CHAPTER SIX
Kayla pulled the heavy wooden door shut behind her with a resounding boom, thrilled to have made such a bargain with the dressmaker. She had three hours before her ballgown would be finished— three hours to enjoy the city and dream of all the things she could purchase when she was settled in her duchy. She only wished Brant were there. Shopping was always so much more fun when he was around.
Kayla turned to the right and meandered down the street, glancing in the shop windows and fingering the wares of the street vendors. She turned right at the next intersection, heading for her favorite jeweler, when a familiar form stepped from the bootmaker’s shop and nearly collided with her.
“Brant! What are you doing here?”
The duke’s son smiled, took her hand, and bent over it in an extravagant bow. He finished with a gentle kiss to her knuckles, so much more pleasant than the kiss his mother’s artsy friend had given her that morning. Her heart beat a little faster, and she had to remind herself to breathe when he pulled away. She laughed and threw her arms around him when he straightened, then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m here for you, silly. I stopped by your uncle’s place to pick you up, and he said my father had already taken care of you. I figured you’d head this way first. I know you better than you think, my dear. Besides, my riding boots were in some desperate need of repair.” His blue eyes sparkled as he kissed her cheek, his lips lingering just a little longer than was proper. Kayla tried not to blush, but the heat rose through her pale skin. Brant pretended not to notice. “I sent Joyson and Miash on a little errand for me. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Of course not,” she said, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. They strolled slowly toward the jewelry shop.
“So, what do you think of the ball?”
Kayla didn’t know where to start, so she smiled up at him, her eyes aglow. Brant laughed.
“Why am I not surprised? And your uncle has approved of your staying the night?”
Kayla nodded. “Yes. Dragonmeer is a little too far outside of town to be trekking back home in the dark. It only makes sense that I would stay over. My uncle said he was sure you’d do the right thing by me, whatever that means.”
“Well, he’s certainly right there,” Brant answered before pulling her into the jewelry shop. Father thought if we’re going to have a party, we might as well make it one for the history books. Besides, it’s about time somebody did something good for you, especially after such a magnificent performance. There’s only one catch,” he said, eyes twinkling at her as he took her hand and led her through the store.
“What?” She was too giddy to be wary.
“You’ve got to play for us again,” he said, his face completely serious.
“Of course.“She tried to act casual, as if the request didn’t bother her in the least. She had been asked to play for royalty on short notice before, but not at her own party. That thought was a little unnerving, and the butterflies started up like they hadn’t that afternoon. She tried to forget by distracting herself. Brant was always a great distraction.
They wound their way among the displays, pointing out certain favorites—diamond rings, sapphire broaches, and the one Kayla loved most, a gold bracelet with carved gemstone charms. It was horrendously expensive. All she could ever do was look and dream, and it wasn’t the first time she’d stood transfixed over the case and looked at all the detailed carvings in the multi-colored stones. For some reason it represented everything Kayla’s mother had given up for her.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the storekeep asked, as he always did. Kayla only nodded, entranced by the stones.
Brant shook his head, grinning, and moved to the front counter to speak to the storekeep in low tones. Kayla couldn’t hear what they said and didn’t care, really. She determined, as she always did when she entered this shop, that when she got her title and had some money, she would come in here and buy this one thing for herself as a symbol of what she had accomplished. She only hoped it would still be here when she was finally able to afford it.
Brant wrapped his arms around her from behind and put his chin on her shoulder. “Hungry?” he asked.
“Starved, but I was saving my appetite for the banquet tonight.” Kayla took his arm again and they strolled into the open air. He stopped just outside the door and laughed. “If you’re starved now, you’ll be nothing but skin and bones by dinner. Father always eats late.” Brant rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you run around the corner and get a couple of sausage rolls to tide us over? I’ve got to pick up a package for Father, and then I’ll meet you back here.” He dug in his belt pouch for some coins and held them out to her.
“Sure.” She took the coins and left with one final glance at the charm bracelet through the window.
The pie vendor was half-blind and missing his right leg from the knee down, but could do more by touch and smell than most people could with two good eyes. Even her uncle’s cook couldn’t make sausage rolls like old Mikal.
