In Which Ashe Is Confronted with the Unfamiliar Game

September 19, 1177

Ashe flipped the page and found the next no less indecipherable. His father had been a man of action with no use for books and of course his mother was dead long before learning to read was an option, so if young Aspen had ever aspired to literacy then her wish had gone unfulfilled. She'd been granted an opportunity to learn later in life--from Rona of all people, who had resolved to do all the teaching herself--but they'd only been a couple of lessons in when Lorn had sent Aspen packing. Interaction with books had been limited since, but he figured he'd have to puzzle it out sooner rather than later.

'Later', however, was looking increasingly more likely. Most of these symbols didn't look at all like the ones Rona had explained all those months prior. Perhaps it had been stupid of him to fill his bedroom with books. He'd thought they might motivate him, but just looking at them he felt like more of a fraud than ever. If he had an ounce of sense left he would have told Lorn to let Rona do as she pleased before exiling himself into obscurity along with everything else that shouldn't have existed.

Someone knocked at the door. The steward, probably. That was such an odd thought. It hadn't been all that long ago when he'd taken orders from stewards. "Come in."

"Uh... you know that your book is upside-down, right?"

It was Rona. He couldn't remember his face ever going so damn hot. "Right. Uh... I don't read very well."

He shut the book and watched as she surveyed the shelves. "I see."

"I've been trying to learn." Last time he'd said something like that to her, she'd launched herself into a flurry of excitement, swearing that by the end of the year Aspen would be able to read whatever she pleased. There was no such show today. It appeared that her cold spell of a few days earlier had not yet subsided.

"Good luck with that, then."

The lining of his cheek tasted bitter as Ashe eased himself off the bed. He loved her more than life itself and didn't want to pressure her, but all this back and forth was starting to take its toll. There were days when she'd leap into his arms at the first sight of him, kiss him and stroke back his hair and beg him to stay just a few minutes longer. There were other days when she wanted little to do with him and practically pushed him out the door.

Jadin had said not to worry, that it was just a little game women liked to play. Ashe had actually been a woman and had no knowledge of such things. He must have made one lousy woman. Ah, but who was he kidding? Not like he was much better at being a man.

"I heard you finally moved in and I wanted to see what you'd done with the place." It did answer why she was here, even if he hadn't thought to ask.

He set the book on the floor and met her by the foot-board. At least she wasn't going out of her way to keep their distance. "It's quite bare so far."

"I'll say." Frowning, she took a look at the bed--or, more specifically, the bedding. "Are you using my family colors?"

Did that count as pressure? "No," he lied. "I just... like red."

Rona sniffed. "Kind of a pinkish red for a bachelor."

"The fabric was on sale." She raised an eyebrow. Great. Now he was illiterate and cheap. "Besides, I can always replace it."

"Shame. It's quite nice."

Was that a part of the game or not? He didn't want to play, but he couldn't say that just in case it wasn't. He'd already hurt her enough. "I'm glad you like it."

He wasn't sure what he expected her to say after that, but it didn't matter much because she didn't say anything. She looked almost nervous just glancing down at the toes of his boots and he shouldn't have doubted her. She was just as new to this whole courtship thing as he was and it had been selfish and petty of him to forget it.

"Rona?"

She looked up, golden brown eyes almost doe-like. He wasn't sure what that meant. He hoped he wasn't scaring her.

"Would you maybe like to stay for supper?" He reached for her arm, but thought better of it as her muscle twitched. "I haven't tasted my cook's food yet, but it would be nice to try it with some agreeable company."

"Yes, well..." Swallowing, she glanced toward the door. Was a dinner invitation really so forward? "I actually had plans..."

Maybe she didn't know what her brother would think of her being here unchaperoned. Or maybe she just didn't want to eat with him. Either way... "That's all right. Maybe some other time."

"Right." And yet, she didn't seem so sure. "Um... I have to go."

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