Girl of Flower and Flame

Chapter Three

When spring arrived on the moors, there was no worry, no trouble at all, except which resting spot was best. The land around the manor had come alive with wildflowers and wheat and the grass that moved like the waves, stretching near and far.

These days, Eulalia preferred the warmth of Rowan's lap, but at that moment he and the boys were tossing around an old, deflated ball, so she had settled for a spot on a thin blanket instead, beside Lena because Harlow favored wrestling with the boys too.

Harlow was no better than a piglet when it came to her hygiene, cute yet caked in mud. Eulalia would have a tough time getting her in the bath tonight.

She slung one hand over her eyes to block the glare of the sun. A smile decorated her lips. She would have liked nothing more than to join the boys in their game and thought she might soon enough. Lying there as the sun darkened her already brown skin was a treat in itself. The grass, newly green from last week's downpour, provided a soft cushion for her back. Not to mention, the smell of it was no better for her than a cigarette in the hands of an addict. With each intake of breath, Eulalia was walking on air.

"Eulalia," said Lena suddenly, snapping her out of her trance when she shut her book.

"Hmm?" Eulalia lowered her arm, giving Lena her full attention. Well, as much of her attention she could give in the tempt of spring.

Turned on her side, Lena wiggled closer. For the past several minutes, she'd given her attention to nothing but her book, another fairy tale she had Eulalia sneak from Madam's library. But now, her gaze was turned to the boys. She licked her pink, small round lips. "Do you think Madam would let you and Rowan go away together if you asked?"

Eulalia bent her head a fraction so she could see Rowan, the boys, and Harlow. Someone had kicked the ball too far and Cosmin had run off to get it. "Aim it here, Cos," said, Rowan, hands cupped around his mouth, his chest swelling and falling. He'd taken off his shirt, allowing Eulalia to trace the lines of his abdomen with her gaze. He'd grown leaner with all the work Tut and Madam set him to do around the moors, yet he was well defined, and all the running had brought a glow to his deep, brown skin.

Maybe tonight he'd let her get closer. He caught her gaze and winked. Eulalia looked away, her head full of stars. "I don't know, Len," she said.

"You don't want to get married then?" Lena continued to watch the boys, one boy in particular-Fallon.

Eulalia didn't respond. Before long, the sound of Lena flipping the pages of her book joined with the others playing. Gabriel and Cosmin were laughing at something Fallon had done.

"That's it, I'm taking you both to school," said Fallon. When had his voice gotten so deep? When had he gotten so handsome and Lena so pretty, her cheeks so high and round as she smiled down at her book?

Of course, they'd talked about it, leaving Hampstead House, Madam, and Tut, finding their own way. But it was too impossible. Where would they go? How would they live? Love alone wouldn't provide the proper sustenance. And what would Madam do without her?

Yet, Rowan dreamed of more. From the first time they met, both age twelve, he'd told her, with an air of cockiness, that he would use his power for good, buy his own land and watch it all flourish under his touch.

Someone began to cry. Eulalia rolled onto her stomach. "Harlow, what's the matter?"

Rowan swept her up in his arms. "Okay guys, let's call it a tie," he said. He carried Harlow to where Lena and Eulalia were sitting, settling down beside Eulalia with Harlow on his lap.

"Had enough?" asked Eulalia.

"Never in my life," he said.

"You smell," she said, yet scooted closer to him.