8. Late Night
Colette
Iawoke refreshed from my nap—but then failed to sleep again during the night. Shifting from foot to foot outside the gallery door, I waited for my turn to answer Julian’s morning questions. I had failed the trial and that reminder felt as heavy as my exhausted body.
“Princess Colette,” he called, as Gisela slipped through the door. Her shoulder slammed into mine as we passed and I almost stumbled through the door, but Julian was there to catch me.
“Making a habit of this are we?”
I breathed him in and the scent of pine soothed my frazzled nerves. He smelled of the crisp air upon the battlements and I closed my eyes letting the comfort wash over me.
“Would you believe me if I told you I was actually sure of foot?”
He laughed and the sound had a smile curling my lips as my eyes met his again.
“It’s true,” I giggled and explained to him my favorite pastime at home.
“I find that inconceivable,” he replied and led me around the room.
“It’s my lack of sleep, I promise.”
Julian grinned. “You didn’t sleep again? But I thought you napped yesterday?”
Our footsteps were in sync as I leaned into his warmth. “I did, but when night came—sleep fled again.”
“We’ll just have to try another mattress,” he mused. “And have you been reading?”
I paused in front of a large window that overlooked the source of my failure. “Yes, without sleep, what else is there to do?”
He nodded, a grin still on his face. “What have you been reading?”
“Well,” I looked from the patio to Julian. “I’ve been reading about the witches from Dragon Mountain.”
He looked surprised, his eyes widening a fraction. “And what did you learn?”
I frowned and he followed my change of expression with unmatched intensity. “The witches have been widely mistreated.”
Julian nodded. “I would agree.”
“You would?”
“Of course. I read the same book ages ago.”
“Have you had any encounters with witches?” I asked.
His smirk fell away and a divot formed between his brows. “I have. And you?”
“Yes, I had an incident as a child and was lucky enough a traveling witch had just what we needed.” It appeared to be a topic that caused him great distress, so I changed direction.
I bit my lip and leaned my back against the window casing. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always.” He leaned towards me and I found myself wanting to reach out and grab the lapels of his navy jacket.
“I have drafted a letter to King Odo with a list of things I think would repair the witches’ social status.”
Julian blinked, and then the corner of his lip twitched. “Plotting your victory so soon?”
I gasped and swatted at his chest. “Don’t be absurd!”
His eyebrow arched and his tongue darted out across his bottom lip. I followed his movements and felt a tightening in my stomach.
“You don’t think you’ll secure a victory?” A lock of dark hair fell over his eyes and I reached up to brush it back before I could think better of it. I froze, my fingers grasping the soft lock of hair before I dropped my hand and looked down at my feet.
“I think my chances are quite poor. Given I failed the first trial.” I jutted my chin towards the patio for emphasis, but he grasped it between his thumb and forefinger, bringing my face back to his.
“You failed nothing.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, my eyes beseeching his. There was such an intensity in his gaze, I couldn’t look away. But thankfully he did.
Julian proceeded through the normal set of questions. They were much the same as the previous days.
Although his words had been kind and heartfelt, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of failure that seemed to mock my every step.
The day passed in a blur of garden walks with Zuri, and a jaunt down to the coastline.
There was a nip in the air that forbade me from dipping my toes in the water, that and the arrival of Gisela and Elizabeth.
“Who cares what they had to say,” Zuri reiterated after I told her about the unfortunate conversation I had with them after the first trial.
“It was just hurtful,” I pouted as we walked back through the garden, seagulls crying overhead.
Zuri smirked. “I believe that was the intention.”
“Do you want to walk through the forest now?” I asked, one foot on the patio steps as I cast my gaze towards the unexplored side of the grounds. Zuri waved a fan in front of her face.
“Absolutely not. Are you trying to wear yourself out?”
I bit my lip as a crease formed between my brow. “I’m trying to ensure I sleep tonight.”
Those words were my curse. Three books finished and not a wink of sleep had come.
Moonlight streamed through the open windows as a light breeze ruffled the gauzy curtains lining the hallway.
Armed with my finished books and dressed only in my nightgown, I pattered quietly to the library to make an exchange.
It was foolish or perhaps imprudent of me, to be so scantily clad, but the lack of sleep was causing a lapse in my judgement. It hadn’t occurred to me that anyone else would be out at so late an hour. I hadn’t even passed a servant on my way here.
Candles were lit all throughout the library, their flames flickering in tiny sconces. The book about witches had been so bewitching that I detoured from romances and headed straight to the history section once more.
A green spine with thick, bold lettering caught my eye and I slipped it off the shelves. The title was Goblin Clans of Dragon Mountain. I cracked open the book and my interest was held immediately, because the entire book was written in a language I had never seen before.
I scoured the library for a translation guide and was relieved when I found one. As I had wandered, I found a sitting couch tucked into the corner next to what I believed was another entrance.
The moonlight pouring through the bay window provided adequate reading light as did the fire in the grand stone fireplace. But it was the scent of fresh air mingling with the scent of parchment and ink that settled my delirium.
It was painstaking work decoding the first page and I was so enraptured in the study I hadn’t noticed the door opened until a masculine voice whispered my name.
My eyes flicked up and I clutched the books to my chest as fear speared through me.
“I’m sorry, Princess. I did not mean to give you a fright,” Julian said on the precipice of a chuckle.
He set the candelabra he held down on the mantle and the light illuminated the perfect lines of his face.
But my breath caught for an entirely new reason.
His white shirt was nearly completely undone, gaping wide open.
Chiseled lines of his chest were visible as they met the corded muscles of his abdomen.
The ends of his shirt were tucked into his breeches, but his calves and feet were bare as he strode across the small space and took a seat opposite of me on the couch. I tucked my feet underneath me, allowing my thin gown to cover me more modestly.
