Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 The Tavern on Cloudmere Lane

But her aunt’s mother had refused.

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First, she had said, “How can a woman survive in this world without a husband by her side?”

Then she added, “Your Hale family does nothing but train for war. Today, one of your sons dies in battle, tomorrow another. What happens when you’re all dead? Who will provide for my daughter then?”

At the time, her words had been vicious. But in hindsight, they turned out to be prophetic.

She had threatened to take her own life, forcing the aunt to relent and return home to remarry. Rumor had it that the second husband was an abusive brute.

Eventually, the man died. Her mother passed not long after. Now, the aunt lived alone, quietly supporting herself through the properties she had inherited.

This tavern was one of them.

Elowen often visited when she had time, but she never went to see her aunt directly. She would simply book a private room, order a selection of pastries, listen to the storyteller, and leave when the session concluded.

Today was no different.

But she had barely reached the halfway point of a new tale when the door to her private booth was knocked.

The same young clerk from the jeweler’s shop entered, bowing deeply. “My lady, I’m afraid we cannot sell you the bangle after all.”

Elowen frowned. “Why?”

“A gentleman has expressed interest in it and… he offered a higher price.”

Her tone sharpened. “You run a business, don’t you? I reserved that bangle. I even paid. And now you’re telling me you’ve gone back on your word?”

The clerk smiled apologetically. “The gentleman offered quite a generous sum. And, well…” He hesitated. “Would you perhaps come and speak with him directly?”

Annoyed but composed, Elowen left Sera at the tavern and followed the clerk back to the shop. She had only just stepped inside when a familiar figure entered her field of vision.

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