Page 46 of The Cinders
‘Never mind all that,’ William said.‘I’m not about to expire.And now I have you in my room, I can think of far more games to play than nursemaid and patient, though I am completely open to that if you prefer?’
‘I do not.’Xian soaked the cloth in the basin of cold water.‘I am not here to play any of your games, Sir William.’
He wrung out the cloth and turned to find the Englishman had laid himself out in the single moon-gazing chair near the window; the gown spilling over rosewood that had been carved to resemble bamboo, his feet resting on the retractable footrest, his bare toes wriggling free of the fabric.
‘Are you quite certain?’William asked, lounging back against the slope of the chair; designed for moon gazing as its name suggested, but in this case its position only offered a view of the fretwork in the ceiling above.
Xian handed William the cloth.‘About games?Yes.It has been an endless day.I should like to go to bed.’Xian held up his hand.‘Alone, sir.’
‘You’ve made that very plain.’William pressed the cloth to his bleeding hand, though the wound did not seem to run so badly as before.‘But as I said, I shall easily move on.’He gestured with both hands, the cloth tight between them.‘I mean, look at me.I spent a lot of time making sure this body was irresistible, and have done rather well at it, I’m sure you’ll agree.’
Xian would not deny the man’s body a remarkable specimen; he appeared delicate, fine-boned with sharp lines, pale skin with the right hint of pinkness at high cheekbones, and there were those lips, of course, and the lovely tilt of his nose, but his muscular arms and defined torso spoke of robustness and vigorous health.
Beautiful.But irresistible?No, not so far as Xian was concerned.Even if he were not so slow to develop his desires, the Englishman had made too many strange comments for Xian to be thinking about anything else; with the suggestion his mother was unnatural, and all his strange talk of purebreds, forest sprites, incubus and naturals.
‘Shall I find an attendant to come and clean up?’Xian gestured at the shards of glass and pottery.‘Your friend shall likely not be happy to see the state of her room.’
‘She’ll likely not be using her room, her legs will be spread elsewhere.Margaret is the closest in nature to an incubus of any human I’ve ever met.’
Xian could not help but blush at the dishonourable way he spoke of a woman he claimed to be his friend.‘I shall leave you then, Sir William.’He reached to touch his veil, as he did so often when he was uncomfortable, and found that it dangled at his ear.He’d been uncovered from the moment they met.
Xian hooked his finger through the slackened loop.
‘No need for that, your highness.And are you sure you wish to leave me so soon?Would you not like to know who you are beneath that skin, with all its wonderful flaws and lovely perfections?’
Xian ignored his suggestion to leave himself exposed, and quickly slipped the loop over his ear.‘Sir William, I am truly too tired to go around about in this conversation with you again.’
Tired, and annoyingly clear-headed.How had the tincture worn off so readily?
‘I’m not seeking to bed you, your highness.’
Xian slid his hands over his robe, his palms damp, his pulse quickening at the man’s words.It was not fear that held him, not exactly.‘Then speak plainly of what you intend, Sir William, for I’ve barely understood a single word you’ve said tonight.How can you show me who I am, when I already know?’
‘Judging by your ignorance, I’d say you know very little.’
Irritation flared, like a wick had suddenly burst to life in his chest.‘What Idoknow is that I cannot be so carefree as you.I know that I am treated cruelly by those who are supposed to protect and guide me, I know I frighten people with my scars and the stories they carry.I know that I am ridiculed because I believed a carp to be my truest friend, a creature who listened to me, who made me laugh when I despaired.I know I mourn her loss as deeply as I mourn my mother’s.Iknow, Sir William Black, that I am frightened I’ve lost everyone who cared for me, and none shall ever replace them.’Xian balled the fabric of his gown in clenched fists.The loneliness had always hurt the most.‘Go on, laugh.I can see that you want to.Mock me, you’ll do no worse than any of the others who treat me as less than a man.’
William’s smile spread slowly and sensuously.‘I doubt very much that was just a fish.’
Xian had been braced, ready for some teasing dismissal, a taunt or a scoff.‘What did you say?’
The Englishman peeled the cloth away from his hand.‘I would bet my favourite tiara that your carp was notjusta fish.Because you, my lonely prince, are as muchjust a man,as I am.’He held up his hand.The cut was gone.Not just no longer bleeding, but entirely absent.
William rose from the moon-gazing chair; bare from the waist up and engulfed below by the storm-cloud grey of his gown.
‘How is that possible?’Xian whispered.
‘I have been telling you, you just haven’t listened.’
‘You speak of impossible things…’ Despite his trepidation, Xian took a step towards the Englishman; the man who claimed himself so much more.
‘As impossible as this?’He gestured to his mended hand.‘Or this?’
He winked, and his eyes shone, as though he stood before a fire; the reflection overpowering his natural green shade.
Xian’s hand flew to his mouth, covering his shallow gasp.Perhaps all of this was a dream; he was fast asleep, snoring in his bed, dreaming of mystical beings come to life.
‘That is trickery,’ he said.‘Some manipulation of the light.’