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“I am well, just overheated,” I protested.
Emrys stilled, tensing. “Merlon said—”
I nodded, cutting him off with my soft sigh. We both knew what Merlon said. The same things that all the healers said: “Don’t get overheated, drink plenty of fluids, and rest.” I leaned against Emrys, pressing my face into his shoulder to hide my sudden frustration.
My husband’s arms tightened around me, drawing me closer and crushing my voluminous skirts between us. “I am trying to take care of you,” he whispered so softly that only I heard it. Opal and Elinor arguing with Meri about the right gown for the festival on the morrow covered up his words.
“I know.” I leaned back so I could look up into his face. “I am so tired of being weak.”
Instead of answering, Emrys studiously dried the moisture from my face. “Merlon will be here later today.”
I had sent a request for the healer to come a few days ago. Apparently, Merlon had replied directly to Emrys that he was too far behind in his duties to drop everything to go running off to the palace. My husband refused to let me see his response to the healer, but it had produced results.
“Until he arrives, let me follow his instructions.” Emrys’ request was punctuated by Durvin’s appearance at our side with a cut glass cup holding clear water.
I accepted the glass and immediately drank.
In Elvish, Emrys thanked Durvin and then requested an update as to the healer’s projected arrival time.
“Within the hour,” Durvin responded in the same language. He glanced at me with a wink. Increasing numbers of the staff had been speaking Elvish around me at my request. My mastery of the spoken language was far outpacing my ability to read it. But both still far exceeded my dancing prowess.
“Are you ready to try again?” Opal asked as she approached. Meri followed her, armed with a fresh ribbon and a threaded needle.
“Let me fix that first.” The winged seamstress kneeled at my feet and set to stitching.
“Do you need a refresher of the steps?” Opal asked.
I shook my head. “I need a new set of legs. Ones that cooperate and go where I tell them.”
“You dance very well,” Emrys protested.
“For a human, you mean.” I pushed lightly at his solid chest.
“Elven dances are challenging, even for elves.”
“Not that anyone can tell from your footwork.” I arched an eyebrow at him. “You haven’t made one false step yet.”
He shrugged. “This is the only dance I have ever mastered. Performing it at every court event ingrains it in one’s brain. But ask me to perform any of the other dances you have learned over these past weeks, and I would flub them as badly as any—” He hesitated, as though realizing that he had intended to say “human” but didn’t want to insult me.
“Human?” I offered as I tried not to laugh. “I am not insulted. It is the truth. We are an awkward species compared to the elves. We are a clunky lot.”
Amusement lightened his eyes so that the silvery-blue glowed. “You, madam, may step on my toes anytime.”
I laughed. “Why, thank you, husband. I promise to abuse your feet alone.”
“Truly?” His expression sobered. “You will only dance with me?”
“I don’t see anyone else asking me to dance, considering that I only know one and require your assistance not to trip over my own feet performing it.” I smiled. “I don’t intend to do any more dancing than is required by tradition.”
“And then only with me.” His thumb rubbed the back of my neck, sending shivers up and down my spine.
I met his intensely searching gaze with a smile and a promise. “Only you.”
For a moment, I suspected he was going to kiss me right there in front of Durvin, Opal, Meri, Elinor, and the musician. But instead, he brushed my cheek with his knuckles before whispering, “Thank you.”
“Finished,” Meri announced before fluttering away.
Opal nodded to the musician. I hooked the ribbon over my wrist, and Emrys took me once again into his arms. Settling into the formal pose, he smiled down at me as we waited for the cue to begin. “Ready?”
