Stealing Glances

“The plan couldn’t be more straight forward,” she said in a huff. She had her back to the castle’s stone perimeter and peered around the corner to where the arriving guests were being checked in. “Just do as your told,” she backed up past him and stalked further along the wall

“Here, I’ll give you a boost,” she said when she reached the spot covered by a canopy of trees. He looked at her like she’d asked him to turn into a rabbit.

“What?” He started

“As your told!” she hissed. She bent over and laced her fingers together. He looked uneasy but put his boot on her outstretched hands and held on her shoulders. She gave him a nod as he pushed all his weight into her and she stood up, getting him to the lip of the wall.

He pulled himself up. As he sat up, two black slippers flew past his head. He bent down and held out his hand for her, unsure how she was climbing anything in that thick black woolen coat but she grabbed his outstretched hand and used her bare feet to find nooks in the stone. She scrambled up the wall with ease and was down on the other side collecting her shoes while he was still working out if he should shimmy down or just jump.

He shouldn’t be surprised she was agile, she’d been gone for 3 years training and even when they were children there wasn’t a tree she hadn’t been up. Come to think of it, it had been her pulling him up for all those years. Her younger sisters were happiest with their feet on the ground and their head in a book, Elith could never be still that long. She was always the one in the lake while they were sat next to it. Usually she had their cousin Carrion with her, and Decon would sit and pretend to read with Teal while he watched them be boisterous. But occasionally, when Carrion wasn’t there, he’d follow her into trouble himself.

He jumped down to where she was waiting. She’d lost the coat and was wearing a midnight black floor length gown. It had a high halter neck, tight across her chest, waist and hips and then flared out down to the ground. It had sheer black chiffon sleeves which stopped at her wrists. The dark dress only made her blonde hair all the more striking braided like a crown atop her head. As she stepped to the tree to throw the coat at its trunk, he noticed it had a thigh high slit. He pretended not to notice the glimpse of her muscular thigh as she stood back up.

He adjusted Carrions borrowed black tunic with silver toggles. It was too big for him, not because he was small but because Carrion was an Adonis. It hurt him slightly that he hadn’t been first choice to go with her tonight, but maybe this would be his chance to prove himself. When he stood tall, Elith was already storming towards the entrance.

“Hang on,” he whispered and she stopped to face him but looked anything but happy about it. She arched an eyebrow inquisitively. “We’re meant to look like a couple that is sneaking back into a party after a wander through the gardens?” he asked.

“Yes?” she replied huffing again.

“Well then don’t stomp!” He stood next to her and put his arm around her waist, resting it gently on her hip. She went to walk forward but he held her forearm with his free hand.

“Slowly,” he said. They made their way towards the music of the castle. As they approached the door into the main hall he moved his hand from her arm and interlaced his fingers through hers, she smiled for the benefit of the guard who nodded them though.

The party wasn’t as he expected. The tavern on a Friday night was hot and raucous, this room was huge with a ceiling so high you’d get a nose bleed. But interspersed with people in muted clothes, speaking quietly over the gentle strings of a quartet. In stark contrast to the pub, nobody looked to be having any fun at all. He followed her lead across the room. After a few beats he realised he was still holding her and let go self consciously. She glanced to him but quickly back in front of her as they approached the bar. She took two fluted pewter cups and passed one to him, they both took a sip as she surveyed the room. She leaned her hip against the bar, looking across him. The silence held between them as she took another sip.

“You know, you’re the only one who hasn’t complimented my dress. Everyone else thought it quite dazzling when I tried it on earlier,” she said with a matching dazzle in her eye. He tried to hide his smile but although she gazed past him he was sure she saw it. He loved it when she was relaxed and played with him like this. “That’s because they’re all idiots,” he said matter of factly, and she whipped to look at him as if he’d slapped her. In the same second he realised how his response had sounded and looked at her too. He opened his mouth to explain when another couple began approaching their space. Elith’s face returned to its usual expressionless mask and Decon had no choice but to smile at the looming pair.

