Page 274 of Kingdoms of Night

“I’m sorry,” she said, coming to stand, which only served to shake more dirt onto the floor. “I didn’t know which room—"

“This is my room.”

“I’ll go to the one across the hall.”

Geraint closed the door behind him with a quiet snick. “Enid, you’re my wife. Your place is with me. Unless you don’t want...”

He reached for the door handle. Before he could turn the knob, Enid reached him. Her hand rested on his strong bicep. The heat of him seeped through her fingertips.

“No,” she said, her voice quiet but resolute. “I will stay. It is my duty.”

Her husband nodded. Instead of his gaze flaring with the desire to claim her and her duty to him, Geraint’s face fell in defeat. Looking down, Enid saw that more of the rich soil had fallen from her feet and onto the fabric to stain the rich carpet.

“I’m sorry,” she said, bending. “I’ll get this cleaned up.”

“Let me.”

His hand came out to her as she crouched. She placed her hand in his. He helped her to rise, then guided her back to the chair she had abandoned at his arrival.

Geraint motioned her to sit, then went to a wash basin. He filled a bowl with water and brought it to her. Kneeling down at her feet, he held out his hand.

She’d seen the gesture in human picture books. It was the way a suitor would ask a woman for her hand to dance, or for her hand in marriage. He wasn’t asking for her hand. He was asking for her foot.

Enid gave it to him. She sucked in a breath at the feel of his rough fingers on her heel. It wasn’t the calluses that stole her breath, it was that delicious heat of his that rivaled the sun. She squirmed in her seat as he wiped at the dirt on her ankles.

“I’m sorry I was away from you for so long,” he said, oblivious to her body’s torment.

“I understand you have your duties.” His motions were hypnotic as he wiped up and down, taking special care with her toes. “If you tell me your expectations of me, I’ll perform them tomorrow to the best of my abilities.”

Geraint stopped wiping. “Expectations?”

“What I’m expected to do here as your wife. My duties.”

Geraint sat back on his heels and regarded her. “I expect you to do whatever makes you happy.”

“Happy?”

He swallowed hard, like there was a great lump in his throat. His hand went to his chest as though he were making her a pledge. “Tell me, what would make you happy, Enid?”

She didn’t hesitate. The words came out of her as though tugged by a rope. “A small piece of land to call my own, where I can grow whatever I choose.”

“Is that all?”

“A friend.” That admission felt like it had been yanked from her chest.

Enid blinked a couple of times, embarrassed about giving voice to that secret desire. When she refocused, her gaze landed on Geraint’s chest where his hand rubbed at his heart.

“I would like to be considered for that role,” he said. “As your friend.”

Enid looked up into his earnest eyes. What she had originally thought was ignorance and naivety, she saw now as a quiet vulnerability. Her husband was guileless. Completely without deception.

Her instinct was to step in front of him with her arms out to protect him against the cruel world. Only the world here wasn’t cruel.

“All right,” she said.

“All right?” he asked.

“I’d like to be your friend.”

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