Page 29 of War Bound

Farrendel tipped his chin in his small nod and rocked back and forth. “Where do you find food in the morning? You do not have a cold cupboard.”

As much as she wanted to lie in the warmth for a while longer, she had too much to do. She pushed off the covers and slid her feet over the edge of the bed. “We either have to ask a servant to fetch a breakfast tray or there is always a breakfast laid out in the dining room for my family to eat if we wish.”

“Your servants make even your breakfast for you?” Farrendel still sat on the end of the bed, elbows on his knees.

“Human royalty is less self-sufficient than elven royalty.” Essie yawned and tiptoed across the rugs to her wardrobe. The day would be packed with diplomatic meetings so she probably should wear a dress, not tunic and pants. That would scandalize a few people, and scandalizing the old fuddies in Parliament would not help their cause.

She pulled out her midnight blue elven-style dress and laid it out on the bed. “If you want to take a minute to wash up, we can go down to breakfast. If you’d prefer, I’ll ask one of the servants to deliver a tray of food for you tomorrow morning so you don’t have to wait so long for breakfast.”

“Do not make more work for them on my account.” Farrendel slid to his feet.

It wasn’t much extra work for them to load some of the food they were already setting out in the dining room and bring the tray to their room. At least, she didn’t think it would be, especially since they were probably making special, less-seasoned food for the elves anyway. She would ask Chef Figo next time she stopped by the kitchen.

Farrendel padded into the attached water closet, only to come back out a few seconds later. “You do not have a shower spigot.”

“No, we humans just figured out running water a few years ago, so we only added a faucet to the bathtubs we were already using. Maybe eventually your elven showers will catch on here, but right now, everyone still bathes in a tub.” A long soak in a tub. How she’d missed it over in Estyra.

Farrendel cocked his head, eyebrows scrunched together. “How do you wash your hair?”

Now Essie understood his puzzlement, beyond the cultural difference. His hair was just as long as hers, and, if she’d learned anything about elves in the past few months, their long hair was significant to them.

“Well, usually I wash my hair separately and sometimes have a maid help.” Essie had to bite her lip to stop her grin, waiting for Farrendel’s reaction.

The slight widening of his eyes, his raised eyebrows, and the half a step back was the most scandalized shock she’d ever seen on him. His nose even wrinkled a bit, as if in pure disgust at the thought of some random servant helping to wash his hair.

She could offer to help with his hair, but she didn’t think they were quite there yet. They had just started sharing a room and a bed a few days ago. There were still personal space boundaries neither of them was ready to cross yet.

“Or”— Essie had to smother a laugh at the way his shoulders relaxed a fraction at just the thought of having another option— “I kneel next to the tub and stick my head under the faucet. Not as easy as your elven showers, but it works.”

That wrinkle was back on his nose again. She might have to scandalize him more often if he looked this adorable doing it.

With a straightening of his shoulders as if going into battle, Farrendel disappeared into the water closet again.

Essie changed into the blue dress and took a seat behind her dressing table. In Estyra, she’d taken to wearing her hair down and loose in the elven style, but here in Winstead Palace, she probably should pin her hair up. Especially since they were going to face Parliament today.

Without a maid to help her, the style wouldn’t be as elaborate as it could be. But Essie’s personal maid had taken the opportunity of Essie’s marriage to finally admit her feelings for a certain footman, and they’d gotten married only a week after Essie had. She wished her all the best and would have to send a wedding present.

Essie probably could’ve asked for another maid, but it wouldn’t be nice to temporarily promote someone to lady’s maid, only to demote them once Essie returned to Estyra. Besides, Farrendel was already edgy. They didn’t need a maid adding more to his discomfort.

Still, a maid’s help would have been nice. Essie jabbed another pin into her hair, trying to get it to stay in place. One downside of the magical elven conditioner was that it made her hair so sleek and soft that it kept sliding right out of the pins instead of staying in place. She’d even skipped washing it the night before since dirty hair stayed in pins better.

She tried to ignore the splashing and thumping coming from the water closet. At least Essie knew Farrendel could swim. He wasn’t likely to drown.

As she added what she hoped was the last pin to her hair, Farrendel trooped from the water closet, wearing his silver tunic and trousers. His hair lay washed and wet down his back.

“I see you didn’t drown.” Essie swiveled in her chair and stood, grinning.

“No.” The scathing look he sent toward the bathtub suggested it had been a hard-fought battle. But when he glanced back at her, his gaze was soft, searching. “Is this what it was like for you in Estyra? Always...” he paused, as if unsure how to word what he was thinking and feeling, “...out of place?”

What should she say? She had been determined to adapt and claim Estyra as her home, and that had helped with some of the awkwardness. Farrendel didn’t have the pressure to try to make Winstead Palace his new home. He knew he was just visiting for a short time. And he, at least, could understand the conversations around him. Essie hadn’t even had that when she’d first arrived in Estyra.

Essie joined him and threaded her fingers with his. “It was tough, at first. I was glad you were patient and helpful when I didn’t know what was going on or even what everyone was saying. I just muddled through it and tried not to care what anyone thought. That’s how I tackle most things in life, to be honest.”

“I knew it was difficult for you, but I did not understand what it was like. I am sorry.” Farrendel hesitated, then wrapped his arm around her in a stiff attempt at a quick hug.

“You helped a lot, answering all my endless questions. Don’t be afraid to ask. I won’t laugh. Much.” Essie couldn’t help but grin. He already had asked questions when confused by Escarlish culture. At least their relationship was at a point where they felt comfortable asking each other random questions without censure.

“If there is anything you wish to transport to Estyra to make it feel more like your home, then please do.”

---