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He brushed his fingers through her hair as he searched her face. “How long do you think it will take to plan the wedding? I don’t want to rush you if you’d rather take longer, but is three months enough time?”
She raised her eyebrow, still trying to take in this moment, the ring on her finger, theyesshe had given him without a moment’s hesitation.
But even as she stood there, her sluggish, kiss-addled brain caught up. The engineers had just announced that they believed the new bridge over the Hydalla River would be finished in three months. “The new bridge?”
“We don’t have to.” Edmund’s fingers tightened on hers, his forehead scrunching. “It was just a thought that getting married on the new bridge would be a good political statement. That was all. But if you don’t like—”
Jalissa pressed her finger over his mouth. “I think it is a brilliant move. Three months is short notice, but we can pull it off. We have plenty of help.” She removed her finger and eyed him. “Will it be soon enough that I can be the new patron for the Gardens?”
“I knew that was the reason you agreed to marry me. Your acceptance has nothing to do with being in love with me.” Edmund finally pulled her back into his arms, grinning. “I believe being engaged to marry an Escarlish prince should be good enough for them to take you on as a patron. They will jump at the chance to have your help to facilitate hiring elves here. And it doesn’t hurt that they like you.”
“Good.” Jalissa hugged him, though she was not ready to celebrate just yet. “And it will not be a problem that we will have duties in both kingdoms that will take us away?”
“The job of patron isn’t too demanding. It will be flexible with us traveling between the two kingdoms.” Edmund pressed a kiss to her forehead. “And it does have its perks. Like the ability to host private parties at the Gardens when you wish.”
As if she was not already excited enough as it was. The elven nobles would be much more likely to visit Escarland if the reception was held at the Kingsley Gardens instead of inside the stone walls of Winstead Palace. “Who do we approach so that I can apply to be their new patron? I wish to give my name to them as quickly as possible.”
Edmund laughed and held up her hand, where her new ring glinted in the sunlight. “Shouldn’t we tell our families before we start announcing our news to the directors of the Gardens?”
Jalissa waved his concerns away and started marching down the garden path. “Our families already know we will be getting married sooner rather than later. It is more important that I do not miss this opportunity.”
Naming the Kitten
Edmund strode into the small garden that surrounded a brick patio outside of the back door of Buckmore Cottage. There, Farrendel sat on the bricks, trailing a short length of twine over the ground. A fluffball of orange fur pounced on the twine, trying to catch it between its paws.
Essie lounged on a bench, grinning as she watched Farrendel and the kitten. Wearing a loose shirt, any signs of her pregnancy were hidden.
“I see the kitten is old enough to go home with you.” Edmund couldn’t help but smile at the way his brother-in-law Farrendel was already wrapped around this little kitten’s paw. It would be highly amusing to watch him fall head-over-heels for his son or daughter in a few months.
Essie glanced up. “Edmund. Help us decide. Which name do you think is better? Fluffy or Mustache?”
Edmund eyed the two of them, crossing his arms. “I think neither of you should be allowed to name your child.”
Essie rolled her eyes and huffed. “Very funny. But really, which name is better?”
He resisted the urge to grimace. He would rather not get in the middle of this, thanks very much. He eyed the kitten for a long moment. It was a brilliant orange ball of fur with a tiny white line of fur below its nose, almost as if the kitten had a permanent milk mustache. “Mustache, if you go with a nickname like Stache or something like that.”
“Ha!” Essie pointed at Farrendel. “Told you it was better.”
Farrendel scowled, though the expression lacked any heat. “I do not see whyyouget to namemycat.”
“Because the name Fluffy is too literal.”
“But fluffy is exactly what he is.” Farrendel picked up the floofball of a kitten, as if to demonstrate his point. When the kitten squirmed, he set it back on the patio, where it promptly raced off and attacked the toe of Edmund’s boot.
Edmund wiggled his foot, causing the kitten to attack it even more energetically. Would Essie and Farrendel notice if Edmund slipped away quietly before he was pulled into this name discussion any further?
Farrendel’s eyes narrowed and got that glint that said he was planning something. “If we go with your name for the kitten, then I get my first choice of name for our child.”
“Hey, now that is playing dirty.” Essie rested a hand on the tiny swell of her belly, her mouth moving like she was torn between scowling and smiling.
Farrendel did a better job of keeping a straight face. “How set on the name Mustache are you?”
After a moment, Essie sighed. “Our child is going to be named after his or her hair color, right?”
A smug grin crossed Farrendel’s face. “Most likely.”
“Fine. But I get a veto if the name is too terrible. And it has to be neutral enough to sound good in Escarland as well as Tarenhiel.” Essie sprawled back in her chair.
