Page 24 of Waking Roslyn

“They are Princess Marilee’s guards. They’re the ones who have taught all of us.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know if I was comfortable with that. “I was thinking perhaps you could just show me some things.” I wrung my hands, trying to contain my nerves.

His eyes widened. “Certainly,” he conceded, though his unsure tone contradicted the word.

I couldn’t explain why the idea of him teaching me was more comfortable than someone else doing it, but it was. “I’d rather not make a spectacle of myself by joining a group that would no doubt be curious over my presence.”

“They’ll be curious regardless, but I can understand if you don’t want an audience.”

“So you’ll do it?” I asked, needing the confirmation.

He nodded and smiled, seeming excited by the idea. “When would you like to start?”

“Is tomorrow too soon?”

He tilted his head and studied me. It was such a boyish gesture on such a mature body, and the combination made my stomach flutter. “Tomorrow it is,” he agreed.

My heart lightened, grateful that John had agreed to my bold request. But then an awkward silence settled between us. I cast my mind about, searching for a change of subject.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he said.

I was intrigued by his abrupt request. “Something you don’t know?”

He nodded, a grin stretched across his face. “Something you don’t normally tell people.”

The teasing glint in his eye put me at ease once more. It wasn’t often that I was teased, but his easy grin made me want to play along. “Let me think,” I said, resting my head on the back of the couch and tapping my finger against my lips. All the things that immediately came to mind were too sad for this sort of game. I had to think of something more lighthearted.

“It can’t be that hard,” he said after a moment. “After all, I know practically nothing about you.”

The way he turned toward me, as though anxious for my answer, made me want to curl up in the comfort of the couch.

A little grin pressed upon my lips when I came up with an idea. I turned to him, trying and failing to look serious. “I think broccoli is the worst taste in the world.”

He tipped his head back and laughed, then pressed a hand to his heart. “Oh, Miss Rose, you wound me. Your words hurt my very soul.”

“The truth is hard to hear sometimes,” I said, enjoying the sound of his laughter.

“I will never yield to such an opinion,” he proclaimed.

“Now it’s your turn,” I said, raising my brows at him. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Well, clearly you don’t know much if you are—”

“No insults!” I insisted, brandishing my finger at him. “One must not judge the truths of another.”

He shook his head with another small chuckle, then let out a sigh as he thought. “As part of my renegade activities…” He let the words dangle as he tilted his head and raised his brow at me.

“Oh yes, please tell me all your renegade secrets.” I scooted closer.

He pressed his lips together, prolonging the moment of suspense just a little longer before saying, “I stole a tremendous amount of money.”

My chin jerked back. “What?”

He held his hands up. “It was all returned, and I had very good reasons.”

I blinked several times in disbelief, my mouth hanging open for a moment before I said, “Oh, I must hear this story.”

It was better than I could have imagined. Not only was he a gifted storyteller, but it was a fascinating tale. I suspected that large parts of it were made up, but I didn’t care. He spoke of his friends with warmth and respect. Amidst the adventure, he painted a picture of safety and contentment that was difficult for me to relate to, and I ached for it.