Father left that morning for Nimhold. He had some important business to conduct and would be gone for at least two weeks and so I did not even have him to consult with or find comfort in. After spending the morning with the ambassador from Calcedone and his wife, I decided it was high time I get out and do something instead of sit around and wait for Derek to return.
Augusta often made trips to the nearby towns and villages, usually spending her time visiting with the ladies living there and going out on charity rides to pass out baskets of food to the poor and give what aid and comfort she could. I had joined her often in the past and found the excursions to be very fulfilling and had even followed her example back in Nimhold for the past few years. There was nothing quite like the joy of service.
Augusta was tied up for the day but I engaged the companionship of Lord Trellan and his wife, Lady Anne, and we prepared to set off for the township of Ascal.
I was approaching the stables to see that my horse was saddled (I would ride alone while Lord and Lady Trellan would take the carriage) when the door swung open and I came face to face with a very flustered looking Prince Ander.
Prince Ander had left the morning after the ball but had surprised us all by returning the next day. He had originally planned to spend the rest of his time in Chambry with some friends on the Duke of Glasgin's country manor but then apparently decided he would rather stay with us. And by us I mean me.
I was flattered by the prince's attention but after the excitement of the flattery had died away I quickly realiized that he was not the kind of man I wished to be in love with or spend a good deal of my time with. He was naturally good-natured and often made me laugh, but he lacked a depth of character I found essential in any friend, romantic or otherwise. I received his attentions as kindly as I dared while doing my best to not encourage him in anyway. I was hopeful that he did not have so much of his heart involved that he would forget about me quickly when he returned home.
He looked surprised to see me and even more flustered than before. He mumbled something about business and then brushed past me towards the palace. I wrinkled my brow in puzzlement as I went inside the stables.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dimness of the indoors after being in the afternoon sun and when they did I was once again startled by seeing someone I had not expected to see. But this time the surprise was much more pleasant.
"Derek," I said, the joy evident in my voice and expression and quickly reciprocated on his end. He came towards me and I noticed how regal he managed to make his simple traveling wear look. He didn't need the royal regalia to make it known he would soon be king. His every gesture spoke of the way in which he had been raised and the leader he knew he had to be.
These thoughts were soon pushed to the side as he took my hand and bowed low over it before placing a kiss on the palm, as he had done the day he brought me Odette. The strange intimacy of it made my heart race and then give a little jump as he smiled up at me.
"We expected you back much sooner," I informed him. He still held my hand as he leaned casually against the wall of the stable. He nodded in reply.
"I know. Mother had much to say on the subject." He sighed dramatically but I knew it pleased him to know that his mother would still worry over him and wish for his company.
"What kept you?" His eyes narrowed shrewdly for the slightest second before the look disappeared in a pleasant smile.
"Business," he replied vaguely. He gestured to the stalls around him. "Speaking of which... I was hoping you would ride with me. But I see you have some business of your own to conduct. Where are you off to?"
"Ascal. Lord and Lady Trellan are accompanying me but since you were planning on riding anyway, why don't you come with us?" I tried not to get my hopes up but my eyes did all they could to convince him to come along. I was still aching to spend time with him and continue our unfinished conversations, as well as ask him some questions that had been weighing on my mind.
"It would be a pleasure," he promptly replied. He gave my hand a little squeeze and then set about preparing the horses. He had always had a thing about preparing his own horse and no matter what anyone said to him about it he wouldn't change. He would care for and saddle his own horse or he would walk. It was his job and something he enjoyed. I didn't even think to tell him the stablehands could do it but instead leaned against the half door of the stall to watch him.
I asked him about his trip and he gave me a hazy answer about negotating some terms with a foreign emissary before drifting off into silence. He obviously didn't want to talk about business so I let it go.
"I passed Prince Ander on my way in here," I said, breaking the silence as he cinched the saddle up on my black mare. The muscles on his arms tightened perceptibly as he gave it a last good pull and then set to adjusting the stirrup.
"Oh?" was all he said. His face was turned away from me so I couldn't see what his reaction was.
"Yes," I plowed on. "And he looked rather distressed."
"Oh?" again. This time I caught a partial glimpse of his face and I could have sworn he was smiling.
"Did you say anything to him?" I queried suspiciously. Derek looked over his shoulder at me and now I could see that there was a definite twinkle in his deep blue eyes and his cheeks were wrinkled in a smile.
"Yes," he replied unabashedly.
"What did you say?" I had to ask when he remained silent. The bridle was now in place on the mare and he flipped the reins over her back before striding slowly towards me with that twinkle in his eye that warned me he was up to no good.
"I told him he was wrong." He leaned his hands against the stall door just in front of me so that his face was only a few inches from mine.
"Wrong about what?" I whispered. It seemed only right to whisper, since he was so close.
"You and me." His breath raced across the skin of my face and I realized I was fighting the urge to look down at his lips. Again. "I am not your brother," he stated softly. "And you are not my sister."
That was it. The statement, soft and yet so sharp that it nearly took my breath away. There were so many implications in the words and in his eyes that I hadn't time to see them all in that moment but I knew they would have great effect on my heart when I had time to examine them.
For that moment though I was caught up in the fact that he was so close and so far from acting like a brother and the evidence of my pounding heart and racing thoughts only went to show that I was not feeling like much of a sister.
"Oh," I finally managed to reply. His smile widened and he leaned in even closer, glancing down at my lips as he did so.
"I'm glad we're agreed then," he whispered, so close that he kissed my lips with the words. The next instant he had pulled away and was going back to the side of the horse as though nothing unusual had happened. "Shall we go then?" he asked in a casual tone.
I nodded, putting my hand up against my cheek as he turned away to find that my face felt hot to the touch. Oh heavens, how his teasing made me blush. I cursed his confidence silently and vowed I would not let him have such an effect on me in the future.
He turned around and captured my gaze in his. The twinkle was gone but had been replaced with a much softer and yet more dangerous question in them. Something that looked like a hidden treasure that I would see if I only came close enough to look. His eyes dared me to come closer. Oh dear, I thought, he was having that effect on me again.
I grabbed the proffered reins and then practically ran out the door without another word. I needed some air.
No comments:
Post a Comment