Roses Bloom Among Thorns - Chapter 3
Tessa had never seen so many books in her life. It nearly took away her breath when she saw the library inside of the castle. She felt her eyes widen. "Magnificent, is it not?" said Will from behind her. "Oh my goodness! I don't think I've ever seen so many books before in my life!" said Tessa with an awed expression still plastered on her face. Without waiting for Will's response, she bounded of to the nearest shelf and explored the many novels that lay upon it. A Tale of Two Cities, Little Women, The Three Musketeers, you name it, it was on that shelf.
Tessa picked her favorite novel, A Tale of Two Cities, and made her way over to the chaise, on which she sat down and began to run her hands over the cover. The cover itself was the color of the leaves on a tree in early July. The pages were starting to yellow with age, and smelled of ink and parchment. Will, who had been leaning against the door frame, came over and sat next to Tessa. She looked up at him. "How is it that you have so many books?" Her eyes sparkled with interest. "Well, I am the Prince." He said, as if it explained everything. She nodded her head.
"It must be glorious." said Tessa "To have all of this luxury all the time, to have people respect you, honor you even." Awe plastered her face once again as she regarded her Prince, the Prince of Asiana, with respect. "It is Glorious some times, but I have no one to share it with." He said, a sad look crossing his face, gone in an instant.
"But you have your sisters, and your mother and father. Isn't that enough?" asked Tessa, now bewildered. "It is alot but, alas, it is not enough. I want someone whom with I can share my heart and soul. Someone like me."Tessa's heart fell into her stomach. Why would the Prince, who didn't have to lift a finger if he didn't want to, be sharing his feelings with her? She brushed it aside as him just showing her a act of kindness. He was known to be kind. It had been at least forty-five minutes since Tessa had gotten here, and none of the other women had shown up yet. So she asked, "Will, how early was I?"
"You were exactly two hours early." He said. A sudden blush crept up her neck and up her cheeks until she was beet-red. "Was I really?" Her voice came out in a squeak. "Yes you were. But that is quite alright. I do enjoy the company. You see, James has been busy this morning, doing God knows what, an refuses to come out of his room." He said, smiling a genuine smile. "What do you think he is doing?" said Tessa, giggling after Will's last statement. "I think he is practicing his beloved violin. He does it when ever he an and since we will be having company today, I think he wants to practice while he can." said Will. "Do you want to meet him? You might be able to draw him out of his room. You are very beautiful today."
Tessa's blushed darkened a shade as she replied, "Why not? Who ever gets the chance to truly meet the Prince William Herondale and Lord James Carstairs in the same day?" Her voice was once again a squeak. "Let us get going then. His room is on the other side of the castle." Said Will, getting up from the chaise and walking over to the door. He turned and looked at her. "Well are coming or not?" He said, raising one perfect eyebrow in an arch. Tessa scrambled to get up. As soon as she righted herself, she followed him out of the door.
...
Will walked through the twisting hallways of the castle, with Tessa trailing behind him. He noticed that she still had his copy of A Tale of Two Cities between her slim fingers. He loved that book but he had more than one copy. I am going to give it to her, she deserves it. He thought to himself. The only way the people of Asiana could get books was from the library, which was about the size of a regular house, if not smaller. It was poorly stocked and Tessa loved the book so much. He thought she ought to have her own copy to keep all to herself.
What the women that were coming here to the castle didn't know, was that he was going to pick two ladies to stay in the guest rooms for a few more days after the ball, so he could be sure of his decision. Tessa was definitely going to be one of the two. "Will? Hello, are you in there?" said Tessa, clearly annoyed that he was ignoring her. Not that he had been meaning to, of coarse. "Hmm? Oh yes, umm, Sydney Carton." He answered, trying to make it sound as though he had actually been listening. "Sydney Carton cannot be your greatest fear, can it? I thought you said she was your favorite character?" Said Tessa, obviously trying not to laugh.
"Ducks." he answered softly enough so that only he could hear himself. Tessa sped up her pace so that she could hear him better. "What was that?" she said. cupping her hand around her ear closest to Will in mockery. "I said Ducks." repeated Will. Tessa scrunched up her face in confusion. He had begun to notice that when she was embarrassed, she would blush and put her head down, when she was confused she would scrunch up her little nose, when she was excited she would take a loose piece of her hair and twirl it between her fingers, and when she was worried she would wring the hem of her dress between her hands. Right now she was definitely confused.
"But how can you be afraid of ducks? They are so cute, especially when the shake their tail feathers." said Tessa. "Make no mistake, Tessa. They may be cute on the outside, shaking their tail feathers and splash about in the pond but mark my words, you can never, and I mean never, trust a duck. I fed them a poultry pie once. They ate it to, the bloody beasts." Said Will with a tone of disgust. Tessa laughed so hard she snorted, which Will found extremely adorable.
