“Yes.”
“Then how can thisbe?”
Rolfe understood that it was because he had wished for it. He recalled the second djinn’sspell.
And whether he feel good orill,
the palace shall reflect hiswill.
How much could he wish for? Clearly, he could not wish to break the curse, and his desire to win Annelise’s agreement had not readily overcome her reluctance to wed him. This was a matter to be considered later, perhaps on the morrow when he could discuss it withAnnelise.
He did not dare to confide in her justyet.
Not give the rest of thecurse.
“Servants,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I am fortunate to have some gifted oneshere.”
“Servants.” Annelise echoed, her doubt more than clear. She folded her arms across her chest and granted him a skeptical glance. “No servant, however diligent, could have built this bed in the time I wasgone.”
“Never underestimate the skill of a talented craftsman.” Rolfe felt the weakness of the argument but he had noother.
Annelise’s lips tightened and he knew she would not abandon the issue soreadily.
Indeed, he looked forward to hearing what she wouldsay.
“Which reminds me,” she said with another survey of the chamber. “I have not noticed anyone here since I arrived. Not one other mortal soul.” She turned to look at Rolfe, her manner expectant. “Only horses. Where are your servants,sir?”
“Oh, they are here. Perhaps you have not looked in the right places,” Rolfe replied. Unable to hold her gaze—even though he knew she could not see his own eyes—he turned to snuff thecandles.
There was a matter requiring their immediate attention. The more he spoke to Annelise, the more she intrigued him and the more he was tempted to confide in her. They had to break the curse as soon aspossible.
Annelise did not move, Rolfe noted. Nor did she undress. He paused before extinguishing the last candle. “Do you needassistance?”
A gleam lit her eye. “Will you summon one of your servants to assistme?”
Rolfe bit back a smile, knowing he should have anticipated her. “No. It is too late to troublethem.”
“You are a thoughtfulmaster.”
“I dotry.”
She tilted her head to one side. “But it is evidently not too late for them to build abed.”
“It is precisely because of such diligent labor that I would let them restnow.”
“Indeed,” Annelise murmured, eying the bedagain.
Rolfe saw that her concerns were returning, and knew they had to get to bed with all haste. “Perhaps I should help youdisrobe.”
The lady flushed scarlet. “I shall manage on my own. I am not accustomed to having a maid, afterall.”
Why not? Why would she not have a maid? Rolfe did not ask because he had no desire of moreconversation.
When Annelise did not make any move to unknot her laces or even remove her shoes, he prompted her again. “Are you going to disrobe, mylady?”
Annelise lifted her chin and turned to face him. “If I cannot see you, sir, then be assured that you are not going to see me. I shall await thedarkness. ”
There was much to be said for the lady’s spirit. Rolfe smiled as he pinched the last wick and plunged the chamber into darkness. The moonlight did not illuminate beyond the courtyard, which defiedbelief.