Mikal’s sausage rolls were very different from those made by other bakers, which were just patties nestled between two halves of a bun. Mikal layered meat mix over apple dough, rolled it up like a log, and cooked it that way. It was amazing. The grease from the sausage softened the dough, and the apple, cheese, and onion in the sausage mix balanced the sweetness with savory. Kayla couldn’t help herself—she bought two, ate one of hers on the spot, and bought another two for Brant. She walked as she ate the final roll and was just wiping the grease from her mouth when Brant rounded the corner and caught her by the elbow.
“Where to now, Miss Kayla?” he asked, playing the gallant that he rarely was.
She handed him the sausage rolls.“I was thinking about a walk through the gardens.” Kayla smiled up at him. She loved the brightness in his eyes and the strength of his chin. He had grown so handsome over the years.
“Marvelous idea,” he responded, and they walked slowly arm in arm through the central courtyard, past the gaudy fountain, and into the portion of the royal gardens that was accessible to all Darthmoor.
As children, this had been a favorite spot for littles while parents were visiting or doing business. She had spent many an evening crouching in the rose bushes playing hide and seek or monster in the dark. No one had ever thought to look for her there, and for some reason she had never been stuck by a single thorn—probably her evahn blood put to some decent use. She missed those days, before she knew what she was and how it hurt her family to be different.
Outwardly, she didn’t show much of her evahn heritage. Yes, she was on the slender side compared to most of the girls of Darthmoor, and she had received plenty of teasing for that. Her hair was light, the color of honey, and her eyes the palest crystalline blue. And though that was not unheard of, it was definitely uncommon. The only noticeable difference between her and the other girls was the distinctive point to her ears, though it was neither as large nor as full as a true evahn’s. She kept her hair long and always styled over the tops of her ears so as not to remind the people of her dual nature. So far she had been mostly successful.
Brant and Kayla strolled through the rose gardens, the delicious scent perfuming each breath. A small group of instrumentalists sat in the middle of the garden and played. Kayla stopped, closed her eyes, and listened to the harmonies they created as they strummed and fiddled their way through an original piece. They were good—very good, in fact.
She stood in silence for quite a while, Brantdevouring his sausage rolls while she listened. He finally interrupted her thoughts by clearing his throat. “I hear the king is going to grant you a duchy.”
Kayla nodded, glancing at the small group before succumbing to Brant’s gentle tug and moving on. “He said I was a little young still, but it sounds like he’s made up his mind.” She glanced back at the musicians one last time and sighed. “It’s taken long enough. I’ve been working at this since I was seven years old and finally understood my mother’s position.�
�
Brant popped the last bite of sausage roll in his mouth and licked his fingers. “I know. I was there when you decided, remember?” He bumped her hip with his own.
Kayla elbowed him in the ribs. Just a gentle nudge, nothing her mother could consider improper. “Of course I remember. You were the one who gave me the idea.” She hugged herself, remembering how young and naïve she had been. “I was never really sure I could do it. It still amazes me.”
“I was sure.” Brant stopped walking and met her eyes. “I knew if anybody could weasel a title out of the king, it would be you. I’ve never known anyone so lovably devious.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Hey! You’re the devious one, not me. I’m just sweet little innocent Kayla the half-evahn, not much to worry about or bother with.” She couldn’t help the bitterness that crept back into her voice.
Brant took her chin in his hand and caressed her mouth with his thumb, raising her eyes to meet his own. Kalya’s heart stopped beating for a second as their eyes met, almost electric, and Brant leaned toward her until their noses almost touched. “There is a lot to bother with, Kayla, and I’m certainly paying attention.” She started to object, but he silenced her with a kiss.
For a moment the world stopped turning, and the skies froze above her. Brant’s air mingled with her own, and for the first time in her life, Kayla felt whole. Brant pulled away much too quickly, leaving her gasping as the world slowly began to spin again. Kayla couldn’t speak. She just stared at him, not sure what to do or say next. Her mouth opened and shut several times.
Brant laughed. “Close your mouth, Kay. You look like a fish.”
She snapped it closed and glared at him, though there was no heat in it.
He chuckled and cradled her face in his hand. “Oh, Kayla. How long I’ve waited for that.”
“Why?” she finally whispered.
“Why did I wait, or why did I kiss you?”
She grinned. “Both.”
Brant laughed, but his twinkling eyes didn’t mean he was not hearing her or taking things seriously. He took her in his arms and held her close, whispering his answer in her evahn ears, and for once it didn’t bother her to have someone so close to them. She shivered at his breath.
