Page 20 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"Veronica reminded me that the villagers are going to be setting off some fireworks tonight, I thought you'd like to watch."

"From the village?" I ask, glancing towards the window.

"No, from the balcony."

"There's a balcony?"

He holds out his hand, and I take it, wrapping my fingers tightly around his as he draws me out of the room and into the receiving room. He heads over to two large windows and swings them open, revealing a balcony. Cold air rushes in, but I'm too focused on what's outside to truly notice.

"I had no idea that was there."

"I didn't think much about it," he admits. "It being winter."

"Ah, yes, I suppose that makes sense." I follow him outside and lean against the stone balustrade so I can look down at thevillage below. A bonfire rages in the centre square and I can hear the shouts of the villagers as they celebrate.

Arthur steps closer and puts an arm around me, I lean back into him, amazed at how comfortable it feels for the two of us to be like this.

"It looks wonderful," I say.

"We can go back if you want," he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear in a pleasant way.

"Maybe tomorrow," I say. "It's been a long day."

"That's fair. My father had me working hard once we got back from our ride too."

"What were you doing?" I ask, twisting slightly so that I can see his face.

"Going over some of the details of the trade deal between us and Rajaad," he responds. "We're hoping to increase the trade for spices."

"Ah. I look forward to trying more of their food, it was delicious when we had some at the fair."

"The spices are popular here, we cook with them a lot at banquets. Though to hear Evie talk about it, we're doing it all wrong."

I laugh. "Your sister has a lot of opinions about food."

"It's mostly about things she can bake rather than food in general. Cakes, biscuits, bread, that kind of thing. But yes, she has a lot of opinions." There's a note of affection in his voice. It's clear to me just how much love there is between the members of the Royal Family here in Falhaven.

I run my hand over his arm, the affectionate touch coming more easily than I'd ever imagined it would. I knew that I liked Arthur as a person, but this is something more. It's like it's woken up a part of me that I didn't know existed.

"What are you thinking?" Arthur asks.

"About you," I respond.

"I'm not complaining about that."

I laugh and turn around in his arms, enjoying the way it feels for his hand to trail across my waist. "I don't have words to describe how you make me feel," I whisper.

"That feeling is mutual." He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair out of my face. "I thought your letters made me fall in love with you, but now that I have you here, I realise that barely even scratches the surface of how I feel."

"Arthur..." I reach up to touch his face.

"Yes?"

I don't have any words to say. Not that he hasn't already said. I go up on my toes and press a kiss against his lips. There's only light pressure at first, just like some of our other kisses, but then the urge to kiss him deeper comes over me.

I give in to it. Maybe I wouldn't have done when I first came to Falhaven, but I've been here long enough to know that things aren't the way my mother described them to me. More than that, I know I'm safe with Arthur. It's not just because I already know he's going to be my husband, it's more than that. It's how he's made me feel in the time we've spent together.

His hand splays against my lower back, pulling me closer. I trail my hand over his face and down his neck, feeling the collar of his shirt beneath my fingers. I want to feel more of his skin, even if I don't know what that really means.

---