She pointed to her temple and twirled her finger. “You know…nuts…mad.”
“Mad, aye. I’m mad. I thought it might be you…” He smiled and shook his head. “…but no. ’Tis me.”
“Oh gosh, what am I laughing at?” she suddenly lamented. She lifted her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. “My life as I knew it, is over.”
He looked around to see if anyone heard it. “Miss—”
“Yes. Yes, I know.” She lifted her head and whispered. “I’ll be quiet about it.”
“’Tis for your own good.”
He couldn’t forget his results from today. No one knew her. No one had lost her. Kestrel. What kind of name was it?
“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you,” she told him with excitement now etching her face. “I remembered the name on the brooch!”
“What was it?” he asked, swearing at himself silently for enjoying her company so much. He could sit here and listen to her for the rest of the night.
“Pendragon.”
He raised a brow. “Arthur?”
“You’ve read of him?”
He nodded. “I have a copy of Monmouth’sHistoria regum Britanniae.”
He was sure her eyes just misted over.
“I have a library. You have not seen it?”
“No,” she breathed, “I would love to though. I’m a historian,” she leaned in and whispered to him. “I’ve never seen such an early edition. My heart is pounding.”
He had the insane urge to grin at her and not stop. “Your cheeks are flushed.”
They grew even redder.
He wished they were alone.
“I have many volumes that will interest you. No originals, of course, but I do know the king.”
She laughed, and if they were alone, he might have laughed with her.
He had the servers bring them wine. They drank and she kept smiling when she caught his eye, or he caught hers. He didn’t smile back. He tried to remain strong and in control, but he hadn’t made it one day avoiding her, without falling under the spell of her eyes, or her voice, or the soft flush of her cheeks.
“Come.” He finished what was in his cup and stood up. “I will take you to my library.”
She practically leaped into his arms. “Ready!”
“Did you like your cupcake?” she asked him as he led her to the castle.
“I’m saddened that there were no more. I could have eaten another one or two.”
“I’ll bake more if Cook lets me,” she promised.
“You will tell me if he causes you any trouble.”
“He was grouchy when I started but he came around. We’re friends now.”
He was glad she was making friends, but if she trusted someone enough to tell them…