Elijah led Rue to the centre of the room, where others gathered.
"I apologise for making you have to dance," Elijah said as he placed his hands on Rue. "I don’t have an excuse that your father would allow us to be alone."
The music soon started to play before Rue could respond. Elijah and Rue followed the steps of the couples around them.
"I don’t mind it. One of the things I did when I went ho was learn how to dance again so I wouldn’t make a fool of myself. I found it to be quite enjoyable since so dances reminded of using a sword. I’ve co up with a beautiful way to show my talent with a sword," Rue shared.
Rue now had a growing love for dancing.
Elijah knew only Rue could include a sword in dancing. "I would like to see it when you have ti. I’ve had to spend weeks with many thinking you and I were not speaking to each other. Or others worrying that you would not return."
"I said that I would, and I will always keep promises. Everyone knew that my father had to return to finish what he started concerning the border, and there was to be a festival for my people here. Did you for a second think that I wouldn’t return?" Rue wondered.
Rue thought of the ladies Elijah could choose from. None would ever match her, but there were so good choices for him to choose from if he had given up waiting for her. As everyone said, Elijah Collins needed to choose a wife quickly.
"I did. You could have missed your ho and not want to return. I would have understood your wishes and not been upset," Elijah replied.
"I see. Well, I do miss being at ho with my family, but coming here does not an I can never go back to the border. The border will always be my ho, and no one can ever stop from going there. The next ti I return, I hope you can join ," Rue suggested.
"If you ask nicely, I might feel inclined to go with you," Elijah responded.
"I have asked nicely, you cheeky bastard. It is good to see that you are still in good spirits and not married. I thought my absence would have encouraged other ladies to approach you again. I was thinking I should have left one of my friends to guard you," Rue said, still considering doing so.
"Friends? By friends, you don’t an your pets, do you?"
"Of course, but for you, they would be friends. You should consider this an honour, since I don’t entrust them to the hands of soone I do not care for. If you want to court , this is who I am. I prefer pants over dresses, I might walk around in armour, I love animals, which most ladies don’t, and I have much to learn about Lockwood."
"Rue," Elijah leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I have known you for many years. None of what you share has ever been a secret, and I have considered all of it. The estate is in my hands, so I can do whatever I please with it. There are many rooms for the future lady to do as she wants."
"I see. Would this future lady have an entry to your dungeon?" Rue inquired.
"Did you return for , or are you only interested in the dungeon?" Elijah questioned.
Rue chuckled. "I am interested in both. Wouldn’t you like to see my mother’s dungeon? Oh! If you wish to know, Quinn is still alive, but just barely. He begs to die every day, but my mother won’t let him."
"I am not interested in Quinn at the mont," Elijah said, his focus fixated on Rue.
"No wonder the ladies co up with many sches to be with you. You are charming," Rue complinted Elijah. "A lady of an estate is sothing I am not ready for, and I wish to continue the days of you courting . We have the remainder of the season to enjoy ourselves before sothing serious."
If Elijah was still courting Rue by the end of the season, she was not going to allow him to run away.
"I am quite good at hunting, and should you try to get rid of when I have decided to stay here, I will chain you to a chair so you will be my new pet. You are used to my short visits, but think of how it would be to be with every day," Rue said for Elijah to consider.
"It sounds like you are threatening with a good ti," Elijah answered.
Rue couldn’t believe his response. "My mother is true when she says n do not think with their heads. Oh, that reminds . My great-grandmother sent you a gift. Wonderful timing," Rue said since the dance ca to an end.
Rue revealed a small bottle she was told not to let break. "This is what she sent for you."
Elijah was once again surprised that Rue’s great-grandmother was still alive. It added to the tale that the Woods won were going to outlive the n.
Elijah removed the cover and brought it to his nose to have a whiff. He imdiately regretted it since there was an awful sll.
Elijah imdiately covered it again before he could clear the room with the scent.
"What is it for?" Elijah asked as he placed the cover back on the bottle.
The bottle needed to be stored sowhere it could never be opened again, and the clothes he wore now needed to be burned.
"I do not know. I spoke of you, and she said it was a gift for you. Well, for us, but it was to be given to you. She makes the strangest things, but she ans well. If you could ignore the scent, it would work wonders for you," Rue promised.
"I will keep that in mind. As promised, I must return you to your father’s side, but I will approach you again once he has dropped his guard. It was lovely dancing with you," Elijah said, raising Rue’s hand to kiss as a parting.
Rue looked behind Elijah, noticing her father coming forward. "He is already on his way. You should go," Rue nudged Elijah away.
By the ti Rafael was at Rue’s side, Elijah was gone.
"Whatever you are planning, don’t. What is that scent?" Rafael asked, unfortunate to inhale sothing he wished to forget.
"It is a great-grandmother’s gift to Elijah. Father? Father! You mustn’t take it!" Rue exclaid as she followed her father.
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