6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Natasya

I t's a crisp autumn night as I go out to the village square. The housewives of Sunder Hollow have been busy preparing for the impromptu ball, and the square is lit with candles that have been placed in carved out pumpkins to protect the flames from the occasional sharp, chill breeze.

While I was dressing with the aid of my skeleton butler, the townspeople decided it was time to show Evengi Ichabod that while we are a small town, we know how to throw a ball.

"My dear," Brom whispers in my ear as he comes up behind me. He takes my arm and guides it into the crook of his arm. "You look exquisite tonight."

I smile to myself, I do. And that's all Brom needs me to be, his pretty little bride-to-be to hang off his arm. There's no reason for him to ever need to know about the skeletons in my cellar because all we will ever be to each other is a trophy. And that's fine with me.

It would get too messy if there were true feelings involved. I mean, just look at Bronwyn. Wilder has the power to completely control her emotions and can either ruin her day or make it with a simple string of words. I can't imagine actually giving someone that sort of power over me.

"There's our gangly guest," I whisper to Brom, nodding my chin to Evengi who has stepped into the square. He's traded out his dusty traveling clothes for a fresh tunic of royal blue, a short purple cape hangs from his shoulders. His golden hair catches in the candlelight as he turns as if he realizes that we are talking about him.

I feel my breath clog in my throat as it seems almost as if his eyes lock on mine even across the distance of the village square. Evengi smiles to himself and begins to stride across the square toward us.

"I swear, Natasya, there is something about this Mr. Ichabod that is oddly familiar," Brom says to me.

I turn to him, my eyes flicking over my fiancé's features registering the concern he feels. I don't know who this Evengi is, but his presence here could very well jeopardize me. I want Brom complacent, not worried and on edge.

Still, maybe if he is so focused on Evengi, he won't bother looking at me.

Fiddle and flute music fills the air, and the square begins to fill as the inhabitants of Sunder Hollow begin to party. We don't have a proper bard, but some men here have picked up some musical knowledge from the odd traveling minstrel who would stop and stay in the town. It's not any sort of traditional sounding music that I've heard in the outside world.

That music is lilting and subtle, this is rustic and haunting.

I plaster a smile on my face as Evengi strides toward us, a glass of spiced apple cider in his hand. "I appreciate this ball, Brom," he says, smacking Brom's arm with a sort of familiarity that causes my fiancé to frown.

"It was our pleasure," I say quickly before Evengi notices Brom's frustration. I'll admit, I find myself rather curious about this newcomer and why Brom finds him so familiar. I tell myself that it's simply because I need to protect my investment. A threat to Brom is a threat against my chances of getting that spellbook. I wrap my arm around Brom's waist, resting my hand on the spellbook resting there, reminding myself of what I'm doing this all for.

Brom mistakes my caress and pulls me closer, placing a kiss to the top of my head.

Evengi's eyes, too sharp, too cunning, dart to my hand, then to Brom, before finally landing on me. I stiffen slightly. He has no reason to suspect me of anything, and yet, I can't help but feel as though he takes in more than he should.

"I hope that you enjoy the evening. After all, you are the guest of honor," I say, hoping my tone doesn't betray how tense I feel.

Evengi smiles slowly as he holds out his hand palm up. "As the guest of honor, I suppose it's only fitting I use my auspicious title to claim a dance with the prettiest woman here."

I pull back slightly with surprise as Brom stiffens this time. Evengi Ichabod thinks I'm the prettiest woman here? Sunder Hollow may not be large, but there are a number of pretty lasses here who I catch standing huddled together staring at Evengi with admiration.

He could have his pick of any woman here; he is handsome and novel enough that if he proposed marriage, he would have a wife before the night is through.

Why would he go for the engaged woman here?

I can't help but feel flattered. Am I really so beautiful that Evengi would go for a hapless cause over someone readily available?

"Assuming it's fine with your betrothed, of course," Evengi adds after a moment, and I realize that I have left him standing there with his hand outstretched just a moment too long.

Brom laughs, but there is no humor in the sound. "Of course, just know I'll want her back before the evening is through."

I place my hand in Evengi's before I have the chance to consider my eagerness to do so. I tell myself that I'm just caught up in the beguiling mystery of Evengi Ichabod. That is why my heart races as I look up at him, the exhilaration of figuring out a puzzle. Just because that puzzle happens to be tall and handsome has nothing to do with it.

I glance over my shoulder at Brom as I move away. His jaw ticks as he watches us, and I can't help but feel a little good about that. It's nice to know that I'm desired.

