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Essie knelt in front of him and gripped his upper arms firmly, giving him a point of contact to ground him as Mrs. Harwell had suggested. She wasn’t sure if this was helping him, but it did help her to feel like she could do something instead of just sitting there. “Take a deep breath. That’s it. Now breathe out slowly.”

It took several minutes, but Farrendel’s breathing steadied.

She eased to the patio bricks next to him, close enough that their shoulders were touching. Yet, when she traced her fingers down his back, he flinched and she stilled.

“No, do not stop,” he mumbled against his arms, still breathing rhythmically.

She ran her hand up and down his back, hopefully in a soothing rhythm. His shuddering calmed back to a slight tremor, then stilled altogether.

After a long, exhale, he finally lifted his head, though he did not yet look at her. “Does it at least look better?”

Essie gently cupped his chin and turned his face to look at her. His silver-blond hair was still slightly tousled, though it looked like it was still trying to part down the center as it had when he wore it long. With his hair short, his ears looked slightly too big, but in a cute, adorable way. His face appeared even more finely angular without his hair framing it.

She ran her fingers through the short strands of his hair, tousling it even more, and smiled. “It looks good. Are you ready to see it?”

Farrendel’s shoulders tightened, but he nodded.

Essie dug the hand mirror she’d taken with her from her pocket without getting all the way up. She held the mirror out to Farrendel.

He took it gingerly, as if he expected the mirror to slice his hand. He held it out and studied his reflection. His nose wrinkled, as if he was not sure he liked what he saw.

Essie leaned her head on his shoulder so that she was looking in the tiny mirror with him. “I know you probably don’t like it and will want to grow it out as soon as possible. And, I won’t mind. I’ve always liked your long hair. But I loveyou,no matter the length of your hair, and I think you look just as good with short, Escarlish hair.” She kissed his cheek. “And, since this is the only time I will probably ever see you with short hair, I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.”

“It...does not look as bad as I thought it would.” Farrendel tilted his head, as if he was still trying to get used to his new reflection. “It is an improvement, at least.”

“And you’ll have options to style it. You can wear it tousled like this.” Essie brushed her fingers through his hair again, making it stand on end. His hair was still soft and silken, even when short. “Or you can slick it down.” She smoothed his hair down, giving him bangs. Knowing her rather neat and tidy husband, that was probably the style he would choose. “Just don’t let it part down the middle. That looks weird with short hair.”

The wrinkle on his nose deepened.

“Just figure out a style that feels like you when you look in the mirror. That’s what matters.” Essie patted his chest, leaning her head against his shoulder again. “And remember that I love you, all right? No matter what.”

Farrendel set down the mirror, took her hand, and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, my shynafir.”

Essie swallowed at the lump in her throat. His fierce heart. It was the first time he’d called her that since he’d been rescued. She snuggled closer to him, letting the warm silence wrap around them for a long minute.

Then, she shifted, growing aware of the cold bricks seeping dampness from the ground into her through her clothes. She patted his back with her free hand. “Um, nice as this is, my rear end is going to sleep. Next time, when we want to have a romantic moment, let’s sit somewhere softer. Like an actual chair. Or even a carpeted floor.”

Farrendel made a noise in the back of his throat.

Then, he laughed.

It was such a pained, croaking sound that Essie didn’t even recognize what it was at first. He sounded like he was choking. Or sobbing. Or possibly dying.

She pushed away from him, studying him as his laugh descended into ragged gasps. “Are you still laughing? Or hyperventilating again?”

“Not...sure...” Farrendel gasped as he hunched over, shuddering under the force of his laughter, or whatever it was.

“That wasn’t even that funny.”

“I know.” More shuddering laughter.

Essie patted his shoulder. Yes, Farrendel really would be all right. Eventually.

Farrendel tried toremember not to touch his hair yet again as he and Essie strolled hand in hand along the path from Buckmore Cottage to Winstead Palace. Captain Merrick, Iyrinder, and a few of the other guards had scouted the path and were following in the trees, but they were staying discreetly out of sight. “Are you sure my hair looks all right?”

“Yes.” Essie squeezed his hand, a trace of her laugh in her voice. She nudged him as they walked. “Stop obsessing. People will start to think that you’re vain or something.”

He tried not to grimace. Essie had assured him that his hair looked nice. That should have been good enough for him.