He hoped this was only the beginning.
“Damnation,” he growled. “IknewI would be found out. Well, who told you? Was it Morgan? I shall have to beat the man about the head and neck until he weeps like a little girl.”
She fought off more laughter, looking at him with great interest. “Is he the one I need to go to in order to find out your darkest secrets, then?”
“One of them,” Caius said, sobering. His eyes glimmered as he looked at her. “Truthfully, all you need do is ask me what you want to know. I will tell you anything, Emelisse.”
Her smile turned warm. “I am sure in the days and weeks to come, I will be asking a good many questions,” she said. “I hope I do not annoy you with them.”
“You will do nothing of the sort.”
“Will you tell me if I do?”
He nodded. “I will pinch your nose and tell you to go away.”
She laughed softly. “I will remember that,” she said. “But I have been curious about something since you mentioned it earlier today.”
“What is that?”
“Richmond,” she said. “Will you tell me about your life there? I could see pride when you spoke of it. Where is it?”
“It is north of here,” he said. “Richmond is a big town, much bigger than Whitchurch and Richmond Castle is larger than anything you’ve ever seen. Winterhold is impressive, to be sure, but the sheer size of Richmond dwarfs it.”
Her eyes widened. “Truly?” she said. “It is that big?”
He nodded. “It is,” he said. “My hall is enormous and there is a massive tower as well, and many kinds of buildings andapartments. You must remember that Richmond has changed hands many times over the years, and it seems that everyone who owns it adds something new.”
“Oh?” she said. “Why does it not simply belong to one family?”
He shrugged. “It is large and strategic,” he said. “It has belonged to the Crown and to various nobles over the years. It is a very popular place.”
“But why?”
“When you see it, you’ll know. One of the reasons is because legend says that Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, sleeps in the caves beneath the castle, waiting to be awakened to serve once again.”
She eyed him, a smile of disbelief on her lips. “Is that true?”
He grinned, putting his enormous arm around her shoulders and pulling her just a little closer. “It is possible,” he said. “There are many tunnels and caves beneath the castle, in the cliffs overlooking the River Swale.”
“But Arthur?”
“Anything is possible.”
His dark eyes twinkled and she giggled, shaking her head at him as he leaned forward and kissed her sweetly on the cheek. It was the first real kiss between them, in a crowded common room of all places, and her smile vanished in an instant. Her hand flew to the spot he kissed, her cheeks suddenly flushed. His smile grew.
“What’s amiss?” he asked. “Did I break something on your face?”
After a moment’s surprise, she smiled. “Nay,” she said. “I was just thinking… it is the second time you have kissed me, but the first time on my face.”
“It will not be the last, I promise.”
“Do it again.”
Now, it was his turn to be surprised. “Here?”
She nodded. “Please.”
He didn’t hesitate. Leaning forward, he captured her lips in his, a sweet, warm, and thoroughly titillating kiss that had Emelisse audibly gasping. When she went to grab his face, to hold him against her, they both heard a voice next to the table.
