Isaac’s voice guided her out of the unseeing shock of her father’s words. She reached behind, grabbing his hand and curling her fingers into his. “I — I need to think about it,” she stumbled, eyes wide and brows creased. It was hard enough here at Hale Castle, where everyone knew her history and was kind to her, helping her become the kind of lady Isaac needed.
Going away to a land where the expectations would be much higher — Summer wasn’t sure she could do it. But the way her … her sister’s face fell, her twin — the thought of not being with her twin was as painful as the thought of not being with Isaac.
“Of course, this is a shock to you,” Winter said compassionately, the pained expression gone from her face as if it had never been. She didn’t even glance at Isaac. “Perhaps we can speak more after the evening meal.”
His fingers curled around hers on autopilot, eyes haunted and unseeing as his mind tried to comprehend and process the thought that she might not be staying with him, that very soon, she could be out of his life forever. And he didn’t know how to deal with that. He’d slowly been growing accustomed to having people stay in his life, having people who cared about him and loved him, and to have the one person who meant more to him than anyone else to leave, would shatter his heart.
“Summer…” he echoed hoarsely, needing to talk to her alone, away from wandering ears and eyes, to find out where her opinions lay on this matter. He would stand by her no matter what she chose in the end, of course, but he wouldn’t be happy about it.
What Summer wanted to do was run from the room. Run and run and run until she was exhausted and couldn’t worry any more. But she drew herself up and offered a polite nod before linking her arm through Isaac’s and drawing him away.
They ended up in the practise yard, still and empty and smelling faintly of dust. She wrapped her fingers in his fine tunic and hid her face in his chest, on the verge of tears. “I don’t know what to do.”