“If that is what ye wish,” Gabriel said. In the corner of her eye, she noticed a smirk playing on his lips. The sight of it caused suspicion to rise within her. Leaning forward, she stared at Gabriel. Keeping her eyes locked on him, she wondered how long it would take before he looked at her.
Gabriel kept his eyes on the book in his hand and turned the page slowly. He shifted his weight as his eyes flew over the words. Frustration bubbled within her as he refused to pay any heed to her.
“What are ye readin’ so intently?” she asked.
“Why? Dae ye want to read it when I’m done? Or are ye that bored?”
“I’m nae bored,” she lied, sitting back.
The numbness in her behind was inching down her legs. The muscles in her thighs begged to be used. Each bump and jostle of the carriage only caused her to want to stop. But she was determined to remain on the road. After all, the sooner they got to the castle, the sooner she’d be able to do as she pleased.
Gabriel’s chuckle filled the carriage piquing Elena’s curiosity. Craning her neck, she couldn’t help but wonder what caused him such amusement. Elena whipped her hand out, snatching the book out of Gabriel’s, and scanned the page. Her eyes widened for a moment before returning to Gabriel’s face.
“What is this?”
“A story,” Gabriel said, unamused by Elena’s reaction. His face was cold and stern as she flipped through the pages before returning it to him.
“Who is this Shakespeare? I’ve never heard of him.”
“Of course, ye havenae,” Gabriel said, snatching the book back from her. “I collected this while on one of many of my travels to Italy.”
“When did ye go to Italy?” she scoffed as her eyebrow arched.
“There are a great many things ye daenae ken about me,” Gabriel said as he hunted for the page he was reading.
“So what is the story about? Seems a bit fanciful if ye ask me.”
“Well,” Gabriel opened the book again and leaned back. “I dinnae ask ye to give me yer opinion. And I doubt ye’d like the story. It speaks of fairies and mayhem. Things I’m sure ye’d find a bit too childish.”
“So why are ye readin’ it then? Does it contain small words for ye to understand?”
Gabriel glared at her a moment and shook his head. Without saying another word, he turned his attention back to the book.
“Why is it called a Mid-Summer Night’s Dream? Sounds to me like a waste of time.”
“Like I said, ye wouldnae like it. Now may I read or dae ye want somethin’ else?”
She huffed and crossed her arms over her shoulder. “Ye ken we are married now.”
“Aye, I was there for the ceremony,” he said, licking his finger to turn the next page.
“Well, what is it ye expect of me when we get to yer home?”
“Our home,” Gabriel corrected. “And I daenae expect anythin’ from ye. Except maybe a few bairns down the road.”
“So that’s why ye really married me, to give ye an heir to yer lands.”
“Is that nae why marriages are made? To produce offsprin’? Really, Elena, yer uncle told me ye were intelligent, but I’m startin’ to wonder about ye.”
“I ken how to read,” she snapped back. “And write.”
“Do ye now?” Gabriel teased as he turned the book to her and placed it in her lap. “Then prove it. For as far as I can tell, ye daenae ken much about anythin’ but have an opinion for everythin’.”
Elena picked up the book and cleared her throat. She sat upright and began to read the passages from the book. The words began to come alive to her as she read of the Fairy Queen falling in love with a human. Despite herself, she found the tale amusing and was a bit relieved to be having something to do rather than just sitting in the carriage.
Gabriel sat back and stared at her. His hand covered his mouth and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was in an attempt at hiding his smile. By the time she finished the second stanza, the carriage stopped.
“Ah, finally,” Gabriel said as the door flew open startling Elena. Gabriel slipped out of the carriage as Elena found herself completely immersed in the story.