Page 14 of Lady Elinor’s Elf

Was she surprised? Yes. Shocked? Yes. Was she shrieking in feminine outrage at being treated this way?

Absolutely not.

Being in Caleb’s arms again was the most wonderful experience, even better than before, since now she knew what to expect, what a kiss could—and should—be. And she was now in possession of the knowledge that she really enjoyed it.

There was none of the clumsy groping or unpleasantness she’d experienced in that London garden. This…this was magic, sweetness, tender touches, and a growing urge for more.

Exactly what that more was, she wasn’t completely sure, but she was quite prepared to wager her best bonnet that Caleb did.

And he proved it by letting his lips roam over her face to her ear, which he tenderly ringed with his tongue, sending delightful shivers from her head all the way down to her toes.

“Caleb,” she whispered, turning slightly so that he could reach her neck as well. “Oh, Caleb.”

“Shhh.” The heat of his breath against her skin raised goosepimples. “There’s so little time…”

“I know,” she sighed, realising she would have to pull free of his hold, but dreading the moment his warmth would disappear.

Reluctantly, they parted, and Elinor found herself glad she’d removed her bonnet, even though a few hairpins needed straightening.

“Better,” Caleb took a breath. “Better, but not enough.” His gaze travelled over her body, and she responded with a deep breath.

“I…”

“Don’t say anything, my sweet. We have to talk about this.” He swallowed roughly. “But not here, and not at this moment.”

Nodding, Elinor moved away, and sat politely in one of the chairs by the fire.

“I trust my arrival hasn’t disrupted your afternoon too badly, Sir Caleb.”

“Not at all, Lady Molliney. It is always a pleasure to welcome your presence at Tylwyth Teg.”

“You’re too kind, sir.”

Deryn entered, bearing a tea tray, face expressionless. “Tea, Sir, Ma’am. I trust it will be to your liking.” He placed everything on a side table. “Please call should you require anything else?”

“Of course. Thank you, Deryn.” Caleb nodded.

“This looks delightful, thank you, Deryn.” Elinor’s polite thanks brought a brief smile to the butler’s face and a little bow.

“You are too kind, my Lady.” And with that, he took himself off.

After the door closed behind him, Elinor looked at Caleb. “Do you think he knew what…um…” she waved her hand vaguely at him.

“I have no idea,” he replied with a shrug. “But I do know I would trust him with my life, so whether he did or not, we need not worry he’ll be off spreading rumours.”

She sighed with relief. “Good.”

“Now. Tea. You must be chilled after your ride?”

Relaxing a little, Elinor chuckled. “Not at all, sir. Not after such a warm welcome.”

“I missed you.”

His words surprised her, and her face must have given it away, since he raised his eyebrows at her. “Should I not have said that?”

“No, no…I mean yes, of course you should…” She sighed, then tried again. “I value honesty, Caleb. So, for my part, I will admit I missed you too. I was just surprised to hear you say that, since I thought gentlemen were supposed to keep their sentiments to themselves.”

“Some gentlemen do, I’m sure.” He paused. “But only the ones who don’t know what they’re feeling.”

“Oh.” Elinor knew her cheeks were heating. “Caleb…”

“Forgive me,” he moved to the tray and poured tea. “I’m going too fast, I know. But…” He offered her the plate of biscuits, and she absently took one. “But I’m not one to waste time shuffling around something that I know is right.”

“Um…” She blinked and took a bite of the biscuit.

“And you are right, Elinor. Right for me, that is.”

She sucked in air, and a bit of biscuit, and started coughing.

Caleb thumped her on her back, nearly knocking the tray of biscuits to the floor. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, coughed once more, then looked at him. “Caleb. I’m quite all right. It’s just that hearing you say such things has caught me by surprise.”

“Would you rather I not say them?”

“God, no.”

Surprised at her own response, she blushed again. “I’m just not…not accustomed to anyone thinking about me that way…”

“Which way is that, my dear?” He grinned.

She shook her head and smiled back. “Lovely biscuits.”

*~~*~~*

She was hedging. He could see it, sense it in the way she responded to him, and it left him in no doubt that his feelings were returned.

But then again, he had some years on her, and plenty of experience.

Elinor clearly didn’t. Which fact made him extremely happy, since he was now committed to ensuring any and all “experiences” she had would be with him.

“Queen Mab,” she said.

“Er…what?” He blinked. “Forgive me. I lost track of the conversation there for a moment or two.”

Elinor sighed. “I know. And it’s quite all right, because I did too. Fortunately, I recalled what I wanted to tell you about Tylwyth Teg and the Ellyllon.”

They sat on either side of the little tea table, and Caleb listened as Elinor related some of the stories she’d read, and how Tylwyth Teg had been mentioned many times as one of the seats of power, and royalty.

