by Berry, Janet
She curtsied and he bowed and then they stood, looking at the door.
Owyn cleared his throat and said, “You look lovely tonight, My Lady. The pins accent your dress nicely.”
Elsa smiled and said, “Thank you, sir. You look very handsome this evening as well. Very dashing.”
Owyn inclined his head and accepted the compliment, his gaze traveling over her, appreciation in his brown eyes. The green silk hugged every curve, the fabric a tease for his eyes.
Elsa walked to the double door of the dining room and looked out, Owyn unable to help but grin as her derriere was framed beautifully by the clingy fabric as she leaned out the door.
She sighed and made a face and he chuckled, drawing her attention to him.
“Did you find something amusing?” she asked.
He nodded and she looked around, searching for the source of his amusement. She turned back to him and arched her brow at him, clearly confused.
“Your face was displaying your upset,” he said, making Elsa blush. “It was very refreshing to see a woman display her emotions.”
Elsa laughed. “Thank you for your honesty, sir. Would you care to sit?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“I’m quite all sat out since I did nothing but on my voyage here, but you have my thanks.”
“Do you mind if I sit? Waiting on my parents to get here can be tiring.”
He shook his head and she sat, arranging her skirts around her so they would not bother her. She fiddled with them a moment more and then put her hands in her lap and perused the room.
Owyn chuckled once again as he watched her, Elsa first inspecting her nails, then sticking her ankle out to check that there was nothing on her shoe. Her suppressed energy was infectious and soon Owyn felt himself beginning to fidget.
“How long have you lived here?” he asked, disturbed by the silence.
“My whole life. My father was born here and was crowned king when the previous king died. He was the top guard in his army. My father was picked especially by the king to rule Dewberdeen.”
She paused briefly.
“My mother actually came from Ciomodors Garden when she was about twenty, met my father, and fell in love. My brother and I came along soon after they married. I have never been off the island.”
Owyn’s brows shot up in surprise.
“You have never been off this island? Even to go visit your mother’s family?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“They always came to us. I envy my brother so much because he gets to go all over the place.”
She sighed and then blushed, looking over at him.
“I understand completely. My brother Oryn was able to go all over with the Keepers of the White.” He sighed and then looked around.
“I stayed home to take care of our family and worked in the mines. When I became prince, my family was taken care of so I was free to travel. My adventures so far have been everything I had thought they would be.”
Elsa almost sighed but she stopped herself.
“It sounds like it was amazing. The freedom, the travel, the ships. I suddenly find myself envying another man. Why is it that we always envy men? I should want to envy a woman for all her adventures instead of always men.”
Owyn laughed outright and said, “I don’t think you should envy anyone at all. You should be happy with your life and if you are not, then I suggest finding a way to change it.”
Elsa looked at him and scowled, knowing what he said was true.
“There are more obstacles than you know,” she said, standing and turning her attention to Lisette, the maid who had just walked through the door.
“Lisette, have you seen the king and queen in the last hour?” she asked.
The petite black-haired maid shook her cap-covered head.
“No, miss. I can’t say I have. Isn’t it nearing supper time?” she said.
Elsa sighed with frustration.
“Would you please excuse me, sir? I need to check on my parents,” Elsa said, curtsying quickly and heading out the double doors.
Owyn nodded and watched her walk out.
What an interesting woman, he thought, going to sit now in the nearest chair. He couldn’t help but be fascinated by the way she spoke her mind. Owyn hadn’t met someone that outspoken in a very long time. He would have to get to know her better. He would have the perfect opportunity while he was translating the notes with her.
While he waited for her to return, he looked around the dining room and appreciated the beauty of the room. Although the room was sparse, with only the long table and a sidebar for the food for meals, the room was tastefully decorated. The walls had a bright but soft yellow on them, and they were accented by a large but not overly ornate chandelier. The long table and sidebar were oak and the chairs were covered in a blue damask cotton, lending a plushness to the chair seat.
He had to admit that while he waited, he was very comfortable sitting.
Lisette came back into the room carrying a small tray that had some tea and biscuits on it.
“Is the miss back? Did she find her parents?” she asked, setting the tray down. “Would you care for some tea?” she asked, holding out a cup.
“I would take a biscuit or two if you please, but no tea. I don’t quite have the stomach to handle it at the moment. My body is still at sea.”
Lisette smiled and put two biscuits on a plate and handed it to him.
“Here you are, sir. May I ask a brief question?”
He nodded and took a bite from his biscuit.
“How is the ocean? I have never been since we can’t really afford to leave our posts for a day or two. Although the king and queen recently instituted a weeklong paid vacation policy, maybe I could take a short trip to the ocean with my husband.”
She prattled on about the plans she would make and completely forgot about her question, gathering all the items together and leaving the dining room.
Owyn just watched in amazement as the plucky maid’s voice faded away, taking her plans with it.
