She stopped crying and stared back at him. Chewing her bottom lip, she held onto his arms and lowered her eyes to look around in uncertainty. Was he being sincere or just pitying her?

 The last person to tell her they loved her was her mother just before she died. She only knew how to love her mother. She knew nothing of any other form of love.

 How did he expect her to respond? If she didn’t say it back, would he be angry or hurt? Would he take back his words and hate her? If she said it, it would be a lie. She didn’t know if she was even capable of love. She’d never tried it. She’d never had the opportunity to try it or even feel it.

 Ānníng could see he had made her nervous and even fearful. He wasn’t even sure why he said it. He cared for her out of compassion and a duty to her uncle and her mother. Was it love, though? What would compel him to be so careless if it wasn’t?

 He looked over at the maidservants again and saw them staring in disbelief over words they’d never heard him utter.

 “Bring dinner,” he said quickly.

 He wanted their awed and judgmental opinions out of his way for a while.

 As they left, he turned his attention back to Mĕilì.

 “No one will ever come to punish you,” he swore. “Do you understand?”

 She took a deep breath and looked up at him again. She nodded softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.

 “Would you like to learn those things?” he asked.

 She looked over at the writing and sewing supplies and the beautiful instruments. She sat straight in his lap and nodded.

 “Can I learn to ride a horse, too?” she asked quietly, afraid it would be too much but wanting it for so long.

 He smiled and chuckled a little, then nodded. “I can bring you to the horse ranch in a few days. I’ll even let you pick out your own pony.”

 Her eyes lit up as he brushed his finger across her nose. She hugged him again and squeezed tightly around his neck.

 “Can I have a white one? I’ve always wanted a pretty white horse with a long mane and a long tail that isn’t too tall and isn’t too short,” she said excitedly, causing him to laugh at her happiness. “It has to be just my size so it won’t hurt if I fall.”

 “It can be any color you want, angel,” he replied as he patted her back.

 “How will I learn to do those other things?” she asked as she looked over at the gifts.

 “I’ll bring tutors here to teach you,” he replied. “I can send a message to King Rénlóng with a request for the ones I need. He’ll know who we can trust and who will be the best for you.”

 He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “It’s getting late. Dress for bed and we’ll eat together when the food arrives.”

 She nodded as he helped her from his lap.

 “Can I wear my new bedclothes?” she asked as she watched him stand with her.

 “That’s what they’re for,” he grinned.

 She ran to the clothes cabinet and opened the doors to look through the clothes the maidservants put away. She pulled out a pretty blue set with a top that was longer than she was used to. It was like a short dress and had a pretty butterfly on the bodice.

 After she changed in the other room, she returned to find dinner waiting. She snuggled up beside him and ate as much as she could from the bowl he prepared for her. It was a little more than the night before, and he smiled at the progress she was making.

 He helped her put away the boxes that had contained her gifts and walked her over to the bed.

 “Is it time for sleep already?” she asked with a pout. “I wanted to visit with you for a while longer. It isn’t even dark outside.”

 He lifted the blanket and guided her to climb in.

 “It will be dark soon,” he replied as he covered her. “If you go to sleep while it’s still light out, you won’t be as afraid of your new surroundings.”

 “Oh,” she replied at his logic.

 He gently pressed her to lie back onto the pillow and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be here in the morning when you wake up with breakfast.”

 She nodded and he stood to leave.

 “I don’t know how to love,” she suddenly blurted, then chewed her bottom lip when he quickly turned to look at her. “Only my mother ever loved me,” she said quietly.

 He swallowed as he remembered his declaration. He was still unsure of why he said it, and now, he feared he would break her heart if he didn’t truly mean it.

 He walked back to sit beside her and took her hand in his. “Anything you didn’t know living with your father is possible to you now. It doesn’t matter if it’s reading, playing the guqin, or even love. All you have to remember is that you’re free to do and feel anything you wish. You’ll learn all of this in time when you’re ready.”

 “Do you think I can?” she asked worriedly, still doubtful she would be capable after such a long time of knowing so little.

 “I know you can,” he replied. He caressed her face and kissed her hand. “Get some sleep, angel. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”

 She nodded again and watched him leave. With a shaky breath, she looked around the room. He was right. It was a lot less scary than the night before. She curled up under the blanket and held her tiger close as she tried to fall asleep before darkness enveloped her.