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Back Princess at Heart Save as PDF
Chapters (49)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. The Rosewood Chronicles
  4. Dedication
  5. Prologue
  6. Part One
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. Part Two
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. Part Three
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. Author’s Note
  48. The Rosewood Houses
  49. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Looking over the crowd, her eyes locked on to Ellie’s because she wanted her to know that the next words were for her. ‘I hope with this painting that I can encourage people to not only strive to bring out the best in each other, but to explore how others can change them, and how we can all grow into better people for us having known them. I think that’s what William Tufty would have wanted for us, and that’s what I want to share with you all in this piece. Thank you. And I think you’re allowed to eat the cakes now.’

Lottie didn’t bask in the applause. She ran down the steps straight to Ellie. She flung herself into her arms, the two of them embracing like their bodies were thirsty for each other. ‘What did you think?’ she asked, still clinging on.

Ellie pulled away first, holding Lottie by her shoulders at a distance, looking her up and down. ‘I’m so proud of you, Lottie,’ she said with complete sincerity. ‘You’re going to do such amazing things in this world.’ Lottie felt like she had become the painting, that Ellie was taking note of every detail, wanting to burn it into her memory. ‘I’m really glad we got to have this time together.’

Something had sneaked its way into Ellie’s voice, a small crack that Lottie couldn’t pin down. But then Ellie tilted her head to the side, inky-black hair dusting her pale cheekbones. ‘It reminds me of us,’ she announced. ‘You know, at the ball. The first time we danced together.’ She let out a sigh that made Lottie’s chest ache where the wolf lay over it. ‘That was one of the best times of my life.’

It was the most perfect thing that Ellie could have ever said.

‘I feel the same way,’ she replied.

But then the moment disappeared and Ellie put back on her mask.

‘God, I can’t believe I have to do that again next year for their stupid Golden Flower Festival 2019 edition,’ she said.

Lottie froze, watching Ellie laughing. It wasn’t the joke that caught her off guard; it was the date.

‘What did you just say?’

‘Next year, the Golden Flower Festival,’ Ellie said. ‘Remember? They’re still going ahead with it.’

Lottie felt the warmth drain out of her. There was something in what Ellie had said and she needed to figure it out right now.