dreamy smile. “It’s like something out of the old stories, you know. If the prince is truly blessed by the goddess, his bride will be revealed to him, and his reign blessed with many daughters. If no worthy bride is found for him, he may continue to have betrothal ceremonies until one is chosen. Sometimes, though, the king decides that he wants his sons to marry, and Prince Graeme has found no Eterna after five ceremonies. This will be his last if the goddess does not choose for him this year.”
    It sounded fascinating and appalling all at once. To think that all these noblewomen had gathered at the castle to win the hand of some doddering ancient prince who hadn’t found a bride in over fifty annums. “Do the gods often choose a bride for the prince?”
    Idalla shook her head. “Haven’t in over a thousand years, I’m told. Still, the kings of Athon are sticklers for tradition, so they continue to hold the ceremony every ten-year. Prince Velair had six betrothal ceremonies before the king allowed him to marry the Lady Brey, who brought immense wealth back to the Blood.”
    Seri immediately felt sorry for Lady Brey, who was probably young and cried herself to sleep every night now that she had been married to an ancient, dried-up prince and was expected to produce more male heirs.
    “I’m told that Prince Graeme—he’s the younger brother to Prince Velair and crown prince of Vidara—is partial to a particular Lady Aynee, but she carries very little wealth, though her family name is prestigious. Your Lady Mila probably sees this as her last opportunity to flaunt herself in front of the prince before he chooses his bride.”
    That sounded like Lady Mila’s plan, all right. “So no one truly expects the gods to pick a bride for the prince at this ceremony? It seems a foolish thing, then. So many nobles trotting out into the wilds just on the hope that the gods might smile down upon one of them.”
    “Not gods. Just one goddess,” Idalla corrected, then chewed her lip thoughtfully. “I’m told that the prince must acknowledge every eligible woman at the ceremony. Many women take that as an opportunity to put themselves before the prince that they would not otherwise have.” She shrugged. “You should see the dresses, though.” She gave a wistful sigh. “I remember seeing the last ceremony as a child. Each lady tries to outdo the other in beauty. I’ve heard that Lady Aynee plans to wear bright red, so the other women are careful to steer away from that color lest they blend in with what she has chosen.”
    “It seems rather silly to me,” Seri said. “All this pomp and ceremony for something that will not even happen. Lady Mila has her hopes set rather high.”
    “I’d watch out for that one,” Idalla warned. “Her motives may seem harmless, but Lady Mila thinks only of herself and her own value. You’d best be careful, my friend, or you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of her anger.”
    “Call me Seri,” she offered, feeling a kinship with the girl. “And thank you for the advice.”
     
    ~~* * * ~~
     
    The next evening proved to be a trying one for Seri, and were it not for the three dru promised to her, she would have run screaming from the castle early on.
    “Not like that!” Lady Mila snapped, her voice a shrill cry that cut through the air of the chamber and made the ladies wince. “You’re manhandling my skirts, you little beast!”
    Seri dropped the massive train of fabric as if she were stung, expecting another slap. She’d already received several throughout the day. Luckily, Lady Mila was on the far end of the dress this time. Trying to keep her voice even and pleasant, she said, “I apologize, Lady Mila.” She glanced uneasily at the other waiting women who stood nearby, smirking at her. “Forgive my ignorance. Please show me again how I am to hold them.”
    The words choked out of her between gritted