#scarsdale

"I do not wish to go back to the Hollow. They will ask questions..."

"Won't they be suspicious when you not only donn't return, but avoid any requests?" Earl asks

"I do not care. I do not wish to be grilled abut this."

"You take credit, aye?"

"Dornklippe knighted you."

"Credit is.. going to be an odd word for it" Earl says "they may question how she got away, did I see it, so forth. Imagine their reaction when and if they find out I bypassed their jurisidiction?"

"See? You do not wish to be questioned, either."

"I did not see her escape." She closes her eyes as she uses Earl's lap as a pillow. "But I must needs speak to Emmitt about all of this."

"I guess I don't" He strokes her hair, "I don't like lying and I think I may have to. I'll see what I can do to avoid that. Never know when a Gwydion is in a hold. Are you okay? that had to be stressful"

"I do not like being held. And I.. I was scared, when I got hurt trying to squirm..."

"You got cut up pretty badly. Anyone with a survival instinct or common sense would be scared," He massages her temples

"I would rather we ascribe this to.. ah.. chance, and luck, and sluaghish curiosity..."

"No mention of the Naming."

"Definitely no mention of naming if possible... but they'll wonder how she pulled off what she did. "

"We can plead ignorance..."

"And will.. I'll handle it" he says

"You will need glamour, to recover..."

"Mmm glamour well spent" Earl says. Not quite disagreeing but acting as if it's no biggie

"Still..."

"Why trueheart, are you trying to fuss over me?" He looks down at her on his lap, Earl's eyes dance

"I knew you would save me." She catches his hand and draws it close to kiss it.

He sighs happily "I'm glad one of us knew for sure. If you had died I think I might have gone mad"

"If aught should happen, I would haunt thee in thy madness, and would not leave thee to suffer alone."

A smile "I'd rather be mad with you than sane without any day" And he kisses her

"Oh, I shall be a ghost most fearsome... I shall weep neath a long black veil, and moan piteously from the floorboard... I shall taunt thee from the mirror..."

"Ohwill your sublime form press against the glass but never be truly in reach?" His eyes light "What sweet frustration if so"

"I shall whisper secrets from beyond the grave, things which no living man may know..." Soft sweet promises. "Aye, were you not already mad, you would surely be so driven..."

"Ah, but the genius that would then lay in my tormented brow!"

"Aye, thy brush and thy easel the only outlet for the images that haunt thee..."

"And I shall be great and folks will call me 'magnificent madman' and wonder who is my muse? But they dare not dream"

"Nay, it shall be our secret."

His hair, getting a bit longish, spills about her as he bends his head over hers on his lap, "Always.." And he takes her hand back and kisses finger tips "And forever"

A happy little murmur, and she sits up to kiss his lips.

And they might forget they're making out in her parents' house

...just a little