💜My apologies for posting the wrong selection of Enduringly Yours this morning. I had just gotten my computer back after not having it for two weeks and went right ahead making a new post of a selection I’d already given you guys!
My bad, so sorry. In light of how little new material I’ve given you guys of late I’ll be posting new material from this story three times this week so if you’ve been following it then keep an eye out!
Next week I will focus on Tangled Moon, doing the same thing.💙
Zipporah stared at her reflection in the polished looking glass on her dressing table the following morning while her mother ran a comb through her hair.
“I could fake being sick,” Zipporah said.
“That will only work for today. Sooner or later you’ll have to spend time with Sir Gilburn, or he’ll think you’re not interested in him.”
“Would that be so bad?”
Her mother gave her a warning glance.
“Yes, I know.”
Living in the same castle with him wasn’t easy as it was. It would be even worse if he knew the truth about her feelings toward him. Zipporah could only hope her father would regain his senses long enough to change his mind about leaving the land to Gilburn.
“We could pretend I have an infectious disease,” Zipporah said.
Her mother lifted graying brows.
“I didn’t actually give him permission to woo me. He took it.”
“He caught you off guard.”
“Yes, and I know why I was off guard.”
“Peter?”
“The both of them. Gilburn has always followed Father’s orders, and as far as he’s concerned he has orders to make me accept his hand.”
“I’m not sure that’s quite the truth. It’s hard to say what goes through Sir Gilburn’s head sometimes.”
“You should’ve seen him yesterday. He thinks I’m someone I’m not. And if he ever found out that I’m not… That Peter and I…”
“Bide your time. We’ll think of something.” Lady Havendell ran the comb through once more, then placed her hands on Zipporah’s shoulders. “Do you want to know what I think?” She ducked her head so Zipporah could see her face in the mirror.
“I’m not sure. Do I want to?”
“Let Peter help you.”
“No.”
“I knew you wouldn’t want to hear what I had to say.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with him.”
“He misses his mother, and I miss my son.”
Zipporah turned to face her. “I understand that.” She took her mother’s hand. “But he’ll work his way under your skin. He has a way of doing that.”
Lady Havendell smiled. “He’s a better choice for you than Sir Gilburn. I for one am grateful for his watchful eyes on you.”
Zipporah narrowed her gaze.
Her mother took her by the shoulders, facing her forward again. She sectioned dark hair and started braiding it. Finished, she closed a brass cylinder around the end.
“We better hurry, or we’ll be late for Mass.” Lady Havendell said. “When you leave the grounds with Gilburn, stay mounted. If he asks you to dismount, pretend you’ve lost control of your gelding and come straight home again.” She paused. “I’ll have one of my personal guards ride out with you.”
“Thank you.”
“I eluded my share of suitors in my day.”
Zipporah looked herself over, frowning at her burgundy kyrtle. It was soft and hugged her hips nicely. She shook her head. “Help me out of this.”
“But why?”
“I’ll wear my dull brown kyrtle instead.”
“But there’s a tear in the sleeve.”
Zipporah gritted her teeth. “It’s a small tear. I don’t want to look attractive.”
“I don’t think your choice of attire will make any difference to Gilburn, but if you want to then I’ll help you.”
Zipporah loosened her laces then lifted her arms so her mother could pull the sleeveless garment over her head. “We should send a message to Ravenmore. I’d feel better if Peter knew I was out with Gilburn.” She stopped herself. “Did I just say that out loud?”
“Yes.” Her mother smiled.
“I meant John. I meant to say John, not Peter.”
“Mmm…”
“I did.”
“As you say, daughter.”
Lady Havendell helped her into the brown kyrtle. The fabric was threadbare in places, but the flaxen shift she wore beneath was thick enough that it didn’t matter.
“Be careful what you say to Gilburn today,” Lady Havendell warned her. “He’ll take every word seriously. Anything you say could further encourage his attachment.”
“Be aloof then?”
“Very aloof.”
Darcy Branwyn 
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