The two laughed and slammed their mugs together. Fear flooded Thomasina’s chest. That girl recognized her as a woman. She pressed back into the shadows. How? Sean dropped down opposite her.
“What’s wrong? Ye look as if ye’ve seen the devil himself.”
She let out a sigh of relief which quickly shifted to panic. If it was obvious to that woman, maybe Sean knew as well. She shook her head.
Sean’s eyes rounded and he leaned in closer. “Are ye going to be sick?”
She shook her head more quickly. She had to get out of here. Where could she go?
“Nae.” She stood up, all her thoughts scattering except for one. She had to get away from this place. Now.
“Sit.”
“Nae. Ye dunna understand—” Or maybe he did. Earlier comments reminding her to behave like a boy. His knuckles grazing her breast when he shoved her. The way he watched her by the fire. She narrowed her eyes. “Ye ken dunna ye?”
Sean glanced over his shoulder, grabbing her hand. “Sit down. Ye’re calling attention to yerself.”
Her head shook violently. “Nae.”
He held her fast when she attempted to loosen his grip. “Sit,Tommy. Now.”
“I have to leave.” Her voice tight.
“Sit down.”
Others were glancing toward them.
“I told ye what type of men are here.” A warning tone. “If anyone else suspects, ’tis yer own doing. Not mine.”
Sean released his hold of her. Her knees shook. Thomasina slowly sat down. She reached for her mug. Her hands shook. She had to escape but she didn’t know where to go. The men who had been outside were coming into the room, filling up all the empty tables, standing along the walls, blocking the exit. She was overwhelmed by the sudden sense that danger surrounded her.
Sean’s large, warm hand covered hers. “Look at me.”
She jerked her eyes back to his warm eyes, rounded with compassion contradicting his demanding tone.
“Ye’ll be fine.” He smiled, a reassuring smile meant to alleviate her fears.
That’s it? No question? No demand for answers? Heknew!
“How long have ye known?” When they’d lain together? Her face heated. He’d known right from the start. “Why? Why dinna ye confront me?”
He narrowed his eyes, assessing her. “Why? I cared only that ye dinna get caught.”
A few men just settling down next to them glanced at their hands. One man poked at the other, directing him with his head. They exchanged knowing smiles.
Thomasina’s breath quickened. She withdrew her hand, immediately missing his warmth, and placed it in her lap.
Sean sat up straighter. He nodded to the men beside them then turned back to her. He put his hand to his mouth as if to rub his lips. He said, “Now they think I like boys.”
She knew she looked shocked but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Then the reality of what he told her seeped through her fear-saturated mind. “They believe I am a boy?”
“Why would they not?”
She glanced around. Everyone else had lost interest in her. No one else seemed overly concerned. “So they dunna ken?”
“Ye’re doing a fine job. Nae one else knows.”
“The serving lady. She knew.”
