Page 26 of Rapunzel's Gambit (All That Glitters)

I opened my eyes. Griffin, looking shame-faced and wrong-footed, had dropped his hand and stepped away. A pox upon Griffin’s infernal sense of propriety! I was going to do something rash and poorly planned out if I didn’t get some affection soon. It wasn’t like I could get a proper hug from a fire-breathing dragon many times my size. But then I remembered—our station difference would never allow a match.

“Of…of course. I was at fault as well.”

Griffin shook his head. “No. You’ve been through a traumatic experience and you’re not to blame. You focus on feeling safe.”

Just as I was about to respond, the door flew open and a footman came panting in to deliver the message that Donover’s steward was making arrangements for my quarters. A rush of gratitude that Griffin had stepped away swept through my body. As interesting as Griffin was, I wouldn’t risk my plans being ruined by a fleeting, girlish fancy and the ensuing scandalous rumors that would inevitably follow.

“Did you find all the supplies?” the footman asked courteously, pointing me to the cabinet bearing writing slips, ink, and the leather straps to tie messages onto pigeon legs. “And I can fetch you anything else you need.”

“This is perfect, thank you,” I told him. The footman bowed in response and left as I quickly scrawled a message to my father, informing him that I’d escaped from the dragon and was waiting in Donover castle. What would his response be? Did he actually care that I was gone? Or was Father’s offer of a grand reward for my return yet another publicity stunt?

With each word I penned, I felt Griffin’s eyes on the back of my head. Once I was finished, Griffin took the paper from me, his fingers pausing as they brushed against mine.

“I can send that for you so you don’t get your hands dirty,” he murmured, rolling the paper tightly and slipping it into a tube. What nonsense. I was a walking mud pile. If anything, he should be worried that my touch would soil the parchment. He searched the cages until he found one labeledRookwyn Castleand fastened the tube to the bird’s leg.

“Thank you,” I said, watching as he carried the bird to the window and let it flutter out.

“Do you…do you want to get something to eat?” he asked awkwardly. “Together?”

“I’d rather get cleaned up first.” I’d never felt more self-conscious about my appearance. What I wouldn’t give for the enchanted wardrobe right now. Would Griffin have duties to attend to, or would I be able to find a way to keep him to myself for just a little while longer?

His shoulders slumped. “Of course. I’ll call for some maids to help and I’ll go?—”

“No, I meant to ask…have…have you played any chess recently?” I couldn’t let him go, not yet.

“No, not really since I saw you last at your ball. Have you?” The moment he said it, he began stumbling all over his words. “Of course not since you’ve been with…unless dragons could…but they can’t move pieces because, you know…claws. I shouldn’t have asked; that was a foolish question. How have you been lately?” I had to smile as he paled again. “Another bad question,” he lamented. “You don’t have to talk about your captivity—what an uncomfortable topic. I mean…we can talk about…”

“Let’s start with a game of chess after I change,” I told him. “We can talk then.”

CHAPTER12

Oh scales, why was he making this so difficult?

If only I could think of Griffin as my next target or as a pampered royal in need of a lesson. In the time it took me to get bathed and changed then get down to the chess table in the gardens, Griffin had shaved and changed into a clean uniform. His gaze was fixed on the board between us, but from time to time, our eyes would briefly meet, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain focused on the board.

In contrast to our last match, we were relatively secluded, and other than the occasional passing gardener, we were left entirely alone. No crowd gathered to watch us play and rather surprisingly, no one came to check on me.

“I told them you would want some peace and quiet,” Griffin admitted when I voiced my observation, then looked stricken. “But I’m glad to get you anything you want, or?—”

“No, I’m fine here.”More than fine, I added in my mind.

This time, Griffin delivered checkmate without hesitation.

“Good game,” I told him, automatically reaching my hand out to shake his. He took it, not flinching at all from my cold fingers, and didn’t let go. The seconds stretched longer and longer, but neither of us broke contact. Normally, it was easy to think of things to say when it came to conversing with men, but with Griffin, I found myself tongue-tied.

His gaze dropped to study my hands, and he shifted his grip so he was able to examine my hands, then swallowed so hard that I saw his throat convulse. “Your…your nails are very nice,” he told me, tracing his finger along the manicured edges. “They’re very strong. That must come in very handy when you need to…to pick out a wrong stitch or…or scratch an itch or something.”

Oh, the sweet man. He had absolutely no idea how to woo women, but I left my hand in his grasp all the same.

“I’m glad you didn’t let me win this time,” I said quietly. The only sounds were of the fountain’s trickling water and birds chirping merrily to each other as they fluttered about in the gardens.

“I always appreciate a worthy opponent. I’m sure you’ll get me next time.”

Next time. He wanted to see me again. What if I told Father that Griffin was responsible for my rescue? By Father’s own decree, if Griffin was a nobleman, he would have been given my hand in marriage. What would happen if someone who wasn’t of noble birth rescued me? Unease knotted behind my sternum. I found Griffin attractive and I admired his prowess in chess, and I’d allowed myself a few harmless daydreams, but that didn’t mean I actually wanted to marry him. I barely knew him. If Father’s decree was to be followed, Griffin would have to kill Pollox, and I didn’t want that to happen either. If Father had me marry anyone, it would probably be the obnoxious knight who’d rescued me.

Guilt nudged me. I hadn’t really thought about the knight once since seeing Griffin, and he was still captured. Quite selfishly, after how I’d been treated, I didn’t care if the knight was comfortable at all. Let him fret. Pollox would be coming back soon, demanding a ransom. How long did I have with Griffin before that happened?

A gardener walked past, and Griffin hastily released my hand. “I need to ask you if the dragon has any weaknesses I should know about,” he said.

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