Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,13
her again.
Though I wanted to keep the ravine opening a secret, Jorg had been adamant about accompanying me. I’d acquiesced so long as he promised not to speak or show himself to the young woman. She’d already been nervous enough with just me, and I had the feeling she wouldn’t stay if she saw anyone else.
As always, we’d used caution during our trek, especially through the unknown section of the forest, attempting to stay clear of the scorched ground that indicated the presence of basilisks. As with yesterday, I hadn’t seen any signs of the creatures. Jorg had remarked upon their absence as well, growing more careful the farther we ventured into the new territory, as if he expected the basilisks to play a trick on us.
I gave the clearing a final sweep and then stood. I needn’t have worried. She wasn’t coming, and now I needed to honor her request to depart and never come back. But first . . .
I shouldered through the thick growth and made my way into the sunny field where we’d danced. I knelt at the first cluster of flowers and picked them. At the very least, I’d carry a handful of the dainty blue flowers with me to remember her and the way she’d looked with a crown of them in her hair.
At the crack of a twig on the opposite side of the clearing, I glanced up. She stood there, the sun spilling over her golden hair that fell again today in long, loose waves to her waist. Her blue eyes were dark and uncertain, and she twisted the handle of her basket, poised as though to flee at the first word I spoke.
I wanted to race to her. But I made myself proceed casually. I couldn’t say the wrong thing and send her scurrying away. “For you.” I held out the flowers.
She tipped her basket to reveal flowers of all shapes and sizes.
Obviously, she didn’t need any more. Still, I wanted her to have them. “For you, so that you might make another crown.”
She took a timid step toward me. “Do you think I need a crown?”
“You are unrivaled in beauty and have no need of it. But you deserve one nevertheless.”
Pink infused her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze only to look up a moment later, shyly, her eyes full of interest.
“You can teach me how to make the crown.” Doing so would afford me more time with her in addition to the dancing lesson. “Unless you think such a feat is beyond the realm of my ability.”
Her lips started to curve upward. “’Tis simple enough.”
“Then I shall be your willing pupil.”
“Very well. Although, I must say I am rather surprised to find you are interested in weaving flowers. I had not thought a man would give himself over to such a task.”
I’d give myself over to any chore, no matter how menial, to spend more time with her, but I bit back my pathetic remark. “To be sure, the task may be too delicate for the sensibilities of others of my gender. But you’ll find I’m not so prejudiced.”
Her smile widened.
I lowered myself to the grass and patted the spot next to me. She hesitated but a moment, before she made her way over and sat, careful all the while not to get too close. She fanned her skirt out around her, one that was patched and frayed along the hem.
Once she was situated, I placed the bundle of flowers I’d picked onto her lap, and at her instructions gathered additional flowers, leaving the full stem attached and as long as possible.
For several minutes we collected flowers and bantered, until she halted and tilted her head, watching me. “I was beginning to think you would not come this morn.”
So she’d been waiting in the woods for my appearance? Pleasure wafted through me. “I wouldn’t have been able to stay away today. Not even if an entire army tried to stop me.” Apparently, I was doomed to making pathetic remarks to this woman. How had I become besotted so quickly?
“I tried to talk myself out of coming,” she admitted softly, as she twisted several flowers. “But the convincing did not work.”
“I’m heartily glad you failed at it.” More than glad, but I managed to keep the pitiable comment to myself this time.
“You must plait the stems.” She wove the stems in and out. “Like this.”
I watched her, marveling at the slenderness of her fingers, at her grace and her capableness.