“Okay, dear. I will meet you there in a minute.” She stands and waits for her sons to join her.
I walk up the stairs and down the hallway into the large hall. My eyes scan the huge room in amazement and I put my hand on my chest. This is the most beautiful room. High wingback chairs sit in pairs, and books line the walls from floor to ceiling. A ladder wheels along the wall on a rail to allow access to the really high shelves. I stand for a moment and inhale deeply. I have been in this room so many times before; I can feel it so deeply within my soul. Only now that I am back at the castle is the significance of my past catching up with me. This is a blessing. This is such a blessing to be given more than one life with this beautiful man. A second row of large dark timber shelves runs in front of the back wall to create a hallway of books and I slowly walk down in between the shelving. I smile as I run my finger down the spines of the leather-bound books. Halfway down the hallway, I get to a deep mahogany large set of books with gold roman numerals on them. I frown. “What are these books?” I whisper to myself under my breath. I take one out and open it up.
* * *
La vida del Ysopet con sus fabulas historia.
* * *
I frown as I try to decipher its origin. I wonder what that means? I quickly type the title into Google on my phone and the results flash up.
Aesop
My heart skips a beat. Alastar quoted Aesop in the title of his photograph. I smile broadly and open the book to flick through the pages. The book falls open to a divide and I frown. A thick cream handmade envelope sits between the pages, as if it was once used as a bookmark and then forgotten about. I take it out, and on the front of the envelope in Alchron’s writing, it reads:
Oh. My eyes fly up and look around nervously. This letter is mine. I hold the envelope in my hand and turn it over to see the back. The wax seal is still sealed. This letter has never been read.
Holy shit. My heart rate picks up.
I turn it back over and rub my finger over the beautiful handwritten word.
Hang on a minute. Alchron only addressed his love as the princess and Henry never had access to this castle. This letter is from a different life. One that I don’t know about. I swallow the lump in my throat and my guilty eyes dart around the library. What do I do?
This is my letter and was sent to me.
I want to read it.
Maybe I could just take it to read and I could return it tomorrow. Nobody will ever know… will they?
“Emmaline?” Alastar calls.
Shit. I quickly stuff the letter into my handbag so that he can’t see. “I’m here.” I smile as I come around the shelving.
He smiles broadly and kisses my cheek. “Are you ready to go back to our room to get ready for dinner, my love?’
I smile as he takes my hand in his. “I am and you need to move your things to Thomas’ room.”
He rolls his eyes. “You are serious about spending tonight apart?’
I smile and kiss him tenderly. “It’s bad luck to spend the night before the wedding with the bride.” I can read my secret letter tonight after he leaves.
His hand roams to my behind and he pulls me forward onto his crotch. “But it is good luck to spend the night before the wedding with the groom,” he whispers into my lips.
I smirk against him. “You are incorrigible, but you can visit me in the morning and we will have breakfast together.”
He shakes his head in defeat and gestures to the door. “Let’s go then. I have to organize my things.”
I laugh out loud as we exit the library. “Twinkle, your things are already super organized. What could you possibly have to do?”
* * *
Alastar’s lips lock on mine and he pulls me into his body, I laugh and try to pull back.
“Tomorrow” I smile into his lips. We have had a divine dinner with Connie and Thomas and are now saying goodnight to each other at the door of my princess room.
“Can I come in?” he whispers as he tries to walk me backwards.
I grin against his lips. “No.”
“Why not?” He smirks as he rubs his hands up and down my behind.
“Because we are getting married tomorrow.”
“Aye. That we are.”
I push the hair back from his forehead and look into his beautiful eyes. “I am the luckiest girl in the world, Alastar O’Shea, to have you loving me.”
He smiles softly. “Tis I who is lucky.”
He kisses me again and his tongue gently rims my lips. “Can I come in?” he breathes. “Let me show you how lucky you are with a preview of married life.”
I giggle and push him backwards. “Stop it, you sex maniac. I will see you tomorrow for breakfast.”
He kisses me again while smiling and I step back to close the door. He doesn’t move and stands still on the spot with his hands in his pockets.
“Will you go?” I smirk.