They both nodded their heads politely when they were within conversation distance and Elith and Decon did the same.

“Lord and Lady Adlington,” the small dark haired woman said holding out her palm up flat in front of her. She looked to be in her 80’s. Her husband was of a similar age, wearing a navy blue tunic matching his wife’s gown.

“Lord and Lady Broin,” Elith replied placing her palm on top. They nodded again and dropped their hands.

“Broin is an unusual name,” she noted.

“We’re from the islands,” Decon explained.

“Oh how wonderful,” Lady Adlington mused. “It’s so refreshing to see new faces. Especially such young beautiful ones. What an attractive couple you are, barely old enough to be married.”

“Childhood sweethearts,” Elith smiled.

“How delightful. And is there more to him than his nice face dear?” Elith chuckled and glanced to Decon, he looked at her with an expectant grin and she paused for a moment to soak in the smile that met his eyes.

“Well, he’s reliable,” Elith answered. “And caring,” she said taking his hand and smiling at him. “He’s kind in a way that reminds me every day he’s a good man without being boring or predictable.” Elith looked back to the woman and smiled, not dropping Decon’s hand. The woman opened her mouth to speak but Elith continued. “He’s funny and charming with just a hint of goofy.” She chuckled. The old woman looks to Decon and back to Elith, very pleased with how’s this conversation was turning out. “He’s been a part of my family as long as I can remember and we’re all very lucky to have him.” Elith finished, patting his hand and releasing but keeping her gaze on Lady Adlington. Decon took Elith’s hand back in his and kissed the palm gently in a quiet thank you. She’d never so much as complimented his hair cut before today so he was quite overwhelmed with her words.

“My, what a catch!” she exclaimed! “Does he have a younger brother?” “Unfortunately not,” Elith said amused.

“What a pity,” Lady Adlington said and smiled warmly to Decon. Her husband remained stone faced and bored.

“Apologies My Lady, would you excuse us a second?” Elith asked and made her way to the far side of the room. Deconnodded to the pair and followed after her, feeling bolstered by her praise of his character. Even if it was for the benefit of a rouse, he couldn’t help the smile that was immovable from his face.

Elith ducked into a corridor and he did the same, she opened one of the doors and slipped in. He looked around to check nobody was watching before he followed after her. He was distracted, he wanted to ask her how she’d thought of the things she just said but they found themselves in a small reading room and she was pulling up a tapestry on the wall to reveal a hidden staircase like she knew that’s exactly where it would be. She looked over her shoulder to him, clearly pleased with herself and then ducked under holding it out for him behind her.

Once again he followed, they ascended up a stone spiral and he could just make her out in the dark ahead of him. It was probably two flights up until they emerged though another tapestry, this time into a grand study.

Elith stood and looked at a bookshelf that filled the entire wall until she’d spotted what she wanted and went over to retrieve it. Under a glass case was a small vile of glinting silver liquid. She lifted the case delicately, took the vile and passed it to him and then returned the case back. He turned it over in his hands. It was heavy cut crystal and looked very ornate. She turned back and took it from him, sliding it into her dress at the bust. He should have looked away but it was too late by the time he realised what she was doing. She looked up at him.

“That was easy,” she shrugged and went to make her way back to the tapestry when they heard voices outside the study door. The secret stairs were over the other side of the room, but just behind them was an armoire. She pulled him by the sleeve and shoved him in, getting in in front of him and shutting the doors just before the the voices entered the study. It sounded like two men, seemingly joking about some of the party quests. One of them pulled out the chair and the creek of it under their weight and then another creek he suspected was the other man sitting on the table.

The men’s voices lost his attention when he realised Elith was forced into him. His back was pressed against what felt like material, she must have struggled to fit with the door shut because her taught body was strained hard against his, the back of her head lightly touching his nose. His hands were holding onto either side for balance and his body folded around her.

