Pawliday Love

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

I lounged, reading on the settee in the room I shared with Regalius. I barely flicked my gaze away from my book when the door opened, and my husband came walking in. He kept one hand behind his back while he closed the door behind him. I tilted my head to the side, curious about what he was up to now.

“I hope you do not mind, but I got you a little gift for the holidays,” Regalius said, his hands remaining behind him, fumbling with what I assumed was my gift. Surprise washed through me; we had never discussed our gift-giving arrangement, and while I had selected a pair of ruby cuff links surrounded with sapphire stones, I had not the faintest idea he would be giving me anything. I placed my book off to the side, making a mental note of the page I had been reading to resume later.

“That is very thoughtful of you. I have something wrapped up for you as well.” I gave him a small smile. Our eyes caught, we both looked away and then back to each other, our smiles deepening. Feeling warmth rush through me, I rose and crossed our bedroom to my dresser, with my back facing him. Opening the top drawer, I rifled through the various pieces of fabric to pull out the perfectly wrapped red velvet box with a satin-white bow tied neatly on top.

“I hope you like what I picked out,” I said apologetically. I had never selected a gift for royalty before, and maybe this was not as impressive as I had initially thought. I turned around to face him, and I almost dropped his gift. In Regalius’s hands was a tiny black kitten with a white blaze running up its face. A white chest could be seen beneath the red bow it adorned, and only the tips of its toes were white.

“You said how much you had wanted a cat when I asked.” He offered, slightly nervous while the kitten struggled desperately to be free from his hold.

“Oh my, he is simply precious,” I gushed, rushing to the little kitten. Quickly, I traded Regalius’s gift for my own and brought the little kitten up to nuzzle beneath my chin. “It is a boy, right? Or did I assume wrong?”

The little kitten immediately started purring, pushing its little body entirely into my own. I ignored how its tiny claws caught my skin as it scrambled up my chest and onto my shoulder, rubbing against my cheek.

“Yes, it’s a little boy; what do you think you will name him?” Regalius asked while undoing the bow on his present. I mulled over his question, knowing deep in my heart the answer. My husband discarded the ribbon, letting it fall to the ground for a maid to clean up later as he popped the lid off the box.

“These are amazing, Serenity-Darling,” he complimented, picking one of the cufflinks up from the box to inspect it in the lighting.

“You think so? I was uncertain if it would even be remotely enough for a royal.” I blushed, nuzzling the kitten closer to me, his tiny purrs reverberating against my ear.

“Anything from my wife, I will treasure.”

“Even if I gave you a used tissue?” I scrunched up my nose, accidentally jostling the kitten on my shoulder, and its claws dug in. I winced but ignored the pain from the tiny but mighty creature that curled up and balanced on me.

“You actually have given me a used tissue.” He laughed.

“I have not !” My jaw dropped from the audacity.

“Yes, yes, you have.” He pushed.

“When? When have I gifted you a used tissue?” I gave him a challenging look, still shocked by his declaration.

“It was shortly after we were married. We were touring around in a carriage, and you blew your nose. I asked for a tissue shortly after, but you were preoccupied with reading and handed me the one you had finished using.” He dipped his chin slightly while raising his eyebrow. He smirked, and I froze, my eyes going wide. I took half a step back and shook my head slightly. No, that could not be.

“Trust me, when you did so, I looked at you confused, but you were too enthralled by your book to even notice what you had done. I simply chuckled to myself, pocketed the soiled tissue, and reached across the carriage for a new one. You did not even notice me grabbing a new one.” He laughed loudly.

My body flushed with warmth at what I had done. I had no recollection of the incident, but that was not unsurprising. When I was absorbed into a book, I paid zero mind to anyone else or my surroundings.

“I apologize for that,” I replied quietly, embarrassed by my actions.

“Don’t. I received quite a chuckle out of it at the time and again now while telling you.” He smiled warmly, and I sheepishly smiled back.

“I became preoccupied with my gift; did you decide on a name?” Regalius asked, nodding to the purring kitten sleeping soundly on my shoulder. I smiled at my husband; grateful I agreed to marry him a few months back.

“I’m going to name him Mistletoe.”