Elsa walked up the stairs and turned down the hall to reach her parents’ bedroom. She heard laughter and squealing and sighed, rolling her eyes. Stopping in front of the door, she listened as her mother squealed again, being shushed by her father. She whispered something that Elsa could not make out and her father replied, making Edeline laugh.
Elsa’s heart squeezed as her loneliness and longing grabbed hold of her heart. She shook it off as she knocked on the door, knowing that she shouldn’t dwell on it. No one answered her first knock so she knocked again, knowing now that her parents wouldn’t be joining them for dinner.
She huffed and headed back downstairs, ready to get something to eat. Her mind wandered back to her loneliness, making her weary. She was tired of being alone all the time and hadn’t found anyone of quality to spend her time with.
There were plenty of men on the island, but none had ever caught her fancy. She had tried to like them, but no one was ever able to keep her attention for very long. The island was her home, but she was eager to go explore and find adventure, possibly meeting new people as well.
Elsa sighed, which she had found herself doing a lot of lately, and looked out the window she had stopped in front of, able to see the docks from there. She had always imagined going sailing and seeing the other islands. She really wanted to see the water purifying plants on Cobalt Lagoon.
Everett had told her so much about his travels that she felt like she was with him.
She shook her head and chided herself for dwelling on something that only made her unhappy. She took one last look at the docks, watching as a ship left the harbor. Then she headed back down to rejoin her guest.
Owyn heard footsteps approaching and stood, straightening his coat. He bowed when he saw Elsa walk in.
“Welcome back, My Lady. How are you parents faring?” he asked, looking behind her.
“They will not be joining us. They are
all right, just indisposed.”
He nodded and went to stand beside her chair, waiting for her to come sit down.
She spoke to Lisette who had come out of the kitchen not a moment before and told her to bring dinner out as her parents wouldn’t be joining them. She walked over to the chair and waited, watching as he pulled out the chair and he sat down.
“Thank you, sir,” she said, pulling out her napkin and placing it in her lap.
“You are very welcome,” he replied, going around to sit down in his own seat, taking his napkin and mirroring her actions.
They watched as Cooke and Lisette brought out their dinner, both very hungry now. When they were finished, Cooke and Lisette both curtsied then left the room, leaving Owyn and Elsa alone.
They sat in companionable silence as they ate, both inwardly delighted to have a guest to eat dinner with.
Elsa sat in silence and watched as he ate, unable to believe how attractive he was. His hair was dark and although not overly long, it was not short either. He was scruffy from the neglect of shaving for the last couple of days.
She wondered if he often was scruffy or if he was clean shaven like her father always was. It aged him a little but in a good way. That made her wonder how old he was. She could only guess he was older than her by his comments made earlier. He also seemed very experienced and travelled.
I guess I should ask if I really want to know.
She ducked her head when she noticed him staring at her and tried to hide her smile.
He smiled at her and Elsa fought the urge to sigh as the smile reached his brown eyes, making them bright and sexy. Mentally, she rolled her eyes at herself and chided herself for being overly romantic.
His brown hair and brown eyes made him look dark and mysterious, intriguing Elsa even more. Owyn was tanned and muscular and he had a strong jaw and straight nose, coupled with high cheekbones, giving him a slightly aristocratic look.
She had noticed his hands had been rough and callused and that showed he had done hard manual labor.
That was probably why he was so sturdy in frame. Manual labor in the mines made mountains of men and Elsa had seen enough men from Malachite Expanse to know.
Owyn wasn’t a mountain of a man, but he was strong enough to protect someone if needed.
That thought caught her off guard, and she almost physically reacted. The thought of him protecting someone was so intimate to her and she was very disconcerted by it.
It was then she scowled, becoming very uncomfortable with her thoughts. She sighed softly, trying not to draw anymore of his attention to her. She pinked a little when Owyn chuckled, shaking his head at something.
Owyn smiled at her and chuckled, noticing her perusal of him. Her violet eyes were something he had never seen before. They gave her a uniqueness he had found himself very attracted to. He was surprised by that as he was used to being attracted to intelligence instead of looks.
Her blond hair looked so soft that he could run his fingers through it and he was honestly surprised by the sudden urge to do so. Her face was rounder than normal, but she had round eyes and pouty lips, tempting a man to kiss them. She had a straight nose and a high brow, giving her a more regal air.
They were of the same rank so he wasn’t surprised that she would carry herself as a lady should.
He watched as she carefully dabbed her at the corners of her mouth, putting her silverware down on the plate, finished now with her meal. The motion was so dainty Owyn had to cover his mouth so that he didn’t laugh at her.
“Delicious as always,” she said, smiling.
Owyn nodded and wiped his mouth with a napkin, putting it down on the table next to him.
“Shall we adjourn to the parlor?” she asked, standing as the dishes were removed.
“I actually saw a garden earlier on the way up to my room. Would it be all right if we take a walk? The weather looks fine out tonight. All that time on the boat cramped my body and I feel like a good walk is in order.”
Owyn saw her hesitate for a moment, wondering if she was going to say yes or not. In that moment, he knew he really wanted her to.
