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His mouth tipped at the corners. An attempt at a smile, at least.

A knock came from the outer door of the main room. Essie started and glared at the door. “We aren’t due to leave for several hours yet.”

Farrendel shook his head. “No. I will get it.”

Essie set out the last of the cold meat, cheese, and fruit for breakfast, trying to pretend she wasn’t curious about their early morning caller.

When Farrendel shut the door and returned to the table, he carried a canvas-wrapped package. He held it out to her. “It is for you.”

For her? She set it on a section of the table, untied the twine holding it shut, and opened it, revealing a pile of deep green silk, with glimpses of other fabrics beneath. “What’s this?” She lifted the first dress from the package. She recognized the dark green silk as one she’d picked out one of the times she and Farrendel visited Estyra. “The seamstress finished the rest of my clothes?”

“Yes.” Farrendel glanced at her, then looked away. But she’d caught the uncertain look in his ice-blue eyes. “I did not want your family to think me stingy with your care.”

It was sweet of him to worry. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for caring.”

Farrendel shifted, still not looking at her. “It will probably not matter. Once we are in Escarland, you will have all the things you left behind there. You will not need these.”

Essie let out a breath that was something between a sigh and a laugh. He was still worried that, once she returned home, she wouldn’t want to return to Estyra with him. It was, perhaps, a valid worry. She’d left home for that diplomatic meeting three months ago fully expecting to return in a few days. Instead, she’d found herself married and on the way to a new home, though she hadn’t realized then how special this treetop palace in Estyra would become.

Returning to Winstead Palace would be interesting for both of them. She missed her family. Terribly. It would be wonderful to see them again, even if for only a short time with the cloud of war hanging heavy over them.

It would also be uncomfortable, trying to bring Farrendel into her family. But she was determined. This would work. This had to work. She would hold her two families together if she had to do it with a white-knuckled grip.

Essie set down her new dress, eased her arms around Farrendel’s waist, and held him. “I have decided that I’m going to dress like an elf even in Escarland. Your people needed to see a human fitting in with their society in order to respect me. But my people need to see me embracing your culture to respect your people as allies rather than enemies. I might be returning home, but I’ll still be a princess of the elves. Your Elspetha Shynafir.”

Farrendel lifted a hand and gently cradled her chin, tracing his thumb over her cheek. “Are you sure? I do not wish for you to feel out of place in your own home.”

Was it possible to melt from the inside out? Essie leaned into Farrendel. “Of course I’m sure. This will be tough but don’t worry. My family will love you. My brothers might take a while to come around, but my sister-in-law and mother will love you right away. You’ll see.”

Farrendel wrapped his free arm around her in an awkward, unpracticed way. Not only were they still figuring out how to be a married couple, but elves weren’t the hugging type.

The more touchy-feely, hugging family culture in Escarland was going to be a shock, that was for sure.

Farrendel stepped back first. “I will do my best. As you did with my family.”

“And I will stand by your side like you did with your family.” Essie rested her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

They shared a heart bond. Surely they could withstand this and keep their peoples from going to war with each other yet again.