Chapter 7: The Birds and the Bees

Maeve

I spent the rest of the morning trudging through the tall grass, which had sprung back up to its usual height after the sun came out and began to dry the weighed-down blades. I struggled against the unruly grass, the sharp, dry blades constantly snagging on my shirt and poking the skin on my hands and neck.

“Damn you, Aaron,” I hissed, finally popping out of the field and into the castle’s well-kept grounds. The garden was empty of its usual inhabitants. Everyone, including the gardeners, were helping clean up the aftermath of the storm. I found the emptiness peaceful, and instead of going back inside the castle I found myself wandering around the gardens for at least an hour.

It wasn’t until Gemma came out looking for me that I went inside. She picked the grass out of my hair as she walked behind me, talking incessantly about the storm’s damage.

I started up the stairs, but she stopped me, grabbing my elbow. “Where are you going?”

“Oh, um. To my room, to change.”

“Don’t worry about it. There’s no time.”

“For what?”

“Oh damn, I forgot. Maeve, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it last night but with Aaron showing up and”

“What is it, Gemma?”

“Horace scheduled an appointment for you with the doctor today, in a few minutes, actually. It’ll be brief.”

| stepped off the stairs, a strange sensation rippling through my stomach, something like excitement, or nerves. I wasn’t sure

“in the infirmary?” I asked, letting her take the lead. We walked through the winding hallways on the first floor, passing the dining hall and library as we made our way to the far eastern wing of the castle, a darkened, rarely used area.

Sure enough, the lights inside the infirmary were on and I could hear Ernest’s voice from within the sterile waiting room.

I entered behind Gemma, who had gone stiff and flushed as I stepped to stand beside her. I looked at her, then turned to where she was looking, my hands tightening into fists.

Aaron was standing in the corner of the infirmary’s entrance, his arms crossed casually over his chest as he talked to Dr. Metzer and Ernest

“Stop shaking,” Gemma whispered, giving me a side-eyed look. “There’s nothing to be worried about. He’s just going to take some blood,”

“I’m not worried. I’m mad,” I whispered back, still looking at Aaron, who gave us both a nod in greeting.

“What’s the matter.”

“Ladies!” Ernest exclaimed, clapping his hands together. He pranced over to me, bending down to kiss me on each cheek before! could dodge him.

“What’s wrong with you-” I mumbled, but he ignored me.

“Gemma, my dear. Excellent work on managing the castle in our absence,” he said with a genuine air of gratitude as he looked from me to her. Gemma flushed with pride.

I smiled softly to myself, happy for Gemma. Ernest was kind to her and really did appreciate her help around the castle. I looked down at my feet as the two exchanged niceties.

But I felt a sudden rush of heat touch my cheeks as I waited to be told what to do. I looked up slowly, making eye contact with Aaron. He was staring at me the same way he always did, his eyes focused intensely on mine, taking me in.

And, like the times before, it was almost as though a silent conversation was passing between us, something I couldn’t yet

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