She lifted the basket in her hands and both men looked at it as if only just noticing it. Both of them had been looking at her face, mesmerized by the unexpected appearance of such beauty. Sebastian looked at the basket with interest but Mathias was on the move. He didn’t want his brother frightening her, or worse. The man could offend easily.
“Your thanks yesterday was quite enough,” he said, his deep voice soft. “You did not need to bring us anything.”
“I realize that, but I wanted to,” she said, once again completely focused on Mathias as if Sebastian did not exist at all. She couldn’t seem to do much more than stare at him. “You would not take a reward and you would not sup with us, so I took it upon myself to bring you a few tokens of my appreciation. I hope you will accept them.”
Mathias was genuinely touched. More than that, he was coming to realize that every time he saw the woman, she seemed to grow increasingly more beautiful. He was still apprehensive about her being a de Lara but truth be told, every second that he gazed at her saw that resistance taking a beating. Looking at her hopeful face, he knew he could not refuse her.
“Of course we will accept whatever you have brought,” he said, his eyes glimmering at her. “You did not have to go to the trouble.”
She smