“Nothing itches, it’s all in your head.”
“Maybe we did it wrong. It seemed to take forever.” Levi muttered, squirming, clearly uncomfortable in his formal jacket and long trousers. He’d been thrilled at the sight of the new clothes. A rush job thanks to Lastonne. But after five minutes in his new attire, he begun tugging at the collar and fidgeting with the buttons. The only article of his new wardrobe he remained impressed by were his new black knee high boots, with a discreet insole upper added to the required boot, making his gait much noticeably smoother.
“It was a bath. And it took so long because you were so incredibly filthy despite your dunking in the river.” Perri fought the urge to smooth Levi’s perfectly brushed newly short hair down for no particular reason. It was incredibly soft. When he slept, she snuck in to his bedroom and often brushed it off his forehead or adjusted it back behind his ears. “If you make bathing part of your regular routine, they should be much reduced in time from here on out.”
Levi’s head spun around. “I have to do it again?”
“Eyes front. And yes, daily… preferably.”
“Do you bathe daily?” Levi turned to look back and up at Brandth.
“Most assuredly. And I suggest you fall into line if you want to keep convincing the ladies who work in the kitchen to continue giving you pastries and sweetlings. If you offend their noses, those indulgences will quickly cease.”
Perri grabbed Brandth’s arm as he made to lift it. “Do not keep waving at people.”
He grabbed her hand, holding it in his. Grinning. He looked all sorts of dashing in all black. Even with his jacket draped over his shoulders, two belts buckled firmly around his chest to keep his arm in close to his body, whilst a third longer belt acted as a sling, holding Brandth’s arm at the exact required angle for it to heal without any nasty ramifications.
“Have I told you how lovely you look today?” Brandth’s gaze travelled down Perri’s frame, admiring her exposed cleavage and the clinging nature of her attire.
“I never thought I would get such wear out of a black ballgown. You don’t think the neckline a little too risqué for a funeral?”
“Not a bit of it. Besides, take a look at the remaining bridal candidates.” Brandth directed Perri’s attention to the far end of the balcony, where the young ladies gathered, looking gorgeous in their all black finery. Dabbing occasionally at their dry eyes with matching handkerchiefs when they recalled this was supposed to be a solemn occasion. Alia, standing head and shoulders above them, was attired in a blazing red jacket, her long blonde hair spilling down over her shoulders, only her trousers and boots funeral appropriate black. Her expression impassive, bordering on the bored.
“So…” Brandth squeezed Perri’s hand, regaining her attention. It had been two days since the incident by the river, and besides visiting his suite to double check on his broken arm, and demonstrate to his valet, Raschion, how to buckle Brandth into the belts, he had not had a chance to visit alone with Perri.
Of course they were surrounded by people right now, but the majority of those that had been invited to view the funeral procession from the royal balcony were too busy posing and preening, trying to ensure everyone else who didn’t make the cut noticed that they had… to take any notice of Brandth and Perri.
“So?” Perri queried.
“Now that you’ve brought up the topic of weddings… when do you think we should hold ours?”
“Do you really think right now is the appropriate time to discuss it, during a funeral procession?”
“Yes.”
“You wish a date?”
“Yes, and a time. We have slayed the dread evil doer together. I love you. You love me. Every day without you by my side, I am one step closer to bald, toothless and limp. And you are nothing but a dark cloud of dread without me beside you to make you smile and lighten your mood.”
“I have a lot weighing upon my mind. I don’t have time for weddings and all the arrangements that go with one.”
“Then it’s decided, we shall keep it small… intimate.”
Brandth very much liked the dark scolding look Perri sent his way as he breathed the last word directly into her ear, even as a light flush graced her cheeks.
“I do not have time to think about things like weddings, when there is still so much up in the air when it comes to Levi.”
“Oh?” Brandth didn’t think there was much wrong with the boy. Once he got used to the idea of bathing daily, and understood it was impolite to scratch in public.
“He can’t sleep.” Perri whispered. “I think he’s having nightmares about losing his father.”
“More likely his nightmares feature you.” Brandth knew he’d said the words badly when Perri reared back, hurt in her eyes. “Not like that. If he wakes constantly, I should think it’s to double check that he’s awake and that you… his mother, are real and not some dream.”
“Oh.” A pleased smile tilted up the corners of Perri’s mouth. “Yes, of course.”
“Now, about our wedding date?”
“There is too much still undecided in regards to Levi’s future. He’s now Baron Soutner. The land, the businesses, the estates are all his.”
