Again she swallowed.
“My m-mother never made any apologies for who she was,” she said, trying to find suitable conversation, though her throat was almost too thick to speak. She was rambling, she realized, but couldn’t help it. “She didwhat she pleased and chose to live frugally so that she could leave everything to me. I never realized at the time how much she gave up for me. I miss her desperately.”
She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face; his lips hovered so near. “She left you her coffers?”
“Aye,” Elizabet said, and smiled as she added, “Though ’tis hardly enough to compensate a man for having to bear with my wayward tongue.”
His eyes seemed to twinkle at her self-deprecating jest. “You’re a contrary wench,” he agreed and bent a little closer.
Elizabet shut her eyes, praying for the touch of his lips.
God, she wanted this so desperately.
And then suddenly her eyes flew open with a sudden realization. She understood what Tomas would have to gain with her death. “My dowry!”
He blinked at her, confused by her outburst. “What?”
“Jesu! Why did I not realize sooner! My dowry!” she declared. “That’s what he’s after!”
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“You see, my father insisted I take it with me to give to Piers so that Piers might use it to make me a better match. Only Tomas, John and I knew of it—but ’tis hardly enough to kill a man over,” she added quickly.
“Some men would kill for a morsel of food, lass. How much were ye carrying and where is it now?”
“A tiny pouch full of jewels and coins,” Elizabet revealed. “John held it for me.”
He seemed to consider her disclosure, and his brows knit as he asked her. “You say John held it?”
Something like dread crept through her at his tone, at his look. She nodded. What if Tomas intended to be rid of them both? What if he had already killed John? “Oh, God... Broc... are you certain my brother is unharmed?”
He didn’t answer.
Elizabet’s heart skidded to a halt.
He averted his eyes for the briefest instant, then said to her with absolute certainty. “When last I saw your brother, Elizabet, he was in danger of suffering no more than a headache. I tell you, he was fine.”
Elizabet knit her brows. “You must go to him, Broc--beg him to come to me, so I can tell him what we suspect! I cannot bear to think what may happen to him before we can speak with Piers!”
His jaw clenched, and he appeared distraught at her behest.
“Please!” Elizabet beseeched, thinking mayhap he didn’t wish to leave her unprotected. “I swear I will stay out of trouble—and I promise to wait inside and take no chances! I give you my word!”
He reached out and gently touched her cheek with a finger, startling her with the tender touch.
Elizabet’s breath caught at the tenderness of the gesture. For a long moment, he held her gaze, saying nothing, and in that instant she thought she spied his heart in his eyes. No one had ever looked at her that way—so sincerely, so full of genuine concern.
She trusted him. She did. The realization brought tears to her eyes. She knew without doubt he meant only to help her, and her heart swelled with gratitude.
Words stuck in her throat. There was nothing she could say that would reveal her appreciation.
But there was something she could do.
CHAPTER 14
The lie was becoming his cross—and with every untruth he spoke, another nail drove deep into his soul.
That look in her eyes, that trust she had placed in him, weighed heavily upon him now. He couldn’t keep the truth from her forever. He knew that. Soon she would have to know, but he wanted to be certain she would no longer be in danger once he let her go.
