Chapter Nineteen - The Reverie #3
He was carrying so much and doing most of it alone. She could almost feel the dark thoughts beginning to descend in his mind.
“Not sure this mutually assured destruction is weighted on your side,” she said with a grin at him.
He barked a surprise laugh and for a moment thought he was about stick his tongue out at her, “ah but I am a Prince. My word has more value than the daughter of a traitor.”
She let out a bitter laugh, “I can’t deny that.”
He winced and his features softened, “that was unkind, sorry.”
She waved a hand, “it’s fine,” she considered it, “Well, it wouldn’t have been fine if I hadn’t heard about the way these people talk about my father,” her hand reached up to her father’s ring, “if I actually thought you believed it. Which I don’t.”
He sat up straighter and turned towards her, looking at her with a curious expression, “you still haven’t answered my question. Why did you come here?”
Because I wanted to know you. Because I needed to see who you really are. And I’m starting too. I’m seeing behind the mask, and I’m terrified because I’m drawn to it. I want more. And to you I’m nothing more than another practical consideration.
“Why did you come here?” he repeated more softly.
She looked up and lied, “I was trying to escape.”
His shoulders dropped, “I see,” he looked away from her and his legs beneath the bench “there is no need. If you wish to leave, then you can. I will-.”
“I don’t,” she said as she turned and placed a hand on his shoulder and felt him jump at the contact.
She withdrew her hand quickly, “I don’t.
I didn’t understand before, but I do now.
And…I want to stay. I think I could help, if you’ll let me.
I can keep up the pretence in court, perpetuate the rumours, and even here,” she gestured out to the gardens, “let me help you here as well,” she turned so that she faced him completely, “I want to stay.”
He did not respond immediately, instead he looked at her with the same searching look he had earlier, like he wanted nothing more than to delve into her mind and pull out the truth.
He sighed and pulled himself to his feet, wincing slightly as he put too much pressure on his wounded arm.
He spun round to face her as she too scrambled to her feet.
“You can stay,” he said eventually, “of course you can stay. And yes, I would appreciate it if you could continue the rumours,” he smirked, “shouldn’t be too hard for you after all.”
“Oh yes,” she said with a grin, “you are exceptionally unpleasant.”
“And rude.”
“And grumpy,” she offered thoughtfully as she took a step closer to her, “so grumpy.”
“A monster,” he said as he loomed over her.
“A beast,” she said as she looked up at him.
The air felt like it was crackling with electricity.
The familiar chill of his skin made her blood rush in a way that felt far from uncomfortable.
It would not take much for her to close the gap.
To reach up on her tip toes and bring her lips closer to his.
She could feel herself even now rising up.
A crack of lightning illuminated the sky and echoed around the cloisters.
The two of them jumped back from each other as thunder rumbled around them.
Dorian cleared his throat and retrieved his coat, “yes, well. That would be helpful. And The Veil…” he looked out at the gardens and turned to her, a touch of nervousness about him, “would you…would you like a proper tour?”
Her heart was still racing. She couldn’t believe what she had been about to do. What might have happened if the lighting had not struck. She was struggling to say anything, and he took her silence to be hesitance.
“No, of course not, of course you don’t,” said Dorian, looking away from her, and mumbling, “stupid idea.”
“Yes,” she blurted out, “I mean, no, it’s not a stupid idea and yes, I would like a tour.”
“You would?”
“I would,”
“Excellent. Good. Right,” he said as he shrugged his coat back on and winced.
“Though, maybe after you’ve had time to heal,” she said with a laugh, “if you give me a couple of days to recharge, I can even help with that.”
“You can? Impressive,” he said and she blushed, “then yes, let’s go home.”
“Let’s go home,” she repeated and noticed the smile on his face as she passed him, “by the way, speaking of beasts. What was that thing earlier?”
“Thing?” said Dorian, confused, as he followed her down the path and back into the rain.
“Yes, the big white wolf?”
He was silent for a little longer, frowning as he cast his mind back to the fight. Eventually she saw realisation begin to dawn on his face. He burst out laughing. No, not a laugh. A giggle.
Goddess help me. He giggles.
“It’s not funny, it was terrifying,” said Rosamund incredulously, but the giggling was as infectious as it was endearing and she found herself smiling.
“You’ll have to tell him the next time you see him at breakfast,” said Dorian with a grin.
“I plan on never seeing that thing again.”
“Oh that’s a pity,” said Dorian, his grin widening, “Sir Wulf thinks very highly of you.”
“Sir Wulf?!”