Chapter 20 The Garden #2
Elizabeth fumbled her book in surprise, and it thudded on the floor. Flustered, she bent to pick it up, but his hand was already there.
Caspian glanced at the title as he handed it back to her, raising a brow. “A Knight’s Adventure?”
She snatched it back. “It’s about a boy who becomes a knight.” Her chin lifted defensively. “It’s a good book.”
“Ah.” Caspian offered his arm, his features coloured by skepticism. She accepted it and walked stiffly beside him, her book tucked firmly under her arm.
He appeared to struggle with himself for a moment, but managed to say, “So this book. How does he become a knight? Tell me.”
“It’s a good book,” she repeated, not wanting him to make fun of it. It was one of her favourites.
“You’ve said,” Caspian said stiffly. “So if he becomes a knight, I imagine he is the son of a lord and goes through the process of becoming a squire? Like the knights of centuries past?”
She glanced at him, unsure if he was actually interested.
“Er. Yes, and no. The book is about knights, not just soldiers, but hardened warriors of proven valour that served the crown. And the boy is not a noble. At the beginning of the book, he’s a commoner.
One who is determined to prove his worth to the king to try and become a knight. ”
Caspian gave her a skeptical expression.
“And?” she prompted, narrowing her gaze and stopping in front of the door that led to the gardens. “You don’t like the sound of it?”
“The story is ridiculous. You know that would never happen in real life.”
“And why not?” The condescending look he gave her, with his brows raised as if it was the most idiotic story he had ever heard of, was insufferable.
Rain slid down the windows that flanked the door and the skies were gray and gloomy. She set her book down in an alcove nearby, lest the pages get wet outside.
Without waiting for him, she stepped out. The flagstones were slick beneath her slippers, and the damp air carried the scent of wet earth.
“It’s raining,” Caspian called after her.
“Believe it or not, I had noticed,” she said tartly.
“Elizabeth, come back inside. We’ll go for a walk another time. I won’t listen to you complain all day about ruining your hair—”
Light raindrops fell—one on her head, and another on her shoulder, but it was not unpleasant. “It’s hardly even raining.”
He caught up a moment later. “Fine.” Despite the fact that he had invited her to take a stroll through the gardens, it was Caspian who sounded irritable.
They walked in tense silence. After a while, he broke it to say, “I wonder why you find that book enjoyable, as it is obviously silly and unrealistic. Only sons of nobility were ever knighted, even hundreds of years ago, when knights roamed the realm keeping peace and fighting for kings and queens. Commoners were never allowed to become knights.”
Speaking a tad defensively, she said, “Who doesn’t like a story where the weak become the strong? The poor become rich? And someone goes through trials and becomes the victor? Who wouldn’t be inspired by that kind of book?”
He gave her a look of haughty derision that irritated her.
She shot back, “Then tell me about a book that you like, so I can listen and make the same face.”
After a moment, he said, “I don’t like to read.”
She quickened her pace, storming off ahead. He was forced to hurry his steps to catch up to her.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Of course, you don’t like to read. Why am I not surprised?”
His voice turned bitter as he said, “Not all of us are so privileged to have grown up with reading as a hobby. As a mortal, I was not literate.” His words were sharp, and she felt her face fall.
“Oh. I’m sorry.” She paused, and asked delicately, “You really couldn’t read?”
“Most commoners cannot.”
“I … I didn’t know that.”
She hoped he knew she hadn’t meant to be cruel when she scoffed at him. His face was unreadable as he walked beside her.
“Do you know why there haven’t been knights in over four hundred years?” he asked, his voice dry.
She stopped and turned to him.
“Because, while noble lords enjoyed being called knights and being gifted swords and fancy armour, they didn’t want to die. It’s much easier to give commoners a pittance for gold and call them soldiers.”
“You sound convinced of this.”
“I am.”
“Not all nobles are so self-centered.”
His hair was now damp, a strand of dark hair falling across his face. His brow furrowed. “I have yet to see anything in this life that would convince me otherwise.”
“I apologize, but I swear you’re calling me selfish.” She was a noble, and he knew it. As was everyone in her family.
“I am not.” He dragged a hand through his hair.
