Page 85 of Play On

Noah actually considered me pointing out that he’s not responsible for the tragedy that destroyed his family agift.

I think I just fell a little bit in love with you.

He clears his throat. “I know we don’t have the falcon experience until this afternoon, so I was thinking you could show me more of the art in the house. The pieces you love and the ones with the best stories. I told you I haven’t seen much art before, but I want you to see the art that matters to you. Would that be okay?”

And there goes another piece of my heart to Noah.

“I’d love to,” I say.

I lead him out of the library, and we put our shoes back on. As we head down the empty hall, talking and laughing, I can’t help but think of how much of my heart he won right there in the library.

The only question is, how much more of it will he earn before the day ends?

* * *

“This is Rex,” Luke explains, moving towards Noah with a falcon on his arm. “For now, keep your hand down. Because when you lift your hand up, that’s a signal for Rex to come to you, mate.”

I can’t stop smiling as I watch Noah. The last tours have gone through the house and gardens, and now we’re standing outside next to the aviary, and it’s just me, Noah, and Luke, getting ready to have an adventure with Luke’s falcons. The sun is gentle and warm, and the sky overhead is still a brilliant shade of blue. As the breeze blows, the scent of roses and lilacs mingle together, perfuming the air with the smell of summer.

Today has been the best day. The BEST. We spent the rest of the morning looking at art, and Noah was truly impressed with my knowledge about the pieces in the house—both the history of them and how to repair things that are getting worse for wear. I showed him oil paintings, tapestries, sculptures … and he was engaged and listening the whole time.

Noah actuallycared.

And even better than that?

He considered my expertise of the art at Wintersmith Hall to bebrilliant.

Noah used that exact word. Actually, I think I have the phrase recorded in my head so I can keep it forever as a memory.

“You’re brilliant with this, Violet.”

Goosebumps appear on my skin as I recall the moment. I was explaining why tapestries were used in old homes, showing him one that was in the private portion of the estate. I said they were used to keep the room warm, which surprised him. Then I showed him how they become damaged over time, pointing out fading on the pattern to him and how it’s definitely something that needs to be repaired. When I told him the red floral border gave it away that it was made in Brussels, he looked at me in complete amazement and said that magical sentence.

He thinks I’m brilliant.

I practically floated through the rest of the morning on those words.

At midday, we had lunch at the café. Nicholas and Amelia joined us, and it turned out to be a lot of fun. We’ve already made plans to have dinner with them on Friday night.

But now is proving to be my favourite part of the day.

Because I’m watching Noah do falconry. I’m filming it with my phone, so he can have the experience recorded for him. He already has a falconry glove placed on his right hand, and his whole face is lit up in excitement.

“Okay,” Noah says, making sure his right hand is down by his side.

“I’ll tell you exactly what to do,” Luke says. “Now I’m going to let him go. Most likely he’ll fly to the top of the aviary—he loves that spot.”

He releases Rex, who takes off right to the highest peak of the aviary, effortlessly landing there.

“He went just where you said he would,” Noah says. “Look at him up there.”

“I’m the falcon whisperer,” Luke jokes. “No, really, he’s my bird and I know him. That’s one of his favourite spots. Now I’m going to walk you through what to do, but don’t do it yet.”

“Got it.”

“When I tell you to, I’m going to ask you to put your glove up. Then I’m going to put a piece of meat on it and Rex will come right to you.”

“Okay.”

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