I glanced at him, surprised he’d thought of something like that. “Thanks.”
“As I said, your trunks have been unpacked, and your supplies arranged in the workroom. I made sure they followed your notes about proper placement.”
Had he actually paid attention to those details? I’d thought the marriage arrangement was solely about politics, that my personal needs would be an afterthought, if a thought at all. I’d pictured unpackingmyself, struggling to find joy in the task while surrounded by…well,this.
Quandary launched from my shoulder, his tiny wings beating fast as he explored the space. He circled the sitting room, pausing to sniff various objects, leaving tiny smoke trails behind him.
“Is he…safe?” Kieran asked, eyeing my companion with concern.
“Define safe.” Quandary perched on top of a bookshelf and sneezed, sending slender dual flames shooting into the air. “He’s mostly harmless. Just excitable.”
“I see.”
I ran my fingers over a black velvet settee, searching for something to say. The silence between us stretched to the point where I felt the need to fill it.
“I’ll let you settle in,” Kieran said, backing toward the door. “I have matters to attend to before bed.”
“Of course.” Relief and disappointment battled inside me. I didn’t want to spend time with him, did I? “Your kingly duties.”
His jaw tightened. “Yes. My duties. The ones I’ve been neglecting to attend our wedding.”
I bit back a sharp reply.
“I’ll return later.” He turned toward the door but hesitated, his hand on the frame. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but I’ll try to make it bearable for you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Can I have the kitchen send something up for you?”
“No, thank you. I ate at the reception.” Only a few things, but my belly still churned.
With a nod, he strode out the door, leaving me alone in the echoing chambers with only Quandary for company.
He’s hiding something,my companion said, gliding across the room to land on my shoulder.
Obviously. The question is what.
I could swoop around, discreetly, of course, if you’d like. See what I can discover.
I was tempted to take him up on his offer, but Quandary and discretion rarely met in the middle. I wasn’t up to soothing burns and harsh feelings from those he encountered tonight.
Not for now,I said.
He huffed and flew off my shoulder, landing on the back of a particularly ugly black velvet sofa, flapping his wings and shooting flames close enough to make the fabric smolder.
“Try not to burn the castle down,” I said.
I’d never!
That was debatable.
I spent the next half hour exploring the rooms. The bedroom held multiple bureaus made of black wood and a four-poster bed big enough for six people, thankfully. I might not even know Kieran was there.
A sunken tub fed by hot springs took up a large area of the bathing chamber that otherwise held a normal toilet and large sink. A few cabinets lined one wall and had been filled with surprisingly fluffy towels and various soaps and tooth powders.
On the opposite side of the sitting room, I found a dining area for private meals. Other doors from this room led to Kieran’s study, all masculine with books and a huge desk made of black wood. At the end of the room, I took the narrow staircase winding up to my workshop in the tower.
The workshop showed promise. Circular, it had windows on all sides that would catch great light during the day. My supplies had been carefully arranged on workbenches positioned to take advantage of whatever natural illumination day or night might offer. Someone had even placed a comfortable chair by the largest window, perfect for sitting to dream up joy-infused charms.
