Read Wilhelmina A Novella for Free Online Page B

princess. Where Charles Abberdean would read to me every night and he would be my king.
    I closed my dry eyes and waited for death.
    Pity came to me in the form of tears. I felt them, cold and refreshing, through the ceiling. I wondered if the angels were watching, and if they had finally had enough. But I was not dead, and as I opened my eyes, I saw no sunlight. Instead, there was a grey world outside.
    I sat up, and felt mud where there should have been dirt. Water dripped on my face through the loose boards above me, and I rubbed it across my face to cleanse myself of the grime and shame. It rained heavier, and I sat there, open mouthed and enjoying the water as it ran down my hot throat, cooling me from the inside out.
    The angels had seen enough alright, but it wasn’t the sign of death and surrender I was waiting for. It was a sign that I was going to win this war, that any day now the governess would surrender. When she did, I would accept as smug and proudly as I possibly could.
    I would show her, she would see.
    On the ninth day, I was vindicated. Or so I thought. Minus opened the door to the shed, and I felt a cool breeze rush inside, blowing through my mud-caked hair. He didn’t say anything as he gripped my arm, and I was surprised when my legs wouldn’t work with me. He caught me and swept me into his arms, carrying me into the mansion.
    The servants waited on me as I bathed, and soon after I was dressed and force fed a bowl of soup. I enjoyed every insatiable flavor that hit my tongue as a fraction of my former strength returned to me. This was my victory meal, and I would savor every last drop for I had earned it.
    I imagined Mr. Abberdean sitting across from me with his breathtaking smile lifting his face and my spirits.
    As the sun set on the horizon, I was escorted to the governess’ den by Thea, a young house slave. She so reminded me of Abby; they shared similar facial traits, and had the same sort of glow to their dark chocolate skin. But even though I needed her support, as I couldn’t stand completely on my own, I walked up the tower steps fearlessly as I prepared to face my enemy.
    Thea made sure to help me as I sat gently in the chair set before the governess’ desk. I stared directly into the governess’ eye, shaded beneath her black veil, as she stared back at me.
    ‘Wait outside,’ she instructed Thea. The black girl bowed and backed out of the room, closing the door behind her. ‘Nine days; that is impressive. To think that the love of your hair kept you going for that long is remarkable, though dull.’
    ‘Forgive me, miss , but you’re wrong,’ I said, heatedly. ‘It wasn’t the love of my hair that kept me going.’
    ‘Then what was the source of your stubbornness? Your hatred of me?’
    ‘Hardly.’
    I scoffed boldly. Instead of getting angry as I had expected, she smiled wickedly and looked me over tactfully. She lifted a bundle off of her desk and flipped through the bound letters with her nimble fingers.
    ‘Where is Evonne?’ I asked.
    ‘She has left the state, fleeing at the news of the North’s advances. I wouldn’t count on seeing her again,’ the governess said. ‘Have you changed your position on my offer?’
    I shook my head evenly and matched her glare as she continued to flip through the letters; my letters. ‘We are much more alike than you think, Wilhelmina. More than you’re willing to admit, I’m sure.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter how much we’re alike, because we’re too different to compare,’ I told her coldly. She considered my words as she sat behind her desk and placed the letters before her.
    ‘A letter came today from Fremont, but not for you,’ the governess said lightly. ‘It was a reply from your mother. I told her what happened, and how you’ve done everything in your power to disobey me. She gave me a message to pass along to you.
    ‘Your step-mother and Dinah have gone away, left this morning to go live with an acquaintance of hers