Page 78 of Kings and Monsters

"Don't be so angry at him, Rosa. He loves you, and if you weren't so self-involved now, you'd see how worried he is about you. He brought you here for your own well-being, knowing that you'd hate him for it." Cecily got to her feet. "Now, when you are ready to stop wallowing, I expect you to join us outside."

After a long, thoughtful shower, Rosa dressed in the jeans and T-shirt that had been left for her and ventured out of her room.

The chateau was beautiful despite the cold winds, and Rosa could see why her mother hadn't been pressing to leave. The place reminded her of Cecily—from the taste of paintings on the walls to the complete Jane Austin editions on the bookshelves.

Bleddyn bought this place for her, Rosa realized. He had retired her early without Cecily even being aware of it, and France had always been the place Cecily had spoken fondly of. She had told Rosa that she had her honeymoon in Provence and had always wanted to return.

"Is there nothing you don't think of, Bleddyn?" Rosa murmured. She took out her phone, wanting to text him, but still too angry with him for throwing her out of Gwaed Lyn.

Rosa heard Merlin before she saw him. Following the noise of clinking cutlery and raised voices, she found them sitting in a hot house that joined onto the back of the chateau. In the middle of the greenery, an elegant table setting of wrought iron and glass sat laden with breakfast.

"I was wondering why we were having breakfast in the garden in the middle of winter," Rosa said, looking up at the domed roof of glass.

Nimue pulled out the empty chair beside her. "Thank the gods you're awake. Save me from their arguing. I don't think I can handle a moment longer."

Arthur and Merlin barely acknowledged her presence as they continued to gossip about a nobleman who no doubt died hundreds of years beforehand.

"If you think this is bad, you should've seen them in the Aos Si talking about when Merlin seduced a giantess and set a hall on fire," Rosa said.

"Is that so? What giantess would that be?" Nimue's blue eyes narrowed.

"You know better than to listen to Rosa when she's angry at me,cariad," Merlin replied.

"Where's Mom?" Rosa said, pouring herself more tea.

"She's gone to see if Dominique wanted to join us," Nimue replied.

"Who?"

"He's Bleddyn's vintner," Merlin said. "This is one of his vineyards."

"One of many no doubt. I should congratulate Dominique for giving some of the worst hangovers of my life."

"He's delightful and very sweet to Cecily," Nimue said, raising a golden eyebrow knowingly.

"Is that so?" Rosa didn't know if she should be disturbed that her mother had a suitor.

"You need to eat one of these, Rosa. I've never experienced pastry like it," Arthur said, passing her one of the four croissants on his plate.

"Does it have chocolate in it?"

"They come with chocolate?" Arthur's eyes went wide in excitement, and Rosa couldn't help but smile at him. They were trying to be normal, and she found her annoyance towards them ebbing away under the force of their personalities.

"Your mother is lovely, Rosa. We showed up on her doorstep last night, and she wasn't the least bit surprised or put out," Nimue said.

"After a lifetime of looking after the likes of Saul, I don't think much surprises her. I'm sure Merlin's manners might put her to the test."

"Not likely, seeing how I have you for a daughter," Cecily said from behind her.

"Hey, you are meant to be on my side!" Rosa complained.

Cecily sat down beside her. "Of course I am, darling, but whatever you two Wylts are made of, it's the same stuff."

"And an extremely charming and attractive material it is too," Merlin said, raising his mug in a toast to Rosa.

"Quite right, cousin," she said, tapping her cup against it. And like that, all of her angry feelings towards him evaporated.

"I amsorry for the deception, Rhosyn," Merlin said hours later.

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