Page 122 of Waking Roslyn

I laid my head on his shoulder again, choosing to ignore my unease in favor of just enjoying the moment. “The gardens. I want to see my gardens.”

The sunset was glorious. Something about nearly dying had made me appreciate so many things, and the sun was certainly one of them.

As much as I wanted to stroll through every path that wound through the gardens, it seemed a bit excessive to ask John to keep carrying me about. So instead we stopped at one of the benches and sat together. I was able to point out some of my favorite flowers, and each time I did, he would go pick one and bring it back for me. It made me ridiculously happy each time he did this, and the bouquet that accumulated in my hands was probably the best one I’d ever received.

“So, how does it feel?” he asked when the sun was mostly down and we were simply sitting, hand in hand.

“How does what feel?”

“Finally knowing for certain who has wished you harm all this time?”

I looked around for a few moments, trying to gather my thoughts. “I think I’m mostly sad. And…I’m actually even more hurt than I was before.” It was a difficult thing to put into words, but I tried. “It’s one thing to say I believe a person hates me enough to wish me dead. But then to actually have them try—” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “That’s different. And I’m shocked how much it hurts even though I expected it for so many years.”

“You have a right to be hurt.”

“Yes, I suppose. You know what’s strange though? I think I’m almost as shocked that Neil and Everett were not involved. Yes, the earls hated and ignored me, but it was Neil and Everett and the other children who tormented me. Perhaps I just thought if anyone were to hurt me, it would be them.”

“That surprised me as well,” he admitted.

I looked at him, and his expression made me laugh. “Are you still harboring jealousies for Everett?”

John winced, looking a bit chagrined. “Can you blame me?”

I put my hands on his face and urged him to look me in the eye. “You know there is nowhere else I would rather be than right here with you, don’t you?”

His face softened and he covered one of my hands with his. “That’s a feeling I know all too well.” Then he dipped his head and kissed me softly, and we watched the sunset together.

I was impressed with how long I was able to sit upright without feeling tired. The heaviness, which I had to assume was a lingering effect of the moon thistle, continued to ease, and when we left the garden, I walked at a nearly normal pace across the grounds and into the castle, making it all the way to the bottom of the stairs before asking John to carry me. The way he tucked me close made me wish for more.

“Can we do this again tomorrow?” I asked.

“Yes,” he agreed immediately. “But which part exactly do you want to do again?”

I smiled at the fact that he would agree so readily without knowing what I was asking. “I want you to meet me in the garden just before sunset.”

“I’ll be there.”

27

John

The next day, Roslyn was almost completely recovered, and two days after that, she said she felt back to normal. I rejoiced, while at the same time I wondered what came next. She’d said she was going to ask the king to strip her of her title, but she hadn’t yet, and the idea of marrying her kept intruding into my thoughts.

But if the king did as she asked, and she was safe, where did that leave me? Would I take the horse that had been lent to me and return to Bridgefield? I wouldn’t have minded that idea at all so long as Roslyn came with me, but now that she was here, with her family, what reason would she have to leave again if she was not in danger? And what reason had I to stay?

Roslyn

John and I weren’t supposed to meet until later, but now that my strength and stamina had been restored, I took every opportunity I could to walk the halls of my home, and especially explore the grounds and enjoy my flowers. My flowers that were beautiful and safe and entirely lacking in nefarious dried plant dust that could kill me.

It was also nice not to have my parents hovering. I loved them dearly, but they’d been stuck to my side for too many days. I wasn’t used to anyone hovering over me, and ever since I’d awoken, they wouldn’t just leave me be. Luckily, I’d convince them I was well enough that they should go about their business. My father had many tenants who needed help and guidance on a nearly daily basis, so he had plenty of work to catch up on now that I was recovered.

And now with both of the earls firmly put behind bars, it felt like I could walk about without the horrid weight of danger pulling at my clothes.

John was another matter. When he was around, it didn’t feel like hovering and I longed for more of it. I would have preferred he were with me all the time, but that was selfish. I had seen the camaraderie he’d built with Captain Sterling. John saw him as another mentor, much like Falstone and Marcus, so when he’d told me that the captain had offered to give him a bit of formal training, I had encouraged him to go. He’d assured me he would not miss watching the sunset with me in the garden, and I was determined to be patient.

As I was entering the gardens, I passed by the gardener, who was just setting aside a rake and some other tools, having finished his work for the day. He gave me a smile and a nod as I approached.

“I’m glad to see you out and about, Lady Roslyn,” he said as he took the work gloves from his hands.