Page 42
“Hm.” A grin crept across his face. “Your bar for trusting someone is unsurprisingly low.”
“I’ve barely been sleeping lately, so I’m bound to make a few deranged decisions.”
“Since when have you ever needed an excuse?”
He expected her to quip something back, but instead, Perine shifted beside him, silent. Oleander cracked an eye open and found her head turned towards him, watching him. Her enormous lavender eyes brimmed with something unreadable—a myriad of emotions flickering behind them.
“You—” she began, then faltered. He turned at the sudden break in her voice, only to find a plum-coloured flush creeping steadily across her cheeks. In a choked voice she said, “You seem to enjoy, um, jewellery. You know, rings and things like that. That is, you wear jewellery and I noticed you’ve got quite a collection of enchanted jewellery and… I thought, maybe, you’ve perhaps got a book or two about that subject in Brightmore manor that you might let me borrow?”
“You want a book about my rings?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“You want a book about my collection of enchanted jewellery?”
“Gods below, no!” She let out a strangled laugh. “I just need a book on spellbound jewellery. Actually, preferably mythical jewellery…with a focus on earrings that may have been lost or stolen.”
“Is that all?” he asked sardonically.
A gigantic smile spread across her face. “Wait, you mean I’m allowed to take more than one book?” He did not mean that, only she was too happy now to correct her assumption. “Well then, I also would love a book on the Cursed Bargain.”
Oleander gave her a long, incredulous look before answering slowly. “I can guarantee we do not have any books on that. The, um, jewellery? Maybe. I can have a look.”
“Would you, really?” His eyes dropped to where the neckline of her shirt had shifted just enough so that he could see the barest edge of her collarbone. There was a chance he’d be able to see more of that collarbone if he brought back books to her liking.
“Yes, alright. But I think it’s better if I go look alone.”
Perine looked at him sidelong. “And… will you also be bringing some tea with you?”
“I’m sorry.” An incredulous laugh burst out of him. “You barged into my room, and now you’re demanding hospitality?”
“Well, I am a guest, and it would be polite to offer me some—” she hedged.
“Oh, go lick rust, you little shoe thief! I’m not offering you tea.” Oleander rolled off the bed, grabbed his knitting, and stomped off to put it away.
“Hey!” Perine shouted after him indignantly. “You said they were a gift!”
She scrambled off the bed in pursuit.
Oleander scoffed. “Yes—after you had already stolen them!”
“Alright then,” she said, her tone turning imperious. “But you must admit, it would be appropriate to offer me some tea now that I’m here.”
He couldn’t see her, but he could practically feel her standing there with her hands on her hips. Something about her bossing him around made him preen internally—made him feel itchy, restless, eager to earn her approval. He pushed that thought aside.
She was betrothed.
Then he remembered the possibility of getting to see a bit more of her rather lovely collarbone.
Perine was directly behind him now as she continued, “I heard that you were looking for a sort of spiced chocolate tea and brought something from my favourite tea shop that I think you’ll really enjoy. A peace offering for my intrusion, if you will. Also, I brought some warm jian dui in that basket. I was going to share them with you, but to properly enjoy them, we’ll need hot water.”
He turned to face her and she poked him in the stomach with a demanding finger, before continuing to harangue him. “Which means you need to prepare some. Then we can chat and be friendly.”
“Fine,” he said, making sure his annoyance was palpable.
“Fine,” Perine clipped back.
Their bodies were now close enough that he could smell the soap she used—like a deep summer night, bright notes of gardenia, sage, and sandalwood.
