Twin Curse(18)

Brianna paused only long enough to say to his mother, "It was lovely to  meet you, and I'd love to read some more again soon," before following  Lyall out of the room.

"Thank you for taking the time to read with Maman," Lyall said softly,  when they were alone in the corridor again. "She doesn't get out much  and most of the people she meets certainly don't share her love of the  written word."

"The books Petar had for you, they were for her, weren't they?" Brianna asked.

Lyall smiled. "They were. Maman loves her books, so wherever I go, I try to bring her back a little something."

"That's very sweet," Brianna said, and Lyall had to glance over at her to work out if she was teasing him or not.

Her expression was genuine though, so he smiled at her as he pushed open  the large oak door that separated his private quarters from the rest of  the palace. "These are my rooms," he told Brianna. "Not quite as good  as moving out of the palace but the next best thing."

Brianna looked around curiously. Lyall wondered what she made of the  place, and looked it over again himself with a critical eye. Not as  impressive as the rest of the palace, he'd gone for comfort rather than  show. The main living area was comfortable, with sofas long enough for  him to lie down on if he wished.         

     



 

He frowned. Perhaps he should have tidied up before he left. Piles of  books and pieces of paper were scattered indiscriminately on the floor,  sofas and table alike. For the first time, he cursed the need for  privacy that had led to him telling the maids to stay out of his rooms.  Had he even made the bed before he left?

Brianna nodded in approval. Settling herself onto one of the sofas, she  picked up a book that was lying open there, though she didn't give it  much more than a cursory glance. "So this is your home?"

"It is. It's completely private, including a private entrance and exit,  so you don't need to worry about intrusions. Even the maids have orders  not to come in here. Of course, that does mean that sometimes it is a  little less than tidy," he said ruefully.

Brianna laughed. "I'm not big on tidy. That was always Mi..." She broke  off, her face flushing. What had she been about to say? She continued as  if she hadn't spoken. "My family always gave me a hard time about my  lack of interest in keeping things neat, so don't be hoping I'm going to  be inspired to clean it," she warned.

Lyall laughed. "I have no such expectations," he assured her.

"Good." Brianna pulled her legs up underneath her, crossing her ankles  and flicked at the corner of the book she held. Then she looked up at  him. "So, does anyone ever say no to your father?"

Lyall shrugged. "He's the king. Of course no one says no to him. But I  think what you are really asking is, do I ever say no to him?"

Brianna's cheeks reddened a little, and she looked down at the book.

He answered anyway. "It's complicated. I personally have no issues with  disagreeing with him, and have frequently in the past, but... it upsets  Maman, and I hate seeing her upset. As I grew older, I realised that it  was usually just easier to nod and agree."

Brianna tilted her head on one side, watching him as he talked, then  nodded. "Of course." She paused. "We could have a problem though,  because I get the impression your father isn't terribly impressed with  having me here."

Lyall grinned. "Actually, he approves. He... um... suggested I get a  move on." Now it was his turn to blush, there was no easy way to word  that one.

Brianna stared at him. "He said that?" Her eyebrows shot up.

"He did," Lyall confirmed. "Not in as many words... but... he won't stand in our way."

"Oh," Brianna said in a small voice.

"You sound disappointed," Lyall said, trying not to be hurt.

Brianna didn't say anything for a few minutes, fiddling with the corner  of the book again. Then she said firmly, "I meant what I said earlier,  Lyall. I didn't come here to marry you."

"Then why did you come?"

"Well, for starters, I didn't have anywhere else to go." She sighed and  put the book down on the sofa beside her, before looking at him openly.  "But it was more than that. Coming here, well, it sounded exciting. And  the possibility that I might be a mage, well, that was too much to pass  up. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, I never intended to. I  thought I'd been clear from the start that I wasn't after a  relationship."

"Yes, you did," Lyall admitted. "But I kind of hoped that somewhere  along the way you might have changed your mind. I thought... I thought  we had something special, Brianna. Don't you?"

"Don't," Brianna pleaded. "We've been through this. It's not... not that I don't care for you. But I can't."

The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach lessened just a fraction,  and Lyall crossed the room and sat on the sofa beside Brianna, moving  the book out of the way and holding her hands with his. "Brianna?"

She looked up, eyes haunted. "I can't, Lyall," she whispered.

"Why not? Is it because of this person back in your home town? The one that you were supposed to marry?"

Brianna nodded silently.

"Why? Why does that matter? You weren't going to marry him anyway, that's why you ran away. So why not just move on?"

"It's not that simple."

"It could be. Or if it's that big a deal, I'll come back with you, and  tell them I'm going to marry you. Surely a prince and a mage will hold  some sway?" He rarely used his rank, but for Brianna, he would throw out  all his scruples.

She gave a half smile. "I'm not sure that being a mage is going to win  you any favours. And anyway, it wouldn't matter. I can't marry you.  Please, can we let it go?"         

     



 

Lyall sat back, an unknown feeling of defeat settling over him. He'd  been so sure when Brianna had agreed to come with him that she had  changed her mind. And the time they had spent on his yacht had only  intensified the certainty. But for some reason he didn't really  understand, despite how she obviously felt about him, she wasn't willing  to consider marriage.

Well, he could live with that. "Well what are you going to do? Are you going back?"

"No," Brianna said in a small voice.

"Then are you staying here?" Lyall asked softly.

Brianna looked up then, and he looked back at her earnestly. "I... I don't know," she said uncertainly.

"I love you, Brianna," Lyall admitted. "And I'll accept that you won't marry me. But I'm not sure I could accept you leaving."

"We've only known each other for a few weeks," Brianna said helplessly. But her voice wavered.

"I know. It seems crazy," Lyall agreed. "But I've never felt this way  about anyone before. Have you?" Doubts assailed him. For all that, she  was years younger than him, she'd had a special someone who had died,  then this other man she was supposed to marry. Maybe it was just him?

"No, I haven't," Brianna said wretchedly.

"Then stay with me," Lyall entreated. "And let's see where this takes  us?" It wasn't the solution he wanted. He desperately wanted a  commitment. But he also didn't want to risk losing her.

After a moment, Brianna nodded. Just nodded.

But it was enough. Lyall pulled her into his arms, and she didn't  resist. He kissed her desperately, and she clung to him, murmuring his  name. He was so tempted just to take things that one step further. Yet  something held him back. He needed to think it over, needed to be sure.

So he pulled back and said, his voice wavering, "I'd better show you the  rest of my home. And then maybe, if you wanted, I could teach you a  little about your magic?"

Brianna's hair was rumpled and her lips soft and inviting. He wished he  had kept quiet, and let the moment happen spontaneously. But she nodded,  so he stood up reluctantly, holding out his hand to help her to her  feet. He kept hold of her hand.

"My bedroom's through here." He might as well start with that, he was  sure it was what both of them were thinking. He opened the door and  showed her, smiling a little at her jaw dropping.

The bed was imposing, he had to give it that. The four corner posts were  practically small trees, and the green drapes only enhanced the  feeling. He had, as he had suspected, forgotten to make the bed, but  somehow, in his eyes at least, the rumpled bed sheets only made it look  more inviting. He cleared his throat. "I'm not sure where you want to  sleep....?" He trailed off, looking down at her.

Her cheeks were red. "Perhaps it's best if I have my own room...?"

"Right," he agreed. "You have a choice then. Here is what I like to call  the nook." He opened the door to a small room with a window seat  overlooking the bay and a small but functional single bed. "Or you can  have this one." Lyall opened the door to the second room, which was more  practical, with a larger double bed and an ensuite.