He no longer could ride.
It was none of her concern, but he’d shared this deeply shameful part of himself with her, and she couldn’t leave it be.
Though she should.
She understood that.
But he was in pain of both body and mind, and that wasn’t something she could simply ignore.
Yet that wasn’t all that had been revealed today.
There was also the matter she must discuss with Mother.
But first, she sensed she must discuss it further with Bran. There had been revelations today, yes, but they hadn’t been made in their entirety. And she couldn’t rest until they’d exchanged a full and open accounting of what transpired ten years ago. Too much yet remained unaccounted for—and that could no longer stand.
Her stomach gave a great rumble for its evening meal. In the split of the second it took to lay her pen down, a question occurred her. Had Bran eaten tonight?
Likely not.
He didn’t seem especially inclined to take care of himself.
The idea that immediately followed had her shooting to her feet. Downstairs, she would buy Mr. Scunt his evening meal and his round of ale. Then she would request her meal, too. But she wouldn’t be taking it in the barroom or in her room.
Forty-five minutes later, her hand was beating out three solid raps on Bran’s door. At first, she detected no movement on the other side, and she thought she would have to knock again. Then she heard it—the thud of two feet landing on bare wood floorboards, followed by the sound of rustling. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was getting out of bed and likely pulling a shirt over his head to make himself presentable.
After a long thirty or so seconds, the door opened only wide enough for his face to appear. His brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?” he asked, without a care for formalities or even manners.
Far from being offended, Artemis considered it progress. “I am here—” She planted a firm palm in the center of the door and began pushing. “Bearing your evening meal.”
“What in the blazes?—”
He found no opportunity to finish his protest as she continued pushing until the door parted wide enough to admit both her and the serving girl carrying the food she and Bran were to partake of together. Determinedly—and steadfastly ignoring his silent glower—she set about moving the small table and two chairs to the center of the room.
While the serving girl set the table, Artemis also ignored the bed, with its rumpled coverlet, which was likely still warm from the heat of Bran’s body.
No, she wouldn’t think about body-hot beds in relation to Bran.
From beneath lowered eyelashes, she observed him in quick snatches. How attractive he was in the candlelight with his tousled brown hair. He hadn’t been expecting company and therefore wasn’t prepared for it, so she was able to get a look at the muscled breadth of his shoulders, of dark hair peeking through the V of his white linen shirt. Her fingers buzzed with the sense memory of that soft fuzz brushing across her skin.
But, oh, how handsome he was, too. The scar on his right cheek … She hardly noticed it anymore. How quickly it had become part of the landscape of him. No scars could detract from his male beauty. It was only more complex now—more interesting.
“If that will be all, milady,” said the serving girl, her gaze cast shyly to her feet.
“Yes, that will be all,” said Artemis. “Thank you.”
The girl bobbed a quick curtsy and was gone before one second could tick into the next.
Bran made no move to close the distance between himself and the impromptu dining table. “Yes, Artemis,” he said, “that will be all.”
Her brightest smile pulled across her face. “I couldn’t bear the idea of you dining all alone.” She lowered into a hard wooden chair at the table and dramatically flapped open a napkin. As she waited for him to join her, she took a sip of bitter ale.
At last, he heaved a resigned sigh and took the seat opposite her.
She and Bran would dine together this evening—whether he liked it or not.Not, most definitely, from the trenches dug into his forehead.
A measure of her confidence faltered.
Hadn’t they taken steps forward toward something resembling friendliness today?
