(eng) Lisa Mantchev - Theatre Illuminata 03 by So Silver Bright

Author:So Silver Bright [Bright, So Silver]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Her Acts Being Seven Ages

Upon the morrow, Bertie woke with a start. Unable to remember where she was for several long minutes, she stared without comprehension at the grand appointments of the room. The pale-blue silk bedding was piled about her like wrapping paper torn off a gift, and what little she could see of the floor was lushly carpeted. Grasping the coverlet, Bertie wrapped it about her shoulders and slid from the bed, trying to banish the chill in her bones. Only coals glowed in the hearth now, like lions’ eyes peering through jungle leaves, and the fairies had deserted her.

“A good mornin’ t’ ye, lass,” said a voice from the doorway. “I thought I heard th’ dulcet sounds o’ ye wakin’ … an’ by that, I mean th’ snorin’ stopped.”

“Snoring?” Bertie turned and couldn’t help but smile at the picture Nate made in her doorway, filling it almost edge to edge. He’d exchanged his soiled shirt for one of immaculate white and polished his boots until the leather gleamed, though he’d yet to shave. Behind him, sunlight streamed in the windows, gold-catching his earring. He wore a new cutlass at his waist, peace-tied, Bertie noticed, but present nevertheless. “That’s hardly a gentlemanly observation.”

“Neither are th’ other observations I’m entertainin’ at th’ moment.” Uncrossing his arms, he stepped into the room.

It would be childish to scarper, to flee with a squeak like a mouse pursed by a ruggedly handsome cat, and so she stood her ground. “I haven’t time for wordplay this morning. I’ve an audience with the Queen, remember?”

“Ye look fine.” Another step taken to close the space between them.

“Then you’ve gone quite blind as well as daft.” The words, far more lighthearted and teasing than she’d intended, formed another layer of her new mask, one that sought to safeguard not only the thoughts in her head but the feelings of her heart.

Nate must have heard the new tone in her voice; though he didn’t touch her, his next statement reached for her just the same. “Now that Ariel’s back, yer havin’ second thoughts about us.”

She struggled to lift the mask, to give him the honesty he deserved. “I haven’t had time to breathe, much less contemplate you, or me, or the idea of an ‘us’ in any sort of detail.”

“Fair enough, I suppose, but I won’t let ye push me away fer long. An’ let me be clear after witnessin’ that display in th’ trees: Th’ only one I want ye t’ kiss is me.” Now he did reach out, hands finding her waist even under her bulky coverlet, drawing her against him so he could cover her mouth with his. When Bertie glanced at the open bedroom door, he added, “Ariel’s taken yer fire-dancer t’ th’ gardens, neither o’ them wantin’ food.”

Twitching at the tickle of his as-yet-unshaved face against her neck, she issued the halfhearted protest, “Stop making a meal of me and have some breakfast.”

“I’d rather have somethin’ else.”

“Will you make explanations and

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