Page 43 of Enchanting the Elf
Adelbert rounds the table to his own seat and we sit down at the same time.
The atmosphere is a bit awkward and I am suddenly not quite sure what to do with my limbs. I settle for folding my hands on my lap and subtly look at Adelbert for any cues.
The uneasy silence lengthens as we stare at anything but each other, the chirping of some friendly birds the only sound. I’d love to ease the tension, but I seem to say the wrong things lately, so I sit up straight in my chair and wait for him as he gathers his thoughts.
Adelbert clears his throat. “How is your embroidery faring?”
“It’s going well, thank you,” I answer warily.
“Do you need more thread? Or hoops? How about fabric?” Each question has Adelbert’s eyebrows climbing a little higher up his forehead.
“I’m still good since the last restock you ordered. And I saw Lindsey the other morning. She gave me some colors thatweren’t listed on Pixie Parcels,” I explain. Lindsey found this perfect gold thread that looks just like sunshine and said she had to give it to me.
A line forms between Adelbert’s drawn brows. “The pixie helped you? How does she know what you need?”
“Some mornings we chat when I’m up and she’s doing a delivery. Did I do something wrong?” Though our meetings are brief, I try to meet Lindsey for a quick chat when she’s scheduled to make a delivery. Besides Adelbert and Sir Purrington, Lindsey is the only other being I can talk to in person.
“Not at all. I was not aware that you have become… friendly with her.” Surely, that’s not a bit of jealousy I detect in his tone.
I smile sadly at Adelbert. “She’s so lovely. I’ll miss her when I’m gone.”
Adelbert shifts in his seat and scratches the back of his neck. He leans back and then sits forward again, leaning his forearms on the table.
“Can I see some of the art you have created? The new ones, I mean.” Adelbert meets my eyes before looking away again. There’s a glimmer of vulnerability there, but that can’t be right.
“Is there something you don’t want me to feature? Everything is focused on the forest. I won’t do anything to reveal the actual location of Alberad or your home,” I promise.
“I’m not worried about that. I’m just… curious,” Adelbert mutters with the subtle pout.
I have no idea what’s going on with Adelbert today and why he’s acting so out of character from his usual, distant self.
I nod and play with the stem of my empty wine glass. “Uh, sure. I’ll show you after dinner.”
Adelbert sits up straighter. “Thank you. What is your ultimate goal with your embroidery? What would you like to do?”
I pause my movements and arch my brows. “Um… is there a reason for this interrogation?”
Adelbert groans and throws his head back against his seat. He presses his hands over his eyes before dragging them down his face.
“I must apologize,” he says with one hand on his chest. “I am only trying to get to know you better. I know embroidery is such a big part of your life, I was merely trying to learn more about you.”
Is he nervous? Is that why he’s acting so strange?
“Oh.” I bite down on my lips to keep my smile from spreading and hook my feet around the chair legs. “My ultimate goal is to have my pieces exhibited in galleries. But embroidery is not a very common form of art, and I do need to make a living. Selling my art is my bread and butter.”
Adelbert leans forward again and rests his palms on the table. “If you had a choice, would you want to keep them?”
I take a moment to think it through, considering each piece I’ve created. “Maybe not all of them, but the sentimental ones, yeah,” I say slowly, weighing the words carefully. “There is one specific piece that I have not been able to part with yet. I’ve also not uploaded any of my new Black Forest pieces. I’m too attached to them.”
“I loved the art you showed me before. I know if there’s anyone who would capture this forest in all its due glory, it would be you.”
A warm feeling clamps around my heart and melts through my veins, lighting me up from the inside out. “That’s a really nice thing to say. Thank you.”
“Would you like some wine?” I almost get whiplash from the sudden topic change.
“Yes, please.”
Adelbert reaches for the bottle before my answer is fully out of my mouth. I keep my eyes on his movements as he expertly goes about opening the bottle and pouring us each a glass.
