I saw that the injured man got his room first. Having the men lay him down gently on the bed, I laid a hand on his shoulder briefly.
"I'll be back." I whispered, more to myself than anyone. I could've sworn I saw him shudder, but reminding myself of my duties as hostess, I led the Duchess and her party onward to their rooms.
Leading the women down the hall, I found Nalia hurrying ahead of me, and I smiled a bit on the inside. She had been at my side since we were children; I suppose she was almost a sister to me. Seeing the party of all of us, filling the hallway to near brimming, she gave me an okay nod, and disappeared as we entered the Rose Room.
Facing a rose garden in topiary form, with fountains and a balcony over them, I heard Aurienne gasp in visual pleasure. I had trusted Nalia to pick out the perfect guest rooms for their entire entourage, and I was entirely satisfied with her choices; it was just what the girls needed, at least, a room that could embrace their femininity for a night, after travel.
"Are you pleased, ladies?" I spoke soothingly, matching the tone of my words and body to the room.
"I believe this will suit perfectly." Avelyn finally sounded relaxed and relieved.
"There is a bath drawn for you two in the washroom as well."
"Thank you, Catryine." Taking my hand, Avelyn squeezed it gently. "We will talk in the morning."
"Indeed. Good night, ladies." Exiting back into the hall, I turned to the gentlemen. "Please, follow me."
We went across the hall, to the Forest Room. In deep hunter green, it overlooked the more rugged part of my estate. "A bath is drawn fore you gentlemen as well. Dinner will be arriving shortly."
"Thank you, Countess." The non-noble collapsed on his bed. "I will sleep magnificently tonight!"
I grinned at the overall enthusiasm he exhibited. "See you in the morning, gentlemen."
Closing the door gently, I pirouetted down the hall, spinning in a frenzied joy and simultaneous worry for the mysterious stranger in my main guest room. I stopped just outside his door even, to collect my thoughts before entering. Who was he? Why was he unconscious in the first place? How did he get into this state anyways?
Opening the door carefully, I gasped as I noticed the empty bed, and the curtains, billowing out of the window in the breeze. Glancing around the room, I caught a shadow of movement out of the corner of my eye.
Whirling around, I could only look into his eyes.
Violet eyes.
God eyes.
"Sorry to interrupt you during your night of leisure, Countess."
I nearly screamed, but managed to get some strangled words out. "You speak via thoughts?" I wandered over to the window to shut it down to just a crack, and there was a longer than necessary silence. Looking back over at him, I could see he hadn't moved, but was making no effort to answer me.
Miffed, I looked back into his eyes. "What, cat got your tongue?" I giggled nervously at the clever play on my name.
"I can only communicate to people via thoughts, my lady, and only if you are willing to make eye contact with me, endowed with the eyes of gods." The voice I heard in my thoughts, his voice, if you could say that, was sensuality vocalized. It was a soft caress of satin sheets, and flurried desires, yearning to be said.
My heart leapt a bit, as I held his eyes in mine, his soul it seemed bared for the shortest moment to me. I understood in a way, and yet, I didn't, the whole situation.
