She slowly moved away from him, so she could breathe much easy. It was not that he was so big and did not give room for air circulation. But rather the fact that his closeness, the scent of him, and the way he looked at her made her forget how to breathe. It made her lose track of her thoughts as well.
“I see you haven’t heard the tale of the redheaded gypsy then.” She said lightly and turned to the broth that simmered, trying to gather her wits. She was always losing herself in the man’s presence which was –to her thinking– enough reason to be happy that he would be living in her other cabin very soon.
Blessed be God!
“And what exactly is that? What exactly is the take of the redhead?” She turned to him at his question, searching for her confidence.
“She’s a witch and legend has it that her beauty is beyond alluring. And to the men who made the mistake of falling for her, they were doomed.” A slow smile grew, spreading across his face and he rose a teasing brow.
“What makes you think I don’t want to be doomed?” She looked at him, aghast at his response, and then burst into laughter. And she found that she was grateful. Grateful that he could take her from nervous and weary one moment and able to laugh, the very next.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you though.” She said and sighed. “So about your cousin.”
He blew out a breath,
“Right. You spoke of someone who could get to her.”
“I did, I can. I will. As soon as possible.” She said and grew sober.
“I see the worry etched in your brows,” and the worry in your eyes, she thought, but didn’t voice that part.
“I care for her. I’m supposed to worry. And for being willing to drive that worry away, I’m incredibly grateful.”
“I don’t know… something tells me you would do the same.” He regarded her for a moment and shook his head,
“I’m supposed to be running away from redheaded witches.” She froze for a moment and then remembered the tale she had told him,
“Yes, Alexander of Derbyshire. Yes, you should. But as it is, you’ve fallen into the hands of this particular redhead. So deal with it.”
“Feisty too.” He said under his breath and took his seat at her island.
“I heard that.” She said and shook her head when he only grinned. She turned back to her cooking and added the final touches while they both stayed in the same place in companionable silence.
But she couldn’t help but wonder at the story she’d told him, remembering the way she froze when he called her what she was. She was playing with fire, she knew that. But could only pray that when the time came for reckoning, she wouldn’t get burned.
~*~*~*
Alexander was still with her in the kitchen When dinner was ready and surprised her by helping her get plates out of the cabinet.
“It’s wonderful really, how you know where everything is in this house.” He smiled at her words and shrugged,
“You have to know the grounds you are in.”
“You make it sound like we’re planning for a battle.”
He shrugged again, “lately, it feels like I should.”
She looked at him for a moment and wondered if somehow he could sense the sign of the times, if he indeed could sense what was to come and if she was to tell home what she knew. But to tell him what she knew, was to tell him what she was, and she wasn’t prepared for that. So she had to let it go. At least for that moment.
The right time would come, she promised herself. And she would tell him everything.
“I’ve worried you.” He said, looking at her with kindness.
“No, it’s okay.” He walked toward her and placed a hand on her cheek, and in as much as she wanted to fight her body’s response to him, she had to accept defeat and lean into his touch.
“You’re clammy, Layla.” she was, she didn’t try to object, but instead sighed and stepped away from his touch. She couldn’t take what she was realizing that she yearned for. For if indeed, one thing lead to the other, then they were probably not restful for what all of her feelings could actually mean.
“I’ll be okay. Let’s just eat.” She filled their plates and sat on the island, leading him to do the same.
“I take it you don’t use the dining table much.” She smiled,
“One of the things that come with living alone is that everywhere becomes the dining table, aside the dining table.” She shook his head and took her plate from right under her nose and got up,
“But where are you going?”
“To the dining table. You aren’t alone anymore.”
~*~*~*
She would keep her word, that much she promised herself as she got ready for bed that night. The problem was that it had been quite some time since she had spoken to Edward. She too had a distant cousin, but unlike Alexander, he wasn’t the brother of her heart. But admittedly, they’d had their fair share of laughs while growing up. But with him living in Derbyshire and she in Bamburgh, and the fact they had lives that kept them going in different directions, they were more out of touch than they were in touch. But never the less, they were always there for each other when it came down to it.
And she needed him now, because she couldn’t bring herself to let Alexander down, or worse yet.. let him go back to Derbyshire.
Not when all of his enemies awaited him there.
And if he knew what waited for him there, would he still be so open to the idea of going?
She saw his eyes when he spoke of his cousin, felt the love when she partook in the vision and the truth was, she actually believed that he would go back to Derbyshire regardless. For the very fact that if he knew how much hate burned within them, it would only make worry for her more.
So yes, he would. She thought. He definitely would. And that scared her to no end.