Page 15 of Straw and Gold
“Our room,” I corrected under my breath.
I continued to carefully lift each piece of broken glass, knowing most of these gowns would need to be laundered before I could wear them.
He rose and cleared his throat. “Your bed is here. Your wardrobe is there.” He pointed at a new wooden cabinet I swear hadn’t been there the night before either.
“Did I sleep through servants bringing these in?” I opened the doors, finding it empty.
“No,” he said, folding his arms again.
“But then how did they?—”
“You’ll find the bathing chamber behind this door.” He pointed at the blue door beside the second bed. “And you’ll find this door leads to my study.” He gestured to the door painted in gold next to the enormous fireplace that took up most of the wall.
“Ourstu?—”
“No, Morella, I will not be sharing my study with you. Your vows did not promise that.”
I folded my own arms at my chest. “Ourvows,” I added, just to smile at his irritation.
He strode to the door leading to the hall. “I expect you to be ready in fifteen minutes. Someone will come to retrieve you forourbreakfast.”
I grinned happily at my success at him using the word.
He poked his head back in as he left. “Don’t get so excited. ‘Ours’ meaning the entire castle staff and guests will be there, too.”
He chuckled and shut the door on my scowl.
Twenty minutes later,I was already five minutes late.
The servant he had sent up to retrieve me waited politely at the door to our room as I scrambled in and out of the bathing chamber, tossing my things every which way out of my trunk, looking for proper shoes to coordinate with my midnight blue dress.
I slid across the wood floor, calling, “Just one more minute, please!”
She curtsied and said softly, “Your Majesty, perhaps you could use some assistance?”
“Oh, no,” I laughed, “I really am almost—” I found my second shoe, cursing at the blue salve gooped at the heel. Falling to the floor in a slump, I rubbed my face, exhausted from long days of travel, a night of dancing, and a vexing husband.
I had lain in that room for two hours the night before—tossing and turning, growing angrier by the minute before I’d decided to take what I wanted.
And I wanted to share my bedroom with my husband.
Judging by the rising flush to my cheeks as I pictured his face, I wanted to share much more, even through his incredible talent of making this harder than it needed to be. But I never did back down from a challenge. And Killian was a challenge I had no choice but to win.
“Would you prefer to wear these, Your Majesty?” the woman said, holding out a pair of yellow slippers, gilded in pearls.
“Perfect!” I shouted, sliding my feet into them and rising from the floor. “Right. Thank you, er?—”
“Alista, my queen.” She curtsied again, clasping her hands in front of her.
I thanked her another time, giving her a good once-over. Ringlets of gold framed her head in striking contrast to her mahogany skin. With wide eyes and full lips, I recognized her as the servant who had captured Fedir’s attention on the dance floor.
“May I?” she asked, gesturing to my frizzy braid.
Nodding, I sat at Killian’s desk, making note that I’d need to drag the dressing table into our room as well.
Alista hummed a sweet song as she braided my thick black locks, taming them into something far more queenly than I’d ever be able to achieve. When she finished, she added, “Just one moment, Your Majesty.”
She rushed out of the room and across the hall. I peeked through the door to find her rummaging in the wardrobe of the room I would have been occupying if Killian had his way. Pulling out a crown of simple gold and citrine, she placed it on my head. “There,” she sighed, “you’re ready for your first day as queen.”
