Quinn

Drawing my knees up to my chin, I gazed longingly at the other side of the bed. I couldn't believe I had fallen asleep before Aldric arrived, yet again, and I sighed. Oh, well, there was always tonight. After all, I wasn't going to give up. I'd keep trying to wait up for him even if it takes weeks. Now, I had better get ready and start the day rolling because it was going to be damn busy.

After a shower, I put on my makeup, neutral and chic, and then donned another winter dress. Fluffing up my hair, I headed out the door and went downstairs into the dining hall. I arrived just as breakfast started at seven, and since it was early, not many were around. I noted Robert, David, Darell, Kent, Spencer, Grayson, Chris, and Derek, the early birds eager to get their days, and work, going.

Since I knew I'd be done eating before any of the Templetons arrived, I got myself breakfast, which was eggs Benedict with crispy bacon and sliced avocado, and headed over to the men, who were surprised to see me.

"My lady," Robert said.

"Gentlemen," I greeted. "Mind if I join?"

Kent said, "By all means."

I took a seat, and Chris Orson, the head of the Norsewood Lodge watchtower and security, said, "The secondary health check is today, isn't it, my lady?"

I nodded. "It is indeed."

"You will be busy yet again for the next week," Grayson Kerr, the head of Norsewood Lodge maintenance and groundskeeping, said.

I sighed. "I will be. Luckily, I have my little elves to help."

"Little elves?" Kent asked. "You have elves to help you, my lady? How is that possible? There's only us human living here."

"I've never heard of elves being referred to as little," Darell said. "Aren't they just like us except for the long ears? They're quite tall, so I've heard."

"They are," Derek Porter, the man with the green finger from Carnfell working with Kent at the agriculture department, said. "Unless there's another race of elves that are small?" He looked at me, expecting me to explain.

I widened my eyes, realizing I shouldn't use the word elves in this case. After all, elves really do exist here, and they had nothing to do with Santa and working in a factory in the North Pole making toys. They also did not have a long life span like that in a fantasy novel. Rather, theirs, as I've found out, were the same as humans as well as dwarves, demons, and many other intelligent species in this world.

I said, "That's not what I meant. I'm just implying I have helpers in this case."

Almost like the minions, but not the little yellow peanut-shaped creatures that went about being pretty useless and causing chaos in the movies the children here seemed to love so much. There were even some boys who had started speaking gibberish to each other, and a few of them had even requested their mothers working in the textile department to make them denim overalls, too. I suspected I'd be seeing a few sporting those soon, when the garment hall with clothing made by Norsewood people launched and officially opened for business.

"Ah, helpers," Robert said. "You'll need them. Lady Eden and Lady Sara?"

I nodded. "And Maria and Frances," I said. Wanting to know how the departments were faring, I changed the subject and asked Chris, "I hope you're getting used to working with the equipment now that it has been one month?"

He chuckled awkwardly. "We're getting there, my lady. Everything is very... different. We're grateful none of us guards have to be out in the cold, especially at night, all the time while keeping watch. We only needed a few men in the control room keeping an eye on the surveillance screens and a few more making their rounds about the buildings and the grounds. I'm grateful for the change in the system. Is this how guards protect the manor and town where you came from?"

Grayson said, "It must be safe in Bedford."

I shook my head. "I'm not exactly from Bedford," I said. "Although I can honestly say that where I came from, it is safe, and yes, the security system I set up here is how it is set up there."

Although not as complex if we were talking about the nationwide scale, of course. But for a big building like a hotel, hospital, or corporate company, then yes, for sure.

"The surveillance cameras, as you call it, are very efficient," Chris said. "However, it is unfortunate we can only see up to a certain point from the lodge, though the distance is far greater than viewing with our eyes compared to before. As routine, Lord Norsewood still dispatches soldiers to survey the land since the cameras can't reach that far."

Grayson said, "Sending soldiers off to survey the land during winter is dangerous, but it must be done."

I asked, "Were there accidents?"

Robert nodded. "The terrain is almost unrecognizable in winter, and even veterans like Captain Connor or Sir Theo still have some trouble."

"What about the accidents?" I asked. "Do most get treated in time or...?"

"Some get treated in time, if it's not severe," Darell said. "Unfortunately, in winter, trying to find the way back is the obstacle. Sometimes, a pair of inexperienced soldiers would go missing for two or three nights, and it'd be too late when they were found."

"I see," I said, my mind racing. It looked like pinpointing where the injured was located was the difficult part. Unfortunately, there was nothing like a map here, nor something like a walkie-talkie where—

Wait!

I gasped and stood up, which surprised the men.

"Oh my gosh!" I said, my eyes wide as a light bulb went off in my head.

"My lady?" Kent asked. "Is everything all right?"

I turned to him and smiled. "Uh, yes, of course, everything is fine." I sat back down again, feeling excited, and said, "I should finish breakfast and get to work."

"Yes, indeed," Robert said. "I should, too."

As I ate, my mind was still racing. The men were busy eating, too, and chatting, or rather boasting, about the progress in their departments. When I was done, I said, "Gentlemen, would you be able to come to a meeting this evening after dinner?"

"A meeting, my lady?" Darell asked.

I nodded. "I just came up with an idea and I think it should be shared and discussed. I'll talk to Aldric about it, of course."

Robert said, "Any idea that comes from you is usually very intriguing and useful, my lady. I'll attend."