“There’s no word on whether Queen Mab actually stayed here or lived here, but she is, supposedly, their monarch, so one could easily imagine the Ellyllon inviting her to the place named after her people.”

“This must have been centuries ago,” he murmured, distracted by her words. “I knew this was an old estate, but I had no idea it went back that far.”

“I doubt that what we see now is that old,” Elinor glanced around. “You have windows, fireplaces, sturdy walls, and other more recent features.”

“True.”

“I did find one illustration, actually, but it was in a very large book, so I couldn’t bring it with me.”

“You know, I never thought to look in some of the oldest books here, because those seem to be mostly records of sheep, farms, and market days. Oh, and pigs.”

“Hmm.” Elinor raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have pigs here now, do you?”

“Lord, no. If I did, you wouldn’t need to ask. You’d detect their presence several miles downwind.”

She chuckled. “I take your point.”

He finished his tea. “If you have time, what about taking a look in the library? Some of my old books might complement some of yours…”

“I’d like that.” She put her cup and saucer back on the tray. “And, although it unnerves me a little, I’d like to see if that strange book is still here. The one I touched last time…”

“And scared the daylights out of me,” finished Caleb. “If it has returned, you are not allowed to touch it, Elinor. I won’t go through that again.”

She smiled sweetly. “I’m sure we won’t have any difficulties this time.”

They rose, and he politely took her arm as they once again crossed the hall to the library. He rather liked the fact that it seemed quite usual for them to walk like this together.

They fit.

She was beautiful and delicate enough to be utterly feminine and thus complement his undoubted masculinity. But beneath her tender demeanour lay an iron will and a sharp, intelligent mind, both of which he admired every bit as much as the outside decorations.

“I love this room,” she said as they crossed the threshold into the library. “It smells of wonder.”

Caleb sucked in a breath. “What an amazing thing to say,” he breathed. “And you’re absolutely right.”

She nodded. “You like it too. I can see that quite easily.”

He bit his lip, knowing that she was looking at his desk, which—at the present time—was all but buried under an array of papers. There was a broken pen on the floor, and several candlesticks that obviously needed replenishing.

He cleared his throat. “Er, yes. Yes, I do. And I’ll confess to spending quite a lot of time in here, on…on one thing or another.”

“I can well understand. Running an estate, especially one like Tylwyth Teg Abbey, with all its eccentricities, must be quite an undertaking.”

“Well, yes, it is…”

Caleb found himself in a quandary. Elinor had honoured him with her confidence, and even now he was still somewhat bemused by the idea of elves, let alone the fact that she could talk to them, even though the conversation he’d overheard bore witness to her revelation.

Should he reveal his own secret? And how would she respond?

It had become second nature to him; the smooth and convenient story, the casual asides, the quick and satisfactory responses within more than a few awkward conversations.

But Elinor was different.

She mattered .

He watched her as she moved along the shelves, knowing now that her apparent enjoyment of his library was absolutely genuine.

“Oh,” she said, reaching for a book. “This one. I have the first volume, and you have the second. This should tell us more about the history of Tylwyth Teg, and the residents who lived here, possibly after they’d left.

” She turned to him. “I have to wonder how such a lovely place ended up in mortal hands. If I had been an elf, I am sure I’d have kept it for myself. ”

“If you’d been an elf, I’d be addressing their Queen,” he smiled.

“Oh, Caleb. What a lovely thing to say.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes wide, and he sighed. “I cannot help it,” he said as he walked to her. “I shall just have to kiss you again.”

“Oh, would you mind? If it’s not too much of an imposition…” Raising her hand to his face, she laughed as he put his arms around her.

“I don’t mind at all.”

She tasted of sunshine, of woman, and a dash of magic. It was the only way he could describe the delight of being with her like this, feeling the heat of her through his waistcoat and the softness of her beneath his hands.

“Mmmm,” she sighed, pulling away from the kiss. “You do that so very well.”

“Thank you,” he grinned. “But practice makes perfect…”

She laughed. “Perhaps I should practise more, then?”

“But you’re already perfect, my Lady Elinor.” He brushed a hand down her cheek. “Absolutely perfect.”

“My goodness,” she blushed a little. “I had wondered how on earth we would write a novel about Tylwyth Teg, but now I’m beginning to see that it isn’t going to be as hard as I first thought. With phrases like that? I expect it to be a phenomenal success.”

Caleb’s conscience gave him a hefty kick.

“Well, Elinor, perhaps there’s something you should…”

Before he’d completed that sentence, Elinor had leant away from him, distracted and gazing along a shelf.

She clutched his arm. “Caleb. The glowing book. It’s back…”