“You should not mention our conversation to my father,” she said. “Bringing up Burke is like throwing fuel on a fire. He would not take it well.”
Kevin shook his head. “I will not,” he said. “You have my word.”
“Thank you.”
She paused for only a moment before asking, “Is there anything else you wish to know? Anything further questions you may have?”
He cocked his head, casting her a curious glance. She was very much pressing him for questions, the questions he had mentioned when he had asked her to remain at Wybren, so he had a feeling she was hoping he would exhaust himself with questions so her father would be released and she could go home.
In truth, it would be quite the opposite. Kevin was going to delay his questions as long as he could, increasingly concerned about the lie he was building on.
He didn’t like it in the least.
“It seems as if you are anxious for me to ask,” he said after a moment. “You are not, perchance, eager to leave here, are you?”
She laughed softly. “Wouldn’t you be?” she said. “It is no secret that I want to go home and I want my father released.”
“All in due time, my lady.”
His eyes were glimmering at her as he said it, which didn’t make his reply seem like a rebuke. Simply a fact. A smile was still lingering on Juliandra’s lips when it very well shouldn’t have been. They were discussing her father’s release. God forgive her, but that was starting to feel a little less of a priority over her interest in Kevin.
She was a terrible daughter, indeed.
“I suppose,” she finally said. “But you promised this would not be permanent.”
“It will not be.”
“Is my father at least comfortable?”
She didn’t notice that he stumbled slightly before answering. “He wants for nothing.”
She believed him, so she didn’t press. She was building a rather nice rapport with the man and she didn’t want to ruin it. She was coming to think that if she was sweet enough, and helpful enough, perhaps her father’s release would come much sooner. Maybe she could even charm Kevin into releasing him. Pestering the man more than likely wouldn’t have the desired result, but being sweeter than honey might.
It was an avenue she was willing to explore.
“Well,” she said, turning away from him. “If I am to be here for a length of time, I would like to contribute to Wybren somehow. If I must sit here all day with nothing to do, I will go mad.”
He was interested. “What do you want to do?”
She paused, turning to look at him. “At The Neath, I am chatelaine,” she said. “I take care of everything in the household. Do you have a chatelaine?”
“I have a majordomo.”
“May I at least be given some duties for the kitchens and the feasting hall? May I at least oversee the meals?”
“Would you like to?”
“I would.”
He thought on it for a moment before nodding. “Very well,” he said. “I will introduce you to the majordomo. You can assist him if it pleases you.”
“At least I will not die of boredom.”
Kevin grinned. “You do not like this chamber? You can see everything from that window. Surely that should keep you entertained.”
She pointed to the big window. “This should be your place,” she said. “As commander of Wybren, you can see everyone who is coming and going.”
He shook his head. “I have a better place.”
