Alternate Ending To Percy's Home
Like Percy’s home, it almost always smelled pleasant inside Anna’s cottage. Since Carina was a candlemaker and specialized in scented wax, and Anna worked with fragrant herbs, flowery and spicy scents abounded.
Scooting closer to Anna on the pile of blankets before the low-burning hearth fire, Percy took Anna’s hand, assuming that was safe to do in front of Sir Ulrich, who occasionally cast Percy a side-eye.
“How are you, really?” he whispered to Anna.
“Scared. But your mam said that’s common after such an event. She gave me a few tinctures that helped, and I slept for a little while. She said it would take time, but I’d feel better and stronger with each passing day. And what about you? Tell me the truth.”
He did not want to burden Anna …show more content…
“Your body needed it. Besides, my mother’s tinctures helped.”
“I could use even more sleep, if you can believe that.”
“You should go to bed.” He dropped a light kiss onto her brow. “Tomorrow, you’ll feel better.”
“All right. I’ll see you around midday, after you’re done with your family morning.”
Once a week, Sir Perceval’s brood had a family morning. Everyone enjoyed a lie-in, and the children were responsible to make the morning meal. After that, they told stories, played games, or played the drums father had brought home years ago. They were the least musical family in the realm—Yale likened their signing voices to cats caterwauling in agony—but they enjoyed a fine jig and a drum circle.
Percy helped Anna to her feet. “If you need me before then, send word.”
Aware Ulrich was glaring, Percy gave Anna a quick peck goodnight, then he turned to Carina. “That you for supper. Goodnight, all.”
Percy stepped outside into the humid nighttime darkness, and Sir Ulrich followed. “Percy, a word?”
He was in no mood to endure a verbal lashing from Ulrich, but he would never disrespect his father-in-law-to-be. “Of course, sir.”
“Thank you for what you did, back at the rock wall and tonight. You saved my
Scooting closer to Anna on the pile of blankets before the low-burning hearth fire, Percy took Anna’s hand, assuming that was safe to do in front of Sir Ulrich, who occasionally cast Percy a side-eye.
“How are you, really?” he whispered to Anna.
“Scared. But your mam said that’s common after such an event. She gave me a few tinctures that helped, and I slept for a little while. She said it would take time, but I’d feel better and stronger with each passing day. And what about you? Tell me the truth.”
He did not want to burden Anna …show more content…
“Your body needed it. Besides, my mother’s tinctures helped.”
“I could use even more sleep, if you can believe that.”
“You should go to bed.” He dropped a light kiss onto her brow. “Tomorrow, you’ll feel better.”
“All right. I’ll see you around midday, after you’re done with your family morning.”
Once a week, Sir Perceval’s brood had a family morning. Everyone enjoyed a lie-in, and the children were responsible to make the morning meal. After that, they told stories, played games, or played the drums father had brought home years ago. They were the least musical family in the realm—Yale likened their signing voices to cats caterwauling in agony—but they enjoyed a fine jig and a drum circle.
Percy helped Anna to her feet. “If you need me before then, send word.”
Aware Ulrich was glaring, Percy gave Anna a quick peck goodnight, then he turned to Carina. “That you for supper. Goodnight, all.”
Percy stepped outside into the humid nighttime darkness, and Sir Ulrich followed. “Percy, a word?”
He was in no mood to endure a verbal lashing from Ulrich, but he would never disrespect his father-in-law-to-be. “Of course, sir.”
“Thank you for what you did, back at the rock wall and tonight. You saved my