"Ohayou**, Lydia," Edgar greeted.
"Good morning, Lord Edgar," Lydia responded, taking a seat at the balcony table where breakfast was set up. She draped a napkin over her lap and fiddled with the edge. "How is your arm?" she asked, pouring milk into her oatmeal.
"Thanks to Raven's care, much better. My rest was almost perfect. Pass the sugar, lovely Lydia."
"Almost?" she asked, handing it over and ignoring the compliment, as usual. He seemed well enough.
In the lapse of attention, her hand brushed against Edgar's. She gasped and made to pull it back; however, the earl was quicker.
He wrapped his fingers around her small wrist. "It would have been a dream come true if you had joined me," he murmured, kissing her hand, "but I will wait until that is your desire as well as my own." His velvet voice stilled as he held her eyes for a moment. Lydia opened her mouth, intent on asking about the last words in the carriage yesterday, when he let go. Sitting back in his chair, he added, "Your hair looks beautiful in that twist."
"What, oh... " Blushing, Lydia picked up her spoon, idly dipping into her breakfast. "Thank you, Lord Edgar."
"Edgar," he admonished, voice quiet once more.
Lydia's blush deepened. "Edgar."
"Hello, Lydia," a gay voice called from behind, "don't take a bite yet." Lydia turned, and from his perch, Kelpie grinned. "You'll be disappointed since you left the honey out."
"Kelpie!" Lydia dropped her spoon into her bowl with a clang. "You're back."
Kelpie took one of the free seats. "Why wouldn't I be? Those hounds weren't that grand of a challenge."
"No, well," Lydia stumbled over her words, "I thought that was the case, but I thought it would take you some time at least to heal from your-"
"Lydia," Kelpie sighed in exasperation, "they really weren't any threat to one such as me. I am a more powerful person of the Unseelie Court." He surveyed the table. "You were the one in danger, you and this idiot earl you were intent on saving."
"Morning, Mr. Cane," Edgar smoothly interjected. "I suppose I owe you a small debt of gratitude."
"That's right you do! Stupid earl getting yourself into danger and dragging Lydia with yo-"
"Allow me to provide you with a little treat this breakfast," Edgar interrupted, ushering in a servant holding a covered tray.
"Well, now, it seems like you may have some manners after all." He took the lid off and stared at the six long bacon strips. "Not bad at all," he noted before stabbing and eating one. In a couple minutes, he had picked up another one.
Edgar raised his glass of wine with a coy grin. "Do enjoy yourself," and sipped.
"Hmm.... Edgar seems to be up to something but nothing is happening to Kelpie. My imagination?" Lydia mused to herself.
"After all, I wonder how long it will take you to realize that half of them," he took a longer sip, "are actually liver strips."
"WHAT??" Kelpie yelled, standing up and backing away. "You- after all I did-" He held a hand to his mouth as his hair began to stand on edge and his face turned green.
"After all you did for me? Oh yes, if you mean nearly taking my soul, then of course I remember." He chuckled as Lydia looked on, stunned. "You fall for it every time. Helping me when Lydia is involved does not even the score..."
"You bastard! I really will kill you-" Face twisting, Kelpie leapt off the balcony and disappeared into the fountain.
"Kelpie!" Lydia hollered, rising.
".. though this trick of mine may," Edgar finished, draining his glass of wine and looking over at Kelpie's plate. One lighter strip remained. "Ah, too bad, he left one piece of liver."
Sighing, Lydia sat again. "Edgar, why do you always pick on Kelpie?" She poured a large stream of syrup over her breakfast. "I mean, he did save your life back in the Prince's trap."
"Lydia, dear Lydia, don't worry your head about him. He'll be fine, albeit he'll lose all of the pork when he tries to get rid of the liver." Chuckling over his trickery, he pushed his chair back and rose, looking over the balcony.
"I didn't mean that. I meant-"
Edgar smiled and turned back towards her. "I know what you meant, sweet Lydia."
"Then why-"
"Because he is my rival."
"Rival? For what? He would never go after the Earl's title. He couldn't-"
"Lydia," Edgar stopped her excuses with that one word, her name said in that whispered dark tone. "He is my rival for something much more important than any title or any throne I may covet." Bowing over her hand, he held out a single, wild star lily. "Your heart, Lydia."
Lydia stared at the glistening flower held out to her and finally took it from him. "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it. Raven was able to find it in the dawn." He caught a lock of her hair in between his fingers. "One solitary flower blooming with the cool light of morning, still shining with mildew from the twilight."
"Edgar..."
Her hair cascaded from his hand. "Your father will be expecting you."
Lydia blinked as the Blue Earl left the balcony unable to call up any words to ask him back. The question from the carriage was completely blown from mind.
........
