Page 44 of Fey Empire

Ashort while later, I’m clean and dressed and humming to myself as I walk to the library. I left my sketchbook and pencil in there yesterday, but both were on my dresser this morning. Peaony was able to find me some Sellotape, and my pencil repair is working better than I expected.

I place my hand on the handle of the library and push down. Nothing happens. I frown and try again.

It takes an embarrassingly long time to realise that the door is locked.

My heart sinks. Peaony said Selwyn didn’t use his library much, so I thought he wouldn’t mind. Clearly he does. And clearly the progress I thought we were making was all in my head. He is enjoying my body. He isn’t enjoying me.

I bite my bottom lip. It’s fine. I’ll just find somewhere else to draw.

The main sitting room is bright, but it is overflowing with his plants. It is obviously far too personal a space to invade.

I’ll go to the breakfast room. The light in there is not bad. It will do.

I hold my head high and go to the breakfast room and get settled. I open my sketchbook and seek the calm that drawing gives me.

Several hours later, a shadow falls over me. I yelp and look up. Selwyn stares down at me.

“I wish to show you something,” he says.

“Of course, my lord husband.”

I quickly put my drawing things down and get to my feet. He offers me his arm. I take it and am immediately hit with the tingly-fluttery feeling.

Prince Selwyn takes me to the library door.

I swallow, drop my gaze and wait to be berated. My heart is beating like a crazy thing. I hope he cannot hear it.

He opens the door and ushers me inside. I stare at my feet. We stop in the middle of the room.

Silence. I’m pretty sure I didn’t break anything. I don’t think I even touched anything. But clearly I did something wrong. Locking the library was not enough, the transgression was bad enough that he has had to bring me here for a scolding.

“Laurie, look.”

I lift my gaze.

I blink, but my eyes stubbornly tell me the same thing. The library has been transformed. The books are gone. The gorgeous light streaming through the many high windows is now illuminating an easel. And a large desk. As well as shelves full of pencils, paints and brushes. And a huge stack of extremely high-quality sketchbooks of varying sizes and paper types.

I gasp and cover my mouth.

“Write a list of what else you need and I will see it brought to you.”

My gaze falls on the gorgeous draughtsman chair. And the beanbag. And the window seat that has been stocked with fresh cushions.

Tears roll down my cheeks.

Selwyn makes a distraught noise. I turn to him. His eyes are frantic.

“You are leaking again. Shall I fetch your brother?”

I shake my head and try to find the breath to talk.

“I’m happy. These are happy tears.”

Selwyn’s eyebrows lift. “Humans cry when they are happy?”

I nod some more. Then I fling myself at him. I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight.

At first, he is as stiff as a board. Then he melts. His arms wrap around me as if I am something precious.