However, the movement had one of my straps slipping down my shoulder. Julian tracked the fabric’s movement with his eyes and I felt warmth bloom in my chest.
“What are you doing up so late?” I whispered as if we were trying to evade discovery.
Julian smirked, stretching an arm over the back of the couch. “A Governor’s work never ceases. What are you reading?”
I lowered the books to my lap and traced my fingertip over the title. “I don’t really know. I was trying to translate it before you arrived.” My heart beat a steady, yet rapid pace in my chest, and I worked to slow my breathing.
“May I?” He asked, his hand outstretched.
I handed him the book and our fingers grazed, sending my pulse skyrocketing once more. “Please.”
Julian began reading from the book, his mouth effortlessly pronouncing the words I had struggled to read.
“What language is that?” I breathed, staring at him in awe.
He lowered the book from his face and smiled a breathtaking smile at me. “It’s Goblish.”
“That’s incredible.”
Julian set the book down between us. “Since when do you have an interest in goblins?”
I bit my lip and brushed my hair over my shoulder, the strap of my gown lowered further but I didn’t want to bring attention to it and move it back into place. “There’s just so much to this kingdom I don’t understand. Even if I don’t win the prince’s hand, I would love to learn.”
Julian drummed his hand on the back of the couch and shifted ever so slightly towards me. I inhaled his comforting scent.
“I could teach you,” he offered. “If you’d like …”
I pursed my lips to keep from smiling broadly. “I would love that.”
“This would be a good place to start.” He tapped a finger to the cover of the book.
“The are only two clans of goblins left, though.” A frown tugged the corner of his lips down and I desperately wanted to relieve whatever ailed him.
“The largest clan resides in Dragon Mountain still, they do all the mining of emeralds for the kingdom.
The mountain is long thought to be the source of magic of Wimberley. "
“That’s incredible,” I whispered.
“They’re a very proud folk, and are fond of singing while they work. The quickest way to earn their respect is to learn their songs.”
A clatter reached our ears and I shot up straight in my seat. If someone were to find us here, without decent attire, rumors would fly and I would most certainly be asked to leave the trials. Julian cleared his throat as he unfolded himself from the couch.
“I should take my leave,” he said. Although I had been thinking along the same lines, I found myself wanting him to stay.
He turned around at the door, his hand gripping the doorframe, and I found my attention locked onto his fingers as they stroked up and down the wood.
Something in me sat up a little straighter as the warmth in my chest flooded the rest of my senses.
I held my breath as I studied the firelight glowing across his face and chest.
I opened my mouth to speak, before snapping it shut again.
“Princess,” Julian breathed. “Hope you sleep well tonight.”
My hands gripped the fabric of my nightgown, keeping me in place so that I didn’t rush to his side at once.
“You as well, my lord.”
Then he was gone and I was slumping against the cushions as a breath slipped through my lips.
My mind spun as I made my way back to my room and it was still spinning when the sun rose. But despite the lack of sleep I found myself merrily heading towards the gallery.
The evergreen satin gown Maude dressed me in was stunning and brought out the green in my eyes.
Although, she did find it difficult to cover the blue smudges beneath them this morning.
Yet all of that paled in comparison when I beheld him, standing just inside the door, a smile stretching across his face.
His smile grew as I reached him and it felt utterly natural as he slipped an arm low around my waist.
“Did you sleep?”
I shook my head and it might have been delirium but I could have sworn his smile grew even more before it fell away.
“I’ll be alright,” I muttered. “Hopefully I will nap again today.”
Julian gestured with his head. “Why don’t we take a turn about the room again. But I’m not removing my arm, Princess. We can’t have you falling over again.”
I leaned into his side but gently slapped at his chest. The movement had flashes of last night sparking in my mind. I knew what his chest looked like. Firm, strong muscles, meeting corded abdominals. My tongue darted out and across my lower lip as I tried to get a grip on my thoughts.
“I don’t really have any questions for you this morning,” Julian said. “But I must tell you something in confidence.”
The way his eyes turned dark had my blood heating. “And what is that?”
“I dreamed of you … ” he whispered, his eyes never leaving my face.
“You did?”
He nodded and a lock of black hair fell over his eyes. A groan built in the back of my throat that I swallowed down.
“And was it pleasant?”
“Very.”
The way he said the word had my lashes fluttering.
“Tomorrow is the next trial. Are you nervous?”
I didn’t know how to tell him his words had made me more nervous than the looming trial, but a giggle slipped through my lips and his eyes twinkled. There was something familiar about their shape, or maybe their color?
Julian halted, my face half illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window he stopped us beside.
“Your eyes,” he whispered, reaching to cup my cheek. “Are the most exquisite shade of green.”
My breath caught and ever so slowly, I moved my hand to cup his. There was something so enchanting about this moment. I found all my thoughts eddying away.
“My Lord,” Charles’ voice called across the room, shattering the moment completely. I took a step away immediately, turning to face the window. “I’ve been instructed to move the trial up to today.”
“Whatever for?” Julian bristled.
“The queen believes the impending storm will interfere tomorrow, and wishes to have it today, instead. I’ve informed the other princesses and they are all waiting downstairs.”
There was an edge to his voice and my shoulders raised on their own accord as I turned to face the music.
“I should be right there.”
Charles’ keen eyes swept from the top of my head to the slippers on my feet before he grumbled something unintelligible.
I looked to Julian for guidance and he pursed his lips and nodded.
“You might want to change your shoes,” Julian said, turning to face me. “Maude will know which ones are best. We’ll wait for you downstairs.”
I felt foolish and exposed in a way that made me want to cross my arms over my midsection, but instead, I raised my chin and strode calmly across the gallery and out the door.