“What are you doing here?” He closed the book and put it down on the table beside the couch.
“I was bored…” Another step into the reading room.
“And your mother?” he asked. “Where is she?”
The little girl giggled. “She thinks I am napping. I was napping…” she added, as if she needed him to know. “But I woke up and… and… and…” She looked about the reading room, her eyes growing wide. “What is this room? It’s scary.”
He could see why she would think that. It was small in size, but the ceiling was high, and the light was so dim that most of itsat in darkness. The only real piece of furniture was the couch on which Ronan sat, positioned by the hearth; the fire dim and crackling softly.
“You don’t seem very afraid,” he said.
“Why would I be?” Her smile grew. “You are here.”
Ronan felt it then, his chest turning suddenly tight. It was as if a hand grabbed his heart and squeezed it and he buckled, not understanding what it was or how it had happened.
He studied the little girl, a smile tugging at his lips. It wasn’t enough that she did not fear him, but that she thought of him as a protector… again, his chest tightened.
“Olivia!” a voice cried from outside the room.
Olivia’s eyes widened and she spun about just in time to see her mother sweeping into the room. And unlike the little girl, her mother looked very much afraid.
“What are you doing in here?” She was quick to grab her daughter and lift her into her arms, then holding her tight to her chest as if to keep her safe. “What did I tell you?”
“I was just exploring,” Olivia said with a giggle.
“I told you…” She held Olivia out so she could look into her eyes. “You are not to go down this end of the castle. No matter what.”
“Why?” Olivia asked. “I thought this was my home.”
Thalia grimaced. “It is. But…” She looked past her daughter to find Ronan watching them. “His Grace is busy, and he doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”
“He is only reading,” she said. “I think he’s bored.”
“This is not a conversation,” she said firmly before looking at Ronan again. It did not escape him that, unlike Olivia, Thalia was careful not to wander too far into the room. “I am so sorry,” she said. “I thought she was napping.”
Ronan very nearly told her that it did not bother him. And he found as he almost said those words that it was the truth. Despite how much he relished his alone time, there was something about that tiny interaction that left him feeling… good. Even happy.
But he pushed down that response before it escaped his lips.
“I would ask that you keep an eye on her from now on,” he said, hating himself the moment that he did. “I am trying to read. Made hard to do when I am asked a dozen pointless questions.”
Thalia’s brow tightened and he saw frustration in her eyes. Anger, perhaps, because she did not appreciate his tone. But shewas quick to soften her expression… “Of course. I will do better to watch her.”
“See that you do.”
Ronan made sure to be looking right at her as he spoke, his voice a low growl, letting the finality of the statement sit between them. Still nursing Olivia, Thalia flinched back slightly, perhaps not surprised by his words but clearly a little hurt by them.
“As you say.” She turned to leave, and Ronan winced, knowing he’d said the wrong thing, unwilling to do anything about it. Only then, Thalia paused when she reached the door and looked back. “This might be a stupid question but…” Hesitation took over, her chin trembling.
“Yes?”
“Olivia and I will be sitting down for supper shortly. I was wondering if you would like to join us?”
“Yes!” Olivia cried out excitedly. “Do!”
Again, there was the urge to sayyes. He was surprised that she would even want such a thing. “You… you want me to join you?”
“Of course,” she said, even allowing a hint of a smile to reach her lips. “But only if you wish to do so.”
