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Ainsley looked at Cecelia across the sunny parlor and said, “I think Allen is going to ask me to marry him.”
Cecelia startled. She’d almost forgotten Ainsley was there. She’d sat there stitching blindly, wasting time while she waited for Marcus to come downstairs. “What make
s you think that?” Cecelia asked, setting her sewing to the side.
Ainsley shrugged. “I just have a feeling. I think he’s afraid.”
“Of you?” Cecelia scoffed.
“Not so much of me, because when we’re alone, he doesn’t seem troubled by what or who I am at all. But when we’re with people, he seems a little discomfited. He doesn’t reach for my hand or put his arm around me or any of the things he does when we’re alone.” She looked into Cecelia’s eyes. “What do you think?”
“I think you need not worry about his intentions. And he isn’t affectionate with you in public because they don’t do that in this world. Things are a little more rigid here. He was raised here, after all, so he thinks like them. You’re going to have to get used to it.”
“He’s so proper most of the time. Like when I bump his shoulder, I can tell he likes it. He likes to play around with me. He likes to wrestle, and he tried to tickle me last night in his room.”
Cecelia squealed. “What were you doing in his room?” She got up and moved to sit beside Ainsley. “Tell me. I have to know.”
Ainsley shrugged. “Nothing bad. I just went to see him.” She scrunched up her face in a wince. “I think I startled him when I knocked on his window in faerie form.”
“You didn’t!”
“I did. I wanted to see him. He’d been with his father all day, and then he missed supper. I missed him.”
“Oh dear, you are in love with him, aren’t you?”
Tears filled Ainsley’s eyes. “I suppose I am. That’s terrible, isn’t it?”
“Why is it terrible?” Cecelia asked. “I think it’s wonderful.”
“He’s not fae. I’m not even certain my father will let me have a relationship with him.”
“Your father is no idiot. He’ll be able to see what’s between the two of you when he meets Allen.” It was obvious to anyone who saw them together what their feelings were for one another.
“He’s a good man,” Ainsley said with a heavy sigh.
Cecelia narrowed her gaze at her friend. “But is he a good kisser?”
Ainsley blushed even more. “The best.”
“Is kissing all you’ve done with him?” Cecelia asked.
“You’re awfully curious, aren’t you?” Ainsley chided.
“I told you all about me and Marcus,” Cecelia reminded her.
“Well, we haven’t done that,” Ainsley said. “But we did sleep in the same bed last night. I meant to leave earlier, but we were lying there talking and I fell asleep.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Cecelia hummed.
“He’s so soft and cuddly.” Ainsley’s blush deepened. “And so hard and rough at other times. In the best of ways,” she rushed on to say. “I want to sleep in his arms every night.”
“He’ll ask you,” Cecelia said. “But don’t be surprised if he asks your father first. That’s how they do things here.”
“I’d like to live in the land of the fae,” Ainsley said. “Do you think he’d be happy there?”
“I think he’d be happy wherever you are,” Cecelia admitted. “He has stars in his eyes when he looks at you.”