“Indeed, you did. The garden is right out here off the library.”
Owyn motioned for her to lead the way and she did so, following her as she walked out the doors and into the moonlit night. He smiled as he walked out, awed by the view he had of the garden.
As he entered the garden, there was a small patio with a few benches, one of them where Elsa had sat with her parents earlier on that day.
It also had multiple hedged walls, surrounding different areas of the garden. Looking straight ahead of him, he saw a large stone bridge that covered a small river running through two surrounded areas. From what he could see, the hedged-in areas had mostly sitting areas or picnic areas, but one area had a full garden of roses.
“The garden is lovely,” he said, walking down the small staircase.
“Thank you,” she said, walking down the gravel pathways.
“Is that a swing?” he asked, looking over the nearest hedge to him.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, she said, “Yes, sir, it is. Everett and I spent many hours on that swing over the years.”
A dreamy look came over her face as if she were remembering something.
“I used to come out here when I was a girl and hide if something was bothering me. This area used to be overgrown because mother couldn’t figure out what to do with it. Everett found me in here one day, caught in the brush, my hands and face covered with dirt.”
She smiled and looked down at the ground and continued.
“Everett went right inside and spoke to Mother about putting up a swing. He told her that this way I would have somewhere to come, without endangering my person.”
He chuckled and pushed the seat of the swing, the two of them now inside the hedges and near the swing.
“This place must be very special to you then,” Owyn said, his smile widening.
He noticed a small table and chairs and went to sit down, asking, “Will you join me at the table?”
She shook her head.
“I must decline. I am enjoying standing up.”
He smiled.
“It is a lovely set,” he said.
“My father will be glad to hear that. He had it especially designed for my mother. He designed it himself and had an ironworker from Malachite Expanse make it for him. My mother was very surprised when it was revealed; she had just started the design on this area and deemed it would fit in perfectly. That way it would join Everett’s idea and be part of something our family did for the rest. Everett for me and my father for my mother.”
“Your family is very generous to one another, aren’t you?”
“Generous, yes, but it comes from a place of caring about the other people. We found that the unabashed generosity in our family has made everyone generally happier as a whole. So it continues. It doesn’t fix things, by any means, but it can help to make amends.”
Owyn decided he couldn’t argue with that, so he didn’t.
“My family isn’t very generous to one another,” he said, unable to keep from laughing. “Oryn and I have always been rough and rowdy. We always fought with one another. Since he came back from the Keepers of the White, he has been somewhat more agreeable. He used to be much more sensitive about everything. I think the Keepers were good for him.”
Elsa couldn’t help the sadness that came over her.
“I wish it was the same with Everett. He has changed, and not exactly for the better. He is still the same man who is my brother, and he treats me the same, but there is something darker about him now. They did however curb his overly wild ways. There wasn’t a day that went by that Everett was not doing something that got him in trouble.”
“Darker?” Owyn asked. “In what way?”
She shrugged. “I may perhaps have been a bit dramatic about it, but it is true. I don’t think him ruined or anything.”
O
wyn laughed; he couldn’t help it.
She was so blunt and straightforward, and he admired that about her. She was right about being overly dramatic and she knew it.
“I’m sure he does not consider himself darker, but older and wiser,” Owyn said, watching as Elsa started to move her legs, making the swing move but only in small jerky movements.
“I definitely would agree with that.”
Elsa jumped and Owyn was filled with disappointment at the sound of Everett Dormhnall’s voice. Elsa slid off the swing and rushed to hug her brother, relieved to see him home and safe once more. Everett hugged Elsa tight for a moment and then released her, looking over at Owyn.
“Oryn? Is that you? You look much bigger than last I saw you.”
He held out his hand to him and said, “Sorry to disappoint, but I am the other twin Owyn.”
Everett looked at him closely.
“Remarkable. I would have bet my life that you were him.”
Owyn laughed. “To save your life, I would have been him. He would have thanked me for it.”
Everett laughed and shook Owyn’s hand.
“Father sent me a letter after Owyn had asked for his assistance and let me know what was going on. Do you really think those letters are connected to the queen’s disappearance?” Everett asked, looking at Owyn.
Owyn shrugged, not sure what else to do. “The only way is to translate them.”
Everett nodded in agreement.
“Do you have them with you? It might take a while, but I am sure we can figure them out.” He looked at Elsa and winked. “Are you ready, sister? Time to test your knowledge.”
Elsa smiled. “I have every confidence that I can do it.”
Everett kissed Elsa’s forehead and offered her his arm.
“Shall we?” he asked.
“Lead on, my friend,” Owyn replied.
Chapter Six
Everett, Elsa, and Owyn went inside and while Owyn retrieved the letters from his room, Elsa went to get all the materials she needed to use, including Everett’s journals. He had used that journal when he had started learning and had used it to teach her. Elsa considered it one of her prized possessions because of the value of it, both sentimental and educational. If anyone found out about the letters and got their hands on them, then they could have a problem.