He had a plan, though. The Fall Festival seemed like a pretty perfect moment to him, especially if they managed to pull it off together. So as much as he wanted to kiss her now, he was going to wait, and it was going to be even better for waiting.
Even if the waiting might kill him.
Every day he spent with Sophia only strengthened his resolve that she was the one for him. He couldn’t imagine leaving her to go find some wealthy lady to marry. The very idea of it sickened him, and that feeling was only growing stronger the more time he spent with her.
He needed to talk to his parents.
They arrived at the library, and he discussed the Fall Festival with Beatrice at the front desk while Sophia perused the books on the shelves.
“If there’s one you want to take home, Sophia,” Beatrice called out to her, “feel free to do so. I’ll put it on your account.”
“I don’t have an account,” Sophia said, “and I have no way of putting up any money for the books.”
Beatrice shook her head. “That’s not necessary. All you have to do is promise to bring it back. And if something happens to it, just let me know and we’ll figure it out together.”
Sophia smiled and turned back to the shelves, and Caspian took a moment to watch her look at all the books. She looked so peaceful browsing through the shelves in her dress and apron, which he hadn’t given her time to take off before pulling her away from her work.
Oh, well. It looked good on her.
The library door opened and the two old ladies from before entered. They probably haunted the library just to see him.
“How are you today, ladies?” he asked, hoping to head them off before they got too vocal about how much they liked him and how much they wanted him to save a dance for them at the Fall Festival.
“Oh, it’s the lovely Caspian,” one of them said, clapping in delight.
Which lady it was, he wasn’t sure. But he was sure they’d tell him.
“It’s a pleasure to see you both.” He bowed in respect.
“So charming,” the other one said as they giggled to each other.
“Can I help you find any books?” Beatrice asked pointedly.
“Oh, no, darling, we were just coming in to see if, well, to see if—” She faltered, and her companion stepped up helpfully.
“We just wanted to come say hello to you, that’s all,” she said.
“Well, hello, Eugenia,” Beatrice said patiently. “I hope you’re having a great day.”
Caspian’s gaze slid to Sophia, who looked thoroughly amused by the situation, and back to the old ladies. But they’d noticed he was distracted, and they winked at him in unison, which was odd.
“I see there’s someone who’s caught your eye,” Eugenia said in a knowing voice.
Caspian refused to look at Sophia. He didn’t want to see the look on her face.
“You ladies have a wonderful day,” he said, doing his best to dismiss them before they could say anything else.
“Oh, you, too,” they said, smirking at him as they turned and left.
“Those two are something else,” Beatrice said with a laugh.
Caspian smiled and shook his head. “I’m glad I can amuse.”
“I think they just appreciate having a handsome young man to tease,” Beatrice said.
Caspian quirked an eyebrow. “They said I’m handsome?”
Beatrice chuckled. “Of course Eugenia said you’re attractive. But lest you think you’re special, they say that about every man in the town under the age of sixty—and most of the ones older than that.”
