Small pronunciation guide:
Caelithor - KAY-lith-or
***
A month later.
"Well, open it," Ophelia urged.
Aside from her brothers, Giselle's best friend had been the only constant in her life. That's why, the moment the letter was in her hands she immediately called for her.
"I'm scared," Giselle admitted, her eyes on the envelope. The paper crinkled beneath her fingers, and a maroon wax seal showcased a swirling gust of wind.
The Mortimer family seal.
Why they sent her a letter, Giselle had no clue. She couldn't even wrap her mind around the idea that her family's rival contacted her. It didn't make sense for them to contact the youngest child of the Holloways. If the letter had been addressed to Aric-the eldest son, it would have made so much more sense.
"You will have to open it one way or another." Ophelia gazed at the letter over the red haired girl's shoulder.
Yet Giselle still hesitated. A part of her still wondered if maybe she should hide the letter and pretend she never got it. She could shove it to some corner, where no one but the spiders creating intricate webs would find it. Perhaps it would be easier that way, because if she saw the contents of the letter, and it was something horrible, she couldn't erase it from her memory.
Her room, for instance, offered so many places to leave the letter for dusts to befall. Nooks and cracks between the shelves of books and small porcelain decorations hadn't been much help to Giselle when she was a little girl, playing with her brothers, but for a small letter-it would be a perfect hiding place.
"Come on," Ophelia coaxed gently, her chestnut hair tumbling over her shoulders before she brushed the stray locks behind her ear. "If it's something you don't want to see we can burn it."
"We can't burn a letter from a lord!" Giselle balked, turning her gaze onto her friend. The hem of her green gown swept over the floor in a whisper of the movement, a swirl of motion trailing behind as she came to a halt. The fabric of the skirt seemed to ripple as the light caught it in its hold. The embroidery of flowers along the bodice shimmered, reminding Giselle of the fairies in her storybooks.
Ophelia grinned, unfazed by the red haired girl's expression. "Yes we can-if it is necessary," she added with a shrug. "Come on, open it."
Giselle sighed, turning her green eyes on the letter once more and with slightly trembling hands opened it. Her nimble fingers grasped the piece of paper and she carefully pulled it out, as if it might hurt her if she handled it with something other than care. Slowly, she unfolded and began reading the written words.
Miss Holloway,
I realize that this letter may seem abrupt and completely unexpected. I know I did not leave that kind of impression, but you truly have intrigued me. This is nothing more than an invitation to spend the remainder of the summer with me and my family at our summer estate in the lush forests of Caelithor. I will patiently wait for your answer and hope to see you again as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Samuel Mortimer.
Giselle started at the letter, her eyes wide. Her head swam with wild thoughts. What was he playing at? A quick conversation where he didn't even seem to be interested in her-that's all it took? There had to be more to it. She couldn't let the blue eyes-no matter how pretty-cloud her judgment and let herself repeat old mistakes.
YOU ARE READING
Our Summer (The Season Of Us #1)
RomanceThis was written just so I could get motivation to finish the novel I'm writing, but I kind of love this. (English is not my first language) Giselle Holloway, the youngest of the Holloway family, has always played the role of a perfect noble lady. O...