Evengi pulls me into a dancing position and begins moving me through the steps, however, as he dances, I notice that he keeps his eyes on Brom who is watching us with his arms crossed. "You and your fiancé seem like quite the couple."

"I'm the woman of Brom's dreams," I say with a small laugh repeating the corny line he used on me when he first proposed. I can't help but smile slightly at the memory. If there is one thing that I can be assured of, it's that at least life with Brom will be quite amusing.

"Do you love him?" Evengi asks as he sweeps me under his arm. My skirts fan out around my legs as I twirl. I blame them for why I stumble.

"Love?"

He arches his brow as he steadies me. "You know, butterflies in your stomach, falling asleep with his name on your lips, the desire to start a family with him? That feeling."

I bite my lip as I look up into Evengi's eyes. He stares down at me awaiting an answer, and I silently curse myself for not immediately replying with an affirmative. It wouldn't be the first lie I've ever told. It certainly wouldn't even be the most egregious.

I pull my eyes away as I step to the side. Evengi follows making it look like just a part of the dance. "What does it matter to you?" I ask before I wince. Why can I not just say yes ? I am only opening myself up for more questions from Evengi.

I never should have agreed to this dance. If I'd known it would turn into an inquisition, I would have remained safely by Brom's side. At least, he takes me at face value and knows better than to ask me ridiculous questions such as whether or not I love him.

So, what if I am trapped in a loveless engagement? Love is not something I lack nor is it something I need.

I have my father's love, my mother, my sisters. I have more love in my life than is entirely necessary.

"I am trying to figure out who you are is all," Evengi says simply like it's not the single most terrifying sentence I have ever heard.

The last thing I need is someone trying to figure me out. "Whatever for?" I ask as I paste a smile onto my face with great difficulty. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize that I should have just laughed it all off and said something insipid such as "there isn't anything to figure out," or that I'm an "open book."

Evengi studies me. "Let's just say that I have a vested interest in Brom and leave it at that."

He drops me into a dip, and I gasp as my heart lurches into my chest. "You can't just say something so cryptic and leave it at that."

Evengi smirks. "I just did."

I open my mouth to protest but just then he leads me into another twirl. I'm dizzy as I am swung back around, finding my chest pressed against Evengi's hard one. I gasp for air as I look up at him. "Where did you learn to dance like that?"

"I'll tell you," he says gripping my waist and tugging me closer as he hooks his foot behind my ankle and takes off dancing across pavilion. We're moving so fast that it's like we're flying, and it takes every bit of what I learned about dancing while staying with Taryn to even manage to keep up. I have no chance to talk as we move back and forth and up and down the village square, as if we are one. I don't know where my foot ends or Evengi's leg begins. All I know is his guiding hands around my waist, gently but firmly holding me steady despite feeling as if his arms on me is the only thing keeping me from lifting into the air.

Suddenly, Evengi puts out his leg, draping me over it in a graceful dip. The sudden stop jolting me after the blur of motion. My skirts flare out around us both, creating a false sense of isolation. Like for a second, it's just him and me here instead of a village full of people watching us dance.

He stares at me for a long moment the both of us gasping for breath before he slowly straightens, pulling me up with him. He loosens his hold on me, but I notice that he doesn't entirely let go. His eyes sparkle offset by his flushed cheeks as he says. "But only if you tell me what you want with Brom the Bones."

I stare at him unsure how to describe the way this stranger makes me feel. He makes me feel almost how I always imagined the dead things I play with do. Marinette's on invisible strings, hanging to his every word and yet disgusted by it.

If I know what's good for me, I should make this Evengi my pretty little dead thing. He would ask far fewer questions when he is no longer a member of the living. It's what my father would expect from me.

Instead, I find myself smiling as I step away. "Why wouldn't I want to marry the handsomest man in town?"

Evengi's eyebrows shoot up, and I laugh slightly to myself as I turn only to find myself staring into the stony face of Brom the Bones. However, his attention isn't on me at all, but on Evengi. "Mind if I cut in?" he asks, but from the tone of his voice it's clear it isn't a request.

"Of course," Evengi says graciously as he places my hand into Brom's. "I thank you for sharing her." Then to me he winks. "I'll keep my end of the bargain whenever you decide to be straight with me. We can discuss my dancing later."

Then he walks off, leaving me standing next to Brom while he squeezes my hand just a little too hard. The both of us staring after Evengi Ichabod and wondering just who this traveler who came to our small town might be.