“Well, yes, it is…”
Caleb found himself in a quandary. Elinor had honoured him with her confidence, and even now he was still somewhat bemused by the idea of elves, let alone the fact that she could talk to them, even though the conversation he’d overheard bore witness to her revelation.
Should he reveal his own secret? And how would she respond?
It had become second nature to him; the smooth and convenient story, the casual asides, the quick and satisfactory responses within more than a few awkward conversations.
But Elinor was different.
Shemattered.
He watched her as she moved along the shelves, knowing now that her apparent enjoyment of his library was absolutely genuine.
“Oh,” she said, reaching for a book. “This one. I have the first volume, and you have the second. This should tell us more about the history of Tylwyth Teg, and the residents who lived here, possibly after they’d left.” She turned to him. “I have to wonder how such a lovely place ended up in mortal hands. If I had been an elf, I am sure I’d have kept it for myself.”
“If you’d been an elf, I’d be addressing their Queen,” he smiled.
“Oh, Caleb. What a lovely thing to say.”
She smiled up at him, her eyes wide, and he sighed. “I cannot help it,” he said as he walked to her. “I shall just have to kiss you again.”
“Oh, would you mind? If it’s not too much of an imposition…” Raising her hand to his face, she laughed as he put his arms around her.
“I don’t mind at all.”
She tasted of sunshine, of woman, and a dash of magic. It was the only way he could describe the delight of being with her like this, feeling the heat of her through his waistcoat and the softness of her beneath his hands.
“Mmmm,” she sighed, pulling away from the kiss. “You do that so very well.”
“Thank you,” he grinned. “But practice makes perfect…”
She laughed. “Perhaps I should practise more, then?”
“But you’re already perfect, my Lady Elinor.” He brushed a hand down her cheek. “Absolutely perfect.”
“My goodness,” she blushed a little. “I had wondered how on earth we would write a novel about Tylwyth Teg, but now I’m beginning to see that it isn’t going to be as hard as I first thought. With phrases like that? I expect it to be a phenomenal success.”
Caleb’s conscience gave him a hefty kick.
“Well, Elinor, perhaps there’s something you should…”
Before he’d completed that sentence, Elinor had leant away from him, distracted and gazing along a shelf.
She clutched his arm. “Caleb. The glowing book. It’s back…”
Chapter Fourteen
This time, both Caleb and Elinor approached the strangely luminescent volume with extreme caution.
Since she’d been the one most affected by it last time, Elinor was quite happy to let Caleb take the lead now. Her goal was not to faint again, but to learn more about this odd phenomenon.
He grabbed a nearby quill and stretched his arm out toward the glow.
“Careful,” whispered Elinor, “please be careful.” She clung to the back of his coat.
“I’m trying.” He fidgeted. “If you could loosen your grip a bit, dearest girl, then I could move a bit more?”
“Oh, sorry.” She managed to unclench her fingertips and allow his jacket to move normally.
