Golden Braids and Dragon Blades: Steampunk Rapunzel

Chapter 20: Butter Upon Bacon

The evening passed quietly as Ewan, Lucy, and William considered their next moves and to where I should be moved. As it turned out, a lot depended on Mother. But if Mother was nowhere to be found, then what?

Just after sunset, I returned to check on whether my little horde had returned, and I wanted to see to the egg in private. Luna, Estrid, and Wink were waiting on the balcony. They looked exhausted, dirty, and happy. Aside from the dirt, I felt the same. It was strange to be out in the world. As exciting and interesting as it was, it was still a lot to take in. And yet, I felt so comfortable here. Agent Hunter’s library certainly needed better books, but aside from that, the halls of the mansion felt strangely like home. Maybe it was because the place was so cavernous. It was elaborate but homey all at once. I couldn’t imagine why Agent Hunter didn’t want to live here. It was the kind of place a person dreamed of.

I let the girls in and gave them something to eat and drink. They quickly mowed down their dinner then crawled onto the bed to sleep.

“Seems like the three of you have adjusted to Willowbrook Park very well too,” I said, laughing as Wink set her head on my pillow. “If you become as big as a carriage, and you very well might, there won’t be any more sleeping in beds.”

Wink clicked tiredly then closed her eyes.

Giggling, I went out on the balcony. Once again, the fireflies danced across the gardens. It was an enchanting sight to behold.

I heard the door click open behind me and listened to Ewan’s footfalls as he crossed the room. Wordlessly, he came to the balcony.

“Beautiful night,” I whispered, looking up at the moon.

“Yes,” he said softly.

For a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined Ewan wrapping his arms around me. I was just being romantic, of course. Stuff like that only happened in fairy tales. Then I felt his hand touch the small of my back. Tingles of pleasure washed over me, and I craved to touch him more. I leaned into his shoulder. He responded by wrapping his arm gently around my waist and pulling me close to him.

He was so very tall. I felt small but safe with his arm around me.

“Well, have you decided where I should be carted off to?” I asked.

“We have a few ideas.”

“This place is so lovely. I’ll hate to leave.”

“Can’t argue with you there.”

“And if I do have to go somewhere. Will you… I mean, will I have to be alone there?”

Ewan chuckled softly. “No, Rapunzel. I am your knight. I will always be by your side.”

“But Ewan,” I said, “surely you have your own life. You can’t just drop everything because you bumped into some weird girl in a cave who just happened to have a bunch of dragons.”

“I most certainly can. Especially when I was born to look after her.”

“Right. Because you’re a Pellinore.”

Ewan shook his head then reached down and touched my cheek. “No.”

“No?”

“Not because I’m a Pellinore. Because I’m me, and you’re you,” he said, stroking his thumb across my cheek. “Because I was waiting—not for a dragon—but for a girl who loved bacon as much as me. How could I ever let you go now? You’re butter upon bacon.”

“Butter upon bacon. Doesn’t that mean I’m too much?”

“Yes, you are,” he said then grinned at me. “You’re too much to say no to. You’re all the best things at once. You’re better than butter upon bacon.”

“Better than butter upon bacon? That’s a new one,” I said.

Ewan chuckled. I felt his chest shake with the movement. Again, I relished the feel of his body against mine. But his words stirred my heart. “That’s a good line. Did you learn that from reading Jane Austen?”

“No, that’s all Ewan Goodwin.”

“Seems you’re a secret romantic. You’ll have to share your love of romance novels with me.”

Ewan snickered softly but didn’t say anything.

I turned and looked up at him. Once more, he had that odd, pained expression on his face.

“Ewan?”

He smiled softly down at me then stroked my cheek gently. “I had a younger sister,” he said then. “She was only fifteen. She was the one who loved the novels. She was very ill, too ill to even hold a book. I read them to her. All of them. She…died a few years ago. I know those books because of my sister.”

I stared at him. Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle fit together. “The scarf in your auto.”

“That was hers as well. Before she got sick, she used to ride with me. She wanted to join the Society when she was older,” he said then shook his head. “She was a very sweet thing.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, heartbroken when I saw the tears well up in his eyes.

“I miss her,” he whispered.

I smiled softly at him, feeling my own nagging longing and worry for Mother rising up in me. I buried it, staying in that moment for him. I touched his cheek. “What was her name?”

He smiled. “We’re Pellinores to the bone. Dindraine.”

“Of course. Beautiful.”

“She would have loved them,” he said, motioning back to the dragons. “All the world will. But there are some who may want to use them. We must be so careful.”

I nodded.

Ewan breathed in deeply then stared out at the garden. He exhaled slowly, releasing his sadness. “I’ve been dying to check something out ever since we got here. Up for an adventure?”

I nodded, then Ewan and I turned and headed toward the door.

Estrid, who had been sleeping under the blankets, poked her head out.

“We’ll be back soon. No exploring. Got it?”

Estrid snorted then slid back under the covers.

“They’re getting spoiled here.”

“Them and me both,” I agreed.

“Me too. And Lucy and William as well. I think they like Hunter’s stout. They found the billiards room. They were there drinking when I left.”

“And where are we going?”

“Oh,” Ewan said teasingly as he pulled a key from inside his pocket. “Only time will tell.”