“I am sure … that nobles have their own struggles,” he said through clenched teeth as if the words pained him, “but the struggles of being a commoner, and being so desperate for gold that you would do anything, is one that very few nobles understand, and many choose to take advantage of.”
She was still annoyed but knew he wasn’t saying these things to make fun of her. He was harboring some lingering hurt. Guilt nagged at her about belittling him for not reading, so she said softly, “It’s a work of fiction.”
“I just think it’s a far-fetched story,” he said, his expression softening. “And, for the record, I do not think you are selfish.”
Around them, the rain fell harder.
Lost in thought about what he had said, her slipper snagged on an overgrown root. Before she could register it, she was tumbling, and a strong hand caught her arm.
She flicked her gaze from the hand firmly gripping her arm to his face. “Let me go. I don’t need your help.”
She tried to move out of reach, and he tightened his grip. His expression was skeptical as he said, “You’d rather I let you fall, and break that pretty little face?”
She pinched her lips together and cleared her throat. “Er.”
“Well?”
She scuffed her slipper on the ground and muttered, “Thank you, but I can manage on my own.”
“Yes, you managed the duke and your father very well on your own. I believe Duke Howard was cowering in fear when I interrupted the pair of you.”
She stiffened. “That was different.”
“Perhaps I should not have bothered. Perhaps I should turn you out right now and allow you to navigate the horrors of this world on your own, if you are so resentful of my help.”
The words hit her like chips of ice. Without his protection, she’d be defenseless against creatures like the one who had attacked her. But then, would there be as much danger if she lived in a human city, far from here?
Her mind reeled.
She thought about the bodies in the castle daily.
She had avoided other rooms in the cellars, afraid of what she would find, but sometimes she would find herself staring off into space, wondering if she had made a deal with the worst being to have ever existed.
Carefully, she said, “Whatever you think is best, Caspian. If you want to release me from our contract and send me away, I would understand.”
Her mind raced, jumping from one idea to another: the inn she’d marked in Veridas, the state of her funds, the dangers of travelling alone—she’d manage. Somehow she’d manage. If he released her from their bargain—anything was better than winding up in a demon’s cellar.
He surveyed her for a moment. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Me to release you from our bargain.”
She lifted her chin and said nothing.
His voice became bitter as he said, “I will not allow you to leave. We will have our three months together, Elizabeth, and I intend to enjoy you thoroughly before I let you go.” He leaned over her, tucking a rain-slicked piece of her hair behind her ear, the gesture possessive. “Until then, I own you.”
Her lips thinned in anger. “A good man would not say such things.”
“A good man dies fast in a world such as ours.”
She glared up at him. “Well, I happen to disagree.”
“Then I think you are blissfully naive.” His eyes dropped to her lips when she didn’t give in to another jab. “Nothing to say? No retort bubbling behind those lips?”
There would be no winning with him, and he seemed intent on arguing with her no matter what she said, so she said nothing, her gaze turning flinty. She was not naive.
He narrowed his gaze in apparent dislike. “Tell me what you are thinking so hard about right now. Tell me what thoughts are racing behind those sapphire eyes.”
She was silent for a long moment. She looked up, raindrops falling on her face as she realized that there would never be any winning with him.
No matter what she said, there would be no words to convince him that what he said was unkind, so she held her breath.
Finally, she said, “I think that it’s getting dark.
” She paused, clearing her throat. “And I would like to go back inside.”
He raised a brow. “I doubt that’s really what you were thinking, but I’ll indulge you. I’ll even be kind enough not to rip the thoughts from your mind to tell if you’re lying.”
She kept her expression carefully guarded. Waiting for him to dismiss her so she could be rid of him.
He sounded like he spoke through gritted teeth as he said, “I could be persuaded to take you for a ride in my carriage later, if you wanted. Just me and you.”
She blinked in surprise at the offer. “I’m sure you have much better things to do tonight.”
“I do.” He frowned. “But it’s alright.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose upon your night.” Without waiting for permission, she curtsied with icy politeness. “Have a good evening, Caspian.”
She turned on her heel and strode inside, leaving him standing there alone.
Picking up her book from the alcove, she held it carefully, taking care not to get it wet from the rain on her dress.
Glancing back at the door, she saw Caspian, still standing in the rain, his hair damp and plastered to his forehead, staring at her.
She smiled tensely before fleeing to her chamber.