First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Seven

I said as much to William and he grimaced. "I know what you mean. Often times, I will be dancing and laughing and drinking with everyone, all the while wishing I was anywhere else. Particularly when I am in the middle of a really interesting book and have to set it down to join the festivities."

"Is that what you were doing before tonight? Reading a good book?"

He smiled a little sheepishly. "Yes, I was."

"Do you have a favorite place to read?" I asked.

"Well, I will often read in my bedroom, but my favorite places would be the library." His eyes widened then and he leaned in, eyes sparkling with excitement. "What if we didn't go back to the ball?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting?"

All propriety forgotten, he took my gloved hand in his and began leading me back into the palace.

The warmth of his fingers seeped through my glove and my heart beat faster. I followed after him and he led me up the stairs, down a corridor, down another hallway. By the time we stopped in front of a set of double oak doors, my head was spinning from the twists and turns we'd taken to get there.

He pushed open one heavy oak door and my mouth fell open in awe. The room opened up before us into a massive chamber. Bookshelves lined the walls nearly to the ceiling, which was domed, painted with angels in a pale-blue sky. Books lined the shelves nearly to overflowing. In the rare space where there was not a bookshelf, there were other things. Glass cases of really old manuscripts or really famous originals, a cartography table lined with maps, a globe that looked to be so old it belonged in a museum. Against one wall, there was a grand marble fireplace with intricate designs carved into it. A set of armchairs stood before the fireplace and a squat table stood between them, piled with books and papers.

I was so completely awestruck, that, for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. I had never imagined what Heaven might look like, but, right then, I was fairly certain I had found it.

I peeled my eyes away from the rows of books to look at William, who was smiling at me. "What do you think?" He asked.

I had no words. I shook my head, still in shock. "William," I said breathlessly. "This is amazing."

Amazing was such a dull word for describing the magnificence of the room, but I was fairly certain there was no word in the world that could have truly described the library.

His grin widened. "I knew you would like it."

I stepped into the room and scanned all of the shelves. I did not even know which shelf to start on. "Thank you for showing me this," I said earnestly. "This room is truly spectacular."

"Of course," he replied. "This room does not get used nearly enough."

"Do you use it?"

"Quite often, though I am one of the only ones. That pile of books over there," he pointed to the stack on the little table between the chairs. "That's what I have been working on. Those are all the books I intend to read. Of course, hopefully one day I can read every book in here."

"That will take you an incredibly long time."

"I'm a fast reader."

I scanned the shelves again. There were books on every topic I could imagine, some in different languages.

"Do you know when this library was built?" I asked, almost expecting he wouldn't.

He surprised me, yet again. "It was built in the early 15th century by a man named Dante Castello. He poured his whole life into this room and it certainly paid off. Well, I think it did."

I smiled and picked a book of of the shelf. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. "I know that at some point we will have to return to the ball, but I might stay here and read for a time, if that is all right with you."

"I was hoping you might say that." He strode over to the chair before the fireplace and picked up the topmost book and began to read.

Feeling more at home in this very room than I ever did in my own house, I took the seat beside him and began to read, as well.

We sat there in comfortable silence for some time, just reading. It was wonderful.

I did not know how long we were there, but I had gotten quite a ways into the book, before remembering myself and our situation.

"Oh, goodness," I said, shutting the book. "How long have we been away?"

William looked up at me from his own book and blinked several times, considering. "I haven't a clue."

I went to return the book back to its shelf, but William waved me off. "You should keep it."

I looked at him, puzzled. "But this is your book, surely you'll want to read it?"

"I've read it many times and I am the only one. I want you to have it." His face tinged pink as he said it.

I smiled, holding the book tightly to me. "Thank you," I said. I felt this warmth inside me, a happy, pleasant feeling, that I could not quite explain.

We left the library and I felt like I had been transported out of a storybook and back into reality. It was quite a jarring transition. With a last, longing look behind me, I followed William back the way we'd come, until we reached the ballroom once again.

The music was still going and people were still laughing and dancing, as though we had never left at all.

"I really enjoyed spending time with you, Erika, but I must go see to my parents." He gestured toward the dais, where his father and mother were sitting, watching the celebration.

I nodded quickly. "Yes, of course. I enjoyed our time together, as well, but I must go find my mother."

Neither of us moved.

He leaned in slightly and I caught a faint scent of citrus from him. "Would you want to meet again tomorrow?"

My heart began to race and my face warmed. "Yes, that would be lovely."

"How about tomorrow evening? Around eight o'clock, perhaps?"

I nodded. "Tomorrow at eight, then."

Our conversation concluded and, still, neither of us moved.

I knew I needed to go find my mother, but I just wanted to stay here with him. And then, I did something that surprised us both, I think. I stood up on my toes and kissed his cheek. He looked at me, surprised, for a long moment, his face bright red, and then he bowed, rather awkwardly, and tripped over his feet.

My own face burned as I laughed at his reaction. He smiled bashfully and kissed my hand before disappearing into the crowd.

I stared at the place he had been only a moment before, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. I could not believe I had done that. It was not something I could have ever pictured myself doing. And then, I smiled, pleased—and a bit shocked—that I had been so bold as to kiss his cheek. I stepped into the midst of the laughing and dancing, feeling as though it might be easier to be one of them tonight.