Page 41 of Of Curses and Courtship

I press my fingers to the door. “Please…”

If she hears my weak plea, there’s no response.

“Well,” Emyr purrs, “it seems we’re going to be here for a bit. Make yourself comfortable, little halfling.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EMYR

I’m usually annoyed when my reading is interrupted, but when it’s Ophelia… well, annoyance is not the word I would use.

Amused. I suppose I’mamused.

I knew I would see her again eventually. She’s working in my home, and while our employees don’t usually capture my attention this way, she does. She has since we met.

It was safer to be infatuated with her back then, but that is no longer the case, and perhaps it never was. She’s a halfling, after all, and I shouldn’t let her get too close. It’s a wonder my parents allow her to remain, though there is always the chance they don’t know of her origins.

Just as it did the first day I met her, my curiosity piques. It’s hard to say whether my interest in her is genuine or an act of self-sabotage—specifically, a desire to sabotage my impending wedding.

Mirth dances in my eyes as I look her up and down, trailing over her soft, purple wings. “Well, well, little halfling… what shall we do now that we are alone?”

She spins on her heel and, at once, anyprofessionalism she held dissolves. She’s at my bedside, her hand slipping over my mouth as it did in the tavern.

It was attractive then, and it still is.

“Hush!” she hisses. “I should have known better than to think you would keep my secret.”

As I expected. She’s keeping secrets from my parents—something that would surely get her into trouble, though I have no intention of using it against her.

Spark lifts his head and watches Ophelia, not with judgment, but curiosity. His eyes squint as if he’s sleepy.

Her attention shifts to the large animal, and she stumbles back, removing her hand from my mouth. “Is that?—”

“That is Spark,” I drawl. “My good friend. He doesn’t take commands from me, so I hope you don’t expect that I’ll tell him to sit.”

Especially because he’s already lying down.

Her eyes are as wide as a full moon. “That doesn’t answer my question, Your Highness!”

“And I don’t care.” I grin. Spark seems comfortable in her presence. She truly is harmless, isn’t she? I run my hand along Spark’s back, and he yawns, lowering his head. “What makes you think I’ll keep your secret?”

“What would you gain from telling them? You know I’m not here to hurt you. We have been alone in a room several times, Your Highness.”

“Mhm. Without a chaperone. Very naughty.”

“Must I continue reminding you that I am not a lady?” She lifts her chin higher. “Besides, this time it is an innocent accident. My friend’s accident, really—though I hope you won’t get her into trouble.” She exhales, blowing flyaway hairs out of her face. “What I mean to say is… I will take my leave shortly. Apologies. Your Highness.”

Heavens. She’s cute when she rambles.

“Shame.” I rake my eyes up and down her body oncemore, stopping at the generous curve of her hips before rising to meet her flustered gaze. “I hoped you would slide that pretty hand over my mouth again.”

I shouldn’t say such things, but the reddening of her cheeks is worth potentially ruining my arranged marriage. Iamself-sabotaging, aren’t I?

“You’re in quite an odd mood today.” She crosses her arms and walks through the room, leaving her back to me once more. “I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen you when youweren’tin a mood, actually.”

“Possibly at the tavern.”

“Possibly.” She clears her throat. “Am I to believe you have cold feet?”