CHARADES
A FRIENDS TO LOVERS HISTORICAL ROMANCE
CAMILLA LEE
Copyright © 2020 CAMILLA LEE
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: Oliviaprodesign on Fiverr
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
EPILOGUE
PROLOGUE
"I'll marry him when I grow up! I swear I will," Elis proudly declared while pointing to Francis. Royce laughed at her, but she was used to it. She was almost three years younger than him and two years younger than Francis. Of course, they would laugh. But she knew what she wanted, and by God, she would succeed. Her name wouldn't be Elis if not.
"I will marry him. Just you wait and see Royce!" She stuck out her tongue and ran away, daring Royce to chase her.
Royce shook his head but obliged her. He was already becoming a man as his sixteenth birthday was approaching, but he couldn't find it in his heart to deny Elis. Not now, not ever.
He didn't know that one day, his inability to deny her anything would bring him to his doom. She would be his doom. But he didn't know it yet.
CHAPTER 1
1813
Elis was squinting to get a better view of Francis in the woods. She knew what she was doing was not ladylike in the least, but she had to know.
Earlier at the party, Francis had seemed rather too intimate with a certain Lady. He had even let her touch his hair, which in itself was a remarkable feat. Francis was too vain about his hair; Elis would know since she had been tugging at it for as long as she could remember. But other than her, he did not let anyone touch it. Which is why Elis was not carefully ensconced within the branches of a tree, up enough to be able to see quite deep into the forest. She knew that men had affairs; she'd heard the men in her family talking about their exploits when they thought she was not within hearing range. But she had hoped that for Francis, they were just that – purely exploits. As she had witnessed the intimacy between Francis and a certain Lady (she had forgotten her name), she had realized that it may be more. What if he...? So this was why Elis Spencer, daughter of the Marquis of Rotterdam, was trying her hardest to steady herself in the tree.
She thought she saw a movement far ahead, and she followed the blue material as it moved within a clear view. It was, indeed, Francis and his ladybird. She scowled as she saw his hand on her lower back and she muttered something not fit for a lady underneath her breath.
"That blue looks sickly." She said, regarding the Lady's dress. "She looks much too ill. How could have Francis taken a liking to her?" She gritted her teeth, and just as she was about to climb even further, the branch supporting her broke, and with a cry of alarm, she fell.
Her eyes immediately fluttered closed. Elis thought she’d died, except nothing hurt. Through her fogged mind, she heard a voice.
"Hellish creature," the gruff voice was mumbling.
Elis slowly opened her eyes and realized that she was sitting on something or rather, on someone.
She rolled quickly to her left and onto her side, so she was now at level with the person who had shielded her.
"Uh...hullo Royce," she whispered tentatively, watching her dear friend’s face contort in pain.
"I... am sorry?" She tried, but he would not have it.
"Are you daft? How could you climb up a tree? What if I hadn't been here?" He erupted into a tirade, trying to regain his balance and stand.
"Sorry..." she grimaced, and then he frowned as well.
"Are you hurt?" She quickly went to him.
"No," he spat out and suddenly embraced her.
"Don't you ever do something like that again, you hear me?" He told her, his voice full of emotion. Elis was embarrassed at her behavior. Royce was like a brother to her, he was also her best friend, and she had almost...
"I am sorry," she whispered again against his chest, and he seemed to find her apology satisfying.
"No more antics, all right?"
Elis just nodded.
"I mean it, Elis, no more antics. And you better keep your promise this time," he continued, and she inadvertently blushed. It was true that she had a nasty habit of getting into trouble, mostly when Francis was nearby. She just couldn't help it; she had to get his attention somehow, had to make him see her as a woman.
"Oh, by the by, what are you doing here? I didn't know you planned to attend the party."
"Yes, indeed," he sighed. "I did not plan to arrive, but there were some unexpected things that happened and..."
"And?" Elis watched him with big eyes, her curious gaze nearly bringing him to his knees. Oh, how he loved the girl. No, that wasn't right, she wasn't a girl anymore, and she was almost eighteen."
"I am leaving tomorrow." He finally said.
"Leaving," she frowned. "Where?"
"I bought a commission. I am joining the ranks."
"You did not" Elis brought her hand to her mouth, horrified.
"Afraid so," he gave her a tight smile.
"Why, Royce? How could you? Do you have a death wish?"
"Of course not... I just want to do something that matters. This will give me a purpose. I must do it." He told her in an anguished voice, hoping she would understand. He was just a third son, quite unlikely to ever inherit the title. And
