Thirst

Books Over Childish Men

How Autumn found herself wanting not to be inside the library, a thought she never would have had before, was a sour start for her day.

It was already 3 hours since she opened doors of her workplace. Normally, she would have had her cup of coffee alongside her favorite books, reading away in the comfort of her desk and in the quiet of the walls that protected her peace.

What she didn't anticipate was to be locked inside it with an obnoxious man who seemed delighted to show off that he was a noble. Perhaps the only thing he could be proud of, Autumn thought.

The man was young, proud and handsome, a beauty that her romance books would've described as a dashing troublemaker meant to swoop up any damsel up on their feet. His hair was a brown messy style that he liked running his fingers across when he winked, a favorite gesture by the women he wooed, Autumn supposed.

But Autumn was not in a romance novel, and whoever this haughty man was didn't matter to her. What she did mind was the lost time spent in listening to him talk about nonsense things like horses and racing, topics she did not find amusing.

"I'm sure you'd love to have a ride with me sometime, my lady," the arrogant nobleman said. "My darling Eliza would be perfect for a morning run through the woods. We'd go hunting! I'd offer you the best fur coats we could make with the beast that I'd gladly slay for you. I profess these trifling gifts may not equal your beauty, however it would be a waste not to give you anything at all."

Autumn silently sighed, something that the man who kept on talking about himself didn't notice. He was too caught up about this Eliza, who for the most part sounded like a real person he'd gladly sleep with if given the chance. That was disturbing enough to make Autumn blanche, but she stopped herself lest she make a bad image of the library that already had a dwindling number of visitors.

"There's this upcoming party, well a small hunt if you may, now that we're on the topic. Would it be rude of me to invite you as the guest of honor? Well I suppose it would be rude not to invite you so I insist that you must come Miss...? I'm sorry, I think I might have forgotten your name my lady." He flashed Autumn with a toothed grin which she replied with a polite one of her own.

Yes, it's a great intrusion to expect me to attend your party that you have only stated now to a person you only met today and someone you did not give any chance to offer something to the conversation. No, you did not forget my name because I have never given it to you and I'm afraid I wouldn't have if only you weren't obviously a noble who can banish me from this place with a single word.

Autumn had a lot on her mind to say to the man, but she couldn't. The best option was to be concise and polite.

"I am sorry sir, but I'm afraid I'd have to decline. Whenever this party, or hunt might be, I'm sure I will be working past hours." She gave him another smile.

Mister nobleman was undeterred by the slight hostility in her tone for he continued with his advances like a stubborn mule. Clearly who wasn't the sharpest to read between the lines. Hopeless, Autumn thought.

"I'm sure you can make time. I'm everyone in town would be there so you would have to close shop and have time!" he said.

"I would like to decline, still," Autumn tried to say without sounding so snarky. "There are a lot of things to do inside a library that do not include dealing with visitors."

"Are there?"

Irritated, Autumn raced an eyebrow. "Yes there are."

"And what might these be?"

That was the last nail. The man was doing his usual flirting tactics, but Autumn could not tell. To her, he was being rude for making it seem like she was lying about her job.

"Listen here you pompous—"

"There you are my lord." A man with dark hair and a gentle pair of blue eyes entered the library in a hurry. His clothes were mostly made out light looking material and he was also wearing a leather chest plate. Autumn could see him placing his right hand to what seemed to be a sword so she assumed that be was some kind of soldier.

"Ah! My dear Sir Oliver Baker! Come and meet my new friend, Miss... what did you say your name was again my lady?"

"It is nice to meet you, Sir Baker," Autumn said, greeting the nice looking gentleman while ignoring the fool who still does not know who she is. "May I please request you to escort this man out of the library premises?"

"Escort me out? On what grounds?" the nobleman asked, raising his voice. "A future duke such as myself is not to be escorted out."

Autumn once again ignored the man and directed all her attention at the blue eyed soldier. "I assume you are a respectable follower of the law, Sir Baker. If I were to tell you that our future duke over here has been violating the sacred law of the library, would you do as I say?"

There was silence, sweet silence that Autumn breathed in with delight.

"I suppose I will," the soldier said. "I'm sorry, my lord, but we really must go."

"Oh hush, Oliver! I still haven't heard this sacred law I have been breaking. Why haven't I heard of this?"

"Silence, my lord future duke," Autumn said with obvious mockery. "In this place, silence is the law. And I, the librarian, am king. If I say you go, you will go."

The future duke of High Peaks turned red from the tips of his ears down to his neck. He did not look as dashing as he was awhile ago. He looked more like a tomato in the fields than a noble who lived in a mansion.

Autumn only smiled as sweetly as she could. "Have a nice day, my lord."