Rowan immediately noticed the look of disbelief on her face "What is it?"

Rosalind swallowed before looking at him. "You didn’t tell me these were salty."

"It tasted fine to me," Rowan replied.

"It is salty," Rosalind insisted as she took another bite.

Rowan tasted it again and still didn’t seem particularly bothered.

Rosalind sighed dramatically. "It’s been too long. I must have forgotten my way around a kitchen."

"You did not," Rowan said firmly as he reached across the table and touched her hand. "You did fine, Rosalind."

She looked unconvinced.

"What matters is the thought behind it," he continued. "I watched you make all of this. That alone makes it better."

Rosalind’s shoulders relaxed slightly, although disappointment still lingered. She had wanted everything to be perfect and had secretly hoped Rowan would be impressed by her cooking.

Then she looked at him and laughed softly. "Well, at least we have something memorable now."

This time Rowan almost laughed too. "You’ll have plenty of chances to prove your cooking skills tomorrow," he assured her.

Reluctantly, Rosalind accepted that answer and continued eating, focusing mostly on the potatoes since they had turned out much better than the eggs.

Meanwhile, Rowan continued eating the eggs without complaint, and she knew he was doing it so she wouldn’t feel bad and so the food wouldn’t go to waste.

They remained outside for a little longer after dinner, talking about nothing important and everything important at the same time. They teased each other, exchanged stories, and laughed until their worries seemed impossibly far away.

For a little while, it felt as though the rest of the world had ceased to exist and there was only the two of them beneath the evening sky.

Eventually they returned to the bedroom for the night, and once Rowan settled onto the bed, Rosalind naturally joined him. He wrapped an arm around her waist while they pulled the duvet over themselves.

After a few quiet moments, Rosalind lifted her head and looked at him. "Are you asleep?" she asked.

"No," Rowan answered softly.

Rosalind hesitated before speaking again.

" I don’t think I’ll fall asleep that easily tonight."

Rowan stared at the ceiling for a moment before sitting upright.

Curious, Rosalind watched as he reached for a book resting nearby.

"Do you know that books can actually make people fall asleep faster?" he asked.

"I know," Rosalind replied. "Whenever I pick up one of those long historical books, I end up asleep before the second Chapter."

That earned a smile from Rowan. "Then I’ll read to you."

Rosalind nodded, and Rowan settled back beside her before opening the book. The lamp beside the bed cast a warm glow across the room as he turned the pages.

Rosalind rested her head against his chest while he began reading aloud.

A smile slowly appeared on her face as she listened to the sound of his voice.

It was calm, deep, and steady, and beneath her cheek she could hear the rhythm of his heartbeat and feel the gentle rumble of his chest whenever he spoke.

Without even realizing it, Rosalind snuggled closer while Rowan smiled and continued reading.

"...And so the old woman told the little girl to keep walking straight until she found the magical tree, and when she finally reached it..."

Rowan’s voice trailed off as he continued reading, but Rosalind was no longer listening properly.

Beneath the sheets she slowly traced her leg over his, brushing against him in a way that made his words falter for a second.

He paused, glancing down at her as though trying to confirm whether it was accidental, and Rosalind merely tilted her face up to meet his gaze with an innocent look that almost convinced him.

Rowan exhaled and tried to continue reading, assuming it had been nothing more than a careless movement.

However, after a brief silence, Rosalind let out a soft sigh to herself and did it again, this time with a clear mischievous intent as she deliberately slid her leg along his and moved a little higher.

Rowan froze completely.

There was no way that could be mistaken for an accident, and when he looked down at her again, she was already watching him with those wide hazel eyes that always unsettled him in the most dangerous way.

"Please stop teasing me, wife, I’m trying to behave here," he said quietly, though his voice lacked real firmness, and Rosalind only nodded as if she understood, making him think for a moment that she would finally behave.

But just as he lowered his gaze back to the page, she did it again, and this time there was no doubt left in his mind that she was doing it on purpose.

Rowan closed his eyes briefly and exhaled through his nose before looking at her properly.

Rosalind sat up then, suddenly bold, and reached forward to take the book from his hands before shutting it completely, placing it aside as she met his gaze without hesitation.

"We haven’t missed a night, Rowan... can we not miss it today?" she asked softly, her tone carrying something quieter beneath it.

Rowan’s adam apple moved as he studied her.

There were moments when Rosalind surprised him... she revealed parts of herself so freely when she felt safe with him.

She could be shy, soft, or daring all at once, and he never quite knew which version of her would appear next. "Alright, wife," he finally said, his voice lower now, giving in with reluctant ease.

Rosalind smiled at that, and Rowan barely had time to react before she shifted closer and lifted her leg over him, straddling him as she settled on his lower half, making his breath catch immediately at the sudden contact.

He adjusted himself against the pillow, watching her as she sat comfortably above him, while she leaned forward and placed her fingers lightly against his chest.

"You make me happy all the time," she said quietly, almost thoughtful, "and sometimes I wonder if I’m even doing enough for you in return."

Rowan covered her hand gently with his, holding it against his chest as his gaze softened. "You are enough, Rosalind," he said firmly but gently, as if he needed her to truly believe it, "as long as you’re happy, then I’m happy too."

Rosalind already expected that answer, yet it still made something warm settle in her chest, and she shook her head slightly.

"I want to please you, Rowan," she admitted, her voice quieter now, "all these days you’ve always taken care of me, so I want to do the same for you."