Free The Heartwood Box: A Fairy Tale by Lilia Ford

. ” He’d crept up so silently! 
    “I hate when he does that,” Donal grunted .
    Derek picked up a basket and started off without waiting for the rest of them .
    Genevieve made a sudden decision and without saying anything to Damian, she jogged after Derek . When she caught up to him, he only gave her one of his scowl s . It should have been intimidating, but Genevieve was becoming accustomed to his ways and decided to imitate his brothers and not be put off by Derek’s hostility .
    S he took his arm . Luckily, he was too well-bred to shake it off , though his good manners did not extend to making conversation .
    “I understand you and Donal are to live with us,” she said finally.
    She could have sworn a wave of sur prise flashed over his features before they resolved into a n expression of stony indifference . W as he deliberately trying to offend her ? It seemed incongruous behavior if Damian was accurate about his brothers’ wishing so much to share their house .
    She couldn’t help wondering if despite Derek’s best efforts, he felt some lingering resentment . Far from being offended, however, Genevieve was becoming curious about this prickly new brother of hers, who unlike the other two seemed at the mercy of a difficult temper — much as she was .
    Either way, she had no intention of living with a man who thought he could quell her with a look — or force her to eat foods she disliked! 
    In a tone that perhaps approached the border of saucy, she said, “Damian assured me that you and Donal both wish it . Of course he also told me that I’ m to have charge of the meals . Please be aware, if you care greatly for tongue, you’d best get it at the village tavern for it won’t be served at our table.” 
    She gave him an excessively sweet smile and let g o his arm to return to Damian.
    But before she could go back, he caught her wrist and said in a low voice, “Don’t forget, sister, that Damian also swore you’d be tied down if y ou refused to eat your meals.”
    There was nothing in his expression to indicate he was joking . Genevieve gulped a moment and then steeled herself . In a tone that definitely crossed the border over to insolent, she retorted, “You can try , ” and ripped her hand away.
    She jogged back to Damian and Donal, relieved that they could not have heard the little exchange . With a bright smile, she told them, “I was just informing my new brother that I would have charge of our meals now, and if he must eat tongue, he should get it at the tavern.”
    The two brothers stared at her with such s hock, she suddenly feared she’ d displeased Damian with her forwardness . But before she could apologize, he dropped his basket and swung her up in his a rms, kissing her on the mouth.
    “Damian!” she protested.
    “Must I do all the work ? ” Donal groaned, picking up Damian’s basket .
    “You whine about carrying a basket!” Damian roared . “When my bride has braved that dyspeptic troll we call a brother.” 
    Genevieve giggled and gave him a little kiss back . Damian looked at her with such affection, she felt her heart filling .
    It had been such a strange outing, spitting cherry pits with Donal, being fed bites of t ongue sandwich by Derek, kissing Damian . She didn’t think she’d ever passed such an enjoyable day in her life, and yet there had been nothing out of the ordinary in it — no fireworks display or acrobats or dancing, just a simple picnic with her betrothed and his brothers.
    Unfortunately, they arrived home to find her mother in her most querulous state, full of troubles over the flowers and something about icing that Genevieve couldn’t even pretend to follow . The many emotional tumults of the past few days were catching up with her, and Genev ieve realized she was exhausted . It was not a good state for coping with Mama’s propensity to worry endlessly over things Genevieve considered trivial .
    Thankfully , Damian and Donal came to her rescue .