"Me, too," Derek said. He looked almost too eager.

"Great," I said and then sauntered off.

Hoping to catch Aldric before starting work at the health clinic, I headed up to the penthouse and encountered Martha and Jenny ushering Jonah, Abi, and Alex out the door.

"My lady," the two nursemaids said as they curtsied in unison.

"Martha, Jenny," I said.

Abi came running up to me the moment she spotted me. Chuckling, I ruffled her hair. "Good morning, Abi. Alex." Turning to the oldest. "Jonah."

"Morning," the boy said.

"Breakfast," Alex said. "Hungry."

"Indeed, it is breakfast time," I said. "I've already had mine. Since you're hungry, why don't you all go down? It's your favorites today."

Alex gasped and asked, "Pancakes?"

"Yes," I said. "Pancakes."

And French toast as well as eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, oak porridge with fruit, and chicken rice porridge. It was always good to have a variety of choices for the residents, after all.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Alex said, practically dragging Martha by the hand toward the elevator.

Moments later, they were gone, and I headed into the penthouse to see Aldric coming down the stairs from the master suite. He must have just returned from his morning drill with the warriors and had a shower. He seemed genuinely surprised, and more so... astounded to see me, which was strange.

I smiled brightly at him, and once he was close, I said, "Good morning, husband," as I grabbed his hands with mine. Then I stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but I felt as though he... stiffened and then flinched back. From my touch? From my kiss?

I blinked, confused.

"Uh, good morning," he said.

I gazed at him for a moment, wondering...

"You look lovely," he said.

He complimented me again, like yesterday. I saw his gaze drifting over me, and I felt myself growing hot at the intensity of his eyes. Oh my, I didn't know Aldric could look at me like that—all dark and passionate and very suggestive. But what was that earlier? Was it just my imagination?

Yes. Yes. It was simply my imagination, I told myself, and then I turned my attention to the important matter at hand. I said, "Aldric, I would like to have a meeting with the important members of Norsewood tonight after dinner. I'll be busy with the health clinic, so would you be able to notify everyone?"

"A meeting?" he asked.

I nodded. "I was at breakfast with Robert and the rest, you know how they always have theirs earlier than everyone else, since they can't wait to get to work and such. Anyway, they were talking about how soldiers used to get lost when surveying the land during winters in the years past, and some inexperienced ones would go missing and they weren't found until days later."

He said, "It is a dangerous job, and the appearance of the land changes drastically in winter here in Norsewood. But it needs to be done."

I nodded. "I know that it's dangerous and that it needs to be done," I said. "Which is why we need to discuss it and come up with safety protocols and such to prevent future mishaps."

He looked at me for a moment and then asked, "You've come up with something, haven't you?"

I broke out smiling. Oh goodness, but he was already figuring me out. I winked at him and said, "Of course. So, could you do that? Inform everyone about the meeting?"

He nodded. "I'll make sure everyone turns up."

"Thank you," I said, and standing on tiptoe again, I raised my face toward his, my lips out and ready for a smooch. I was inches away from him when he drew back and held me at arm's length, keeping me in place, preventing me from moving an inch.

He said, "Uh, I have... urgent work duties that need my attention. I should really make haste." He stroked my hair and then very, very briefly brushed his lips against my forehead before letting me go.

Stunned, and more so, confused, I blinked a few times then turned to look at Aldric as he hurried to the door and disappeared from my sight.

Feeling rather shocked, I dazedly walked about the room for a few good rounds, and then plopped myself on the sofa, staring into space.

Did Aldric just avoid my kiss? He really did, didn't he?

Oh. My. God. Did that mean... Was that why...

It had been two months since we uttered the words I do, and we still had not made love. Not even once. I had always put it down to us both being busy, what with the travel and then the tragedy of his home being raided and the loss of his people's lives and everything else. I just had never thought it was because I was... that undesirable.

Well, I admitted I was indeed small in all the physical aspects compared to the Norsewood women, but I still had a cute face. That was a redeeming factor, right?

I sighed, and I finally had to admit that I was not Aldric's type. I wasn't tall, I wasn't curvy, and I didn't have big breasts.

I chewed on my lower lip with worry. What was Aldric's late wife like? Was she tall and had curves in all the right places? If she was anything like most of the Norsewood women, then I would assume she must be.

I hesitantly moved my hand to touch my chest and wondered if there was magic to increase breast size. I shook my head.

No! No! No! I wasn't going to change myself to please Aldric. If he didn't desire me, well, he didn't desire me, right? There was nothing I could do about that.

Or was there? After all, lovemaking was about pleasure, and despite my shortcomings in the physical attractiveness area where Aldric's taste was concerned, I knew I could please a man in bed. After all, I had had experience tumbling about in my previous life with my cheating ex-boyfriend before we broke up.

I did a fist pump and said, "Right, Quinn. Personal mission: seduce husband and make him fall in love with you."

Of course, if that didn't work, then we'd have to sit down and have a serious heart-to-heart talk. There was always an annulment since we hadn't yet consummated. I wasn't going to bind Aldric to me when he didn't love me, although I did love him and hoped it wouldn't have to go that far.

I sighed. Arranged marriage was damn difficult. One simply didn't know if one's spouse truly loved you or not because it was an obligation.

I stood, and noting it was high time I got my backside to the health clinic, I dismissed any thoughts of Aldric from my mind, since I now needed to concentrate on work, and I headed downstairs.