“The answer is complicated, Kayla.” Her name from his lips sent new shivers of joy coursing through her. “The biggest reason also seems the most unreasonable, and I’m almost afraid to mention it.”
He was quiet for a long moment, and Kayla was afraid he would say nothing more, but guarded, cautious, he spoke again. “You know my father loves you, much as he would his own child, but he has to look to the future and furthering the cause of Dragonmeer. He made it clear to me early in my life that he expected me to marry well, and, unfortunately, in this one thing I cannot afford to go against him. He would never approve our marriage if you held no title.”
“Marry?” She pushed back a little so she could meet his eyes, though she still stood within his arms. She almost couldn’t speak or swallow for the lump in her throat. Her heart pounded, and it seemed as if her stomach had climbed up to keep it company. “Who said anything about marriage?”
He cocked his head to one side. “Well, I thought you would want to marry me. Haven’t we been the best of friends forever?”
“Well, yes, but you can’t just assume these things, Brant. You have to woo me.”
“Woo you?” He snickered. “Kay, it’s me,” he said and finally let her go. “I know you love me. Why do I need to go through all the silly nonsense of bringing flowers and singing love songs? Why not just do it?”
Kayla crossed her arms and stomped a foot, dignity be damned. “I like all that silly nonsense, Brant. It’s customary, it’s expected.” She was trying very hard to hold her temper. Brant was being uncharacteristically dense. “And how do you know I love you? Have I ever told you? You need to prove these things, not jump to conclusions because we’ve always been friends.”
“You may not have spoken your love, but your body has told me a thousand times as you casually brushed against me, and your damp palms as I’ve held your hand, and that kiss . . . you can’t deny the love in that kiss, Kayla.” Brant gently took her hands.
Kayla blushed, but pulled from his grasp. “That may be so, but it’s not the same thing. You have to woo me.” She shrugged. “Besides, I don’t have my title yet. The king could still change his mind.”
“He won’t,” Brant said, full of confidence. “Besides, I hear he made you guardian over something very special. He has to ennoble you after that.”
“He does?” Kayla’s eyebrow quirked in surprise.
Brant seemed puzzled by her ignorance. “Of course. These kinds of things just aren’t granted to commoners.”
The anger flooded back like a whirlwind. Kayla’s raised brows collapsed over her eyes, her arms crossed again, and she jutted her chin. “So now I’m a commoner.”
Brant’s voice went up a notch as he expelled an exasperated huff. “That’s not what I meant!” He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his dark hair. “Look, can we just start over? I wasn’t trying to get you upset with me; I was trying to ask you to marry me.”
Kayla’s heart melted even though she wanted to be angry with him. He took her hands in his own again and looked at her shyly. This was new territory for both of them.
“I love you, Kayla. Please, be my wife?”
“But what about the wooing?” she asked, still disappointed that he wouldn’t even try to win her over. This was not the way she had expected a proposal to go.
Brant shook his head and smiled at her, then got down on one knee and pulled a small wooden box from his pocket. “Will this do, my love?” he asked, holding the box up for her to take.
Kayla’s hands shook as she reached and took it from him. The hinge creaked and snapped back as it opened. She gasped at what lay inside. Her eyes welled up with tears as she tore them away from the box to meet Brant’s gaze, and then were immediately drawn back to his gift.
It was the charm bracelet. Ruby, sapphire, diamond and pearl, jade and emerald, yellow citrine and moonstone sparkled like pieces of the stars. All the colors of the rainbow and beyond were reflected in the charms for which she had longed. She was afraid to speak or move for fear it would be a dream that would evaporate in her fingers.
“Kayla, I love you more than life itself. Please be my wife,” Brant whispered as he got slowly to his feet, took the box from her, and fastened the bracelet about her wrist. Feeling its weight on her arm, hearing the soft tinkle and chink as the charms tickled one another, made it real. Kayla drew in a breath at last, released it slowly, and met Brant’s soft eyes with tears in her own.
“Oh, yes, Brant. Oh, yes, yes, yes!” she answered and threw herself into his arms. Then she whispered, “Now that’s what I call wooing.”
The moment was exactly right. Perfect.
The Sapphire Flute: Book 1 of The Wolfchild Saga Page 10