Page 53 of Lord of the Hollow Court
While Rineke cackled and took the pillow for her own use, Bibi smiled warmly. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Katty.”
“Katrina!” Rineke corrected, rubbing at her eyes as if still sleepy. “We have to call her Lady Katrina.”
“You do not.” Katty looked down at the heavy bedding around her, rich and warm. And the friends she’d found here—she must be the luckiest person to ever stumble through the woods on Halloween night.
It felt odd, thinking of herself as lucky.
Bibi’s smile turned wistful. “For what it’s worth, I thought this is what last night would be like.”
Katty squeezed her knees. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we’d accompany you to your new rooms”—Bibi glanced at Rineke, eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Rooms?” Katty asked, eyes widening. “I have more than one room?”
“We’d help you out of your wedding dress,” Bibi continued.
“Which we did, once you stopped flailing,” Rineke interjected.
“And then you’d wear your new nightgown and robe and settle onto the bed, and we’d keep company with you until the groom arrived.”
“It’s tradition,” Rineke said with a nod.
“And we’d laugh like banshees and tease you until you were scarlet, and beg you for details about your visit to the Lord’s Grove.”
Jabbing her elbows into the pillow Katty had thrown, Rineke propped her chin onto her hands. “Whatwasit like, Katrina?”
Katty flushed immediately. She must be purple by now.
Rineke tilted her chin to glance at Bibi. “Is that it? Have we done everything we were meant to now?”
“Everything but wait for his lordship.”
Rineke sprung up, a breeze hitting Katty as her wings flapped. She toddled toward the door, legs still stiff with sleep, and threw it open. She glanced into the hall, then looked down, letting out a squeak of surprise. When she turned, a woven basket hung from her hands. Rineke flipped the cloth aside that covered it. The heavenly scent of fresh rolls filled the bedroom.
“There’s a note,” Rineke said, roll already in hand as she set the basket on the bed. She plucked a leaf of folded stationary from its side, proffering it to Katty.
Katty took the folded paper, squinting at the inky scrawl. “It says they were sent at Lord Braam’s request.”
Bibi laughed. “I guess he came.”
“And left rolls,” Rineke added. “Consider yourself properly wed.”
Beneath a shy smile, Katty beamed.Properly wed.Her. In a room more luxurious than any she could’ve imagined, and to such a handsome husband—she blushed again, remembering him in the Grove, and the beguiling silver that threaded the hair of his chest. The things they did together—
“What are you smiling about?” Rineke demanded. “You’re thinking about the Grove, aren’t you?
It wouldn’t do to keep blushing all the time. Katty straightened her back, raised her chin and said, “Yes, I am. And it was wonderful.” She paused, considering whether to allow herself a moment of wickedness. “Hewas wonderful.”
Both faeries hooted in unison, Rineke nearly choking on the roll she’d stuffed into her mouth. Bibi slipped off the bed to jump up and down. “I knew it! You’re so lucky, Katty.”
Her moment of courage passed, and Katty hid her face behind her knees. “You’ll be lucky too, one day.” A smile stole over her features. “And Rineke even sooner, if she’d only hurry up!”
Rineke’s hands went to her hips. “What does that mean?”
“You know.Hugo.”
“Hugo,” Bibi sang. “What are you waiting for, Rineke? You know he’s too shy to ask you. I saw you two dancing last night, like you were the only two in the room!”