“Easy eh?,” he whispered into her ear and she let out a quiet breath. The men’s conversation continued. Elith and Deconstood in silence while they waited to make their escape. A strange thought took him, they were so rarely alone without everyone else and in their current state, she had no choice but to listen.

“The dress earlier,” he said in a whisper his lips almost touching her ear. “I didn’t mean it how it sounded.” He took a steadying breath and continued, “I think they’re idiots because they saw you in that dress and thought you looked beautiful, because to me,” he adjusted his body slightly, “you look just as beautiful in that dress as you do in your dressing gown drinking tea at your mums kitchen table.” He couldn’t help but smile at the image. “Or when you get out of the lake and you’re hair is tangled from drying in the sun, and you’ve got those freckles across your nose. Even in those trousers Blind Billy gave you for winter solstice that Teal said made you look like a mountain goat.” He feels her laugh gently. “I’ve never seen you look anything but beautiful.” He paused, so close to grazing her ear with his lips. “I know I’m just Teals best friend. And you’re her sister,” he continued with a resigned sigh. “But I see you, since we were children I’ve always seen you.” He brings down a hand from the side of the wardrobe and lingers it by hers. “Everyone thinks you’re tough and god knows that’s true, even a bit scary.” He chuckled. “But you’re also kind and generous and selfless.” He brushes her wrist with his fingers tips. “I trust you with my life, not just because you’re strong, but because of all the ways you aren’t.” He breathes in deep, “I …”

Suddenly there’s a commotion outside. “It’s gone!” a man shouts. Decon holds his breath. Shit. There’s a lot of stomping boots shouting and then quiet.

“Quick!” Elith whispers and is out of the armoire before he can even take in what was happening. He stumbled out after her and shut the doors behind him. She was over the other side of the room holding up the tapestry for him to get though, he did so and ran down the stairs as quietly as his boots would allow. He paused at the tapestry at the bottom and slowly peered around it checking the room was empty before letting Elith out behind him. She was straight over to the door and he followed close behind. The corridor was empty and Elith was in an almost run ahead of him until she stopped abruptly swung around and pulled him to her, pinning herself against the wall.

He put his hand up by her head and stood close enough for his breath to brush against her cheek. He presumed she’d pulled him into this position because someone was coming but he’d stopped caring. This is why Carrion is picked first for missions he thought to himself. With his free hand he ran a thumb along the line of her jaw and she snapped her attention from the corridor to him. She opened her mouth to say something but his lips were already on hers.

“Excuse me, party’s over,” the approaching guard said. “Time to leave, please make your way to the doors.” Decon pulled away and they’re eyes locked for a heartbeat, her expression unreadable. She flicked her head to the guard and made her best faux surprise face and they followed his instructions.

When they rounded the corner to the main room, the party was in complete disarray. The music had stopped, there were raised voices and angry faces. Everyone was being ushered towards the exit where guests were being searched as they left. It looked to be only the men and bags. Thankfully in polite society they’d never be checking where Elith had placed the vile. He put his hand on her shoulder as they made their way to the exit with everyone else. It was chaos, especially just outside the doors where every carriage was trying to make their way to the gates at the same time.

As they reached the front of the queue that had formed, one of the guards patted Decon down while another looked over Elith and nodded her past. She kept her expression nervous and worried as Decon was released and came to hold her hand. Relief poured through him as he held her. They went towards the line of carriages to make their exit when a final guard with a scroll stopped them.

“Names?,” he said?

“Excuse me?” Decon inquired.

“Where making sure there are no gatecrashers. Name? So I can check you off the guest list.”

“Ahh,” Decon said his mind suddenly a cyclone of dust without a single solid thought emerging.

“Lord and Lady Adlington,” Elith said confidently, looping her arm through Decons. For a few heart pounding seconds the guard looked up and down the list, before he found the names and let them past.

“Shit, you’re brilliant,” he said to her when they were out of ear shot.

“Hold that thought, we have to get far enough away from here first,” she laughed.

“If it’s alright with you,” he said looking at her, “I might still think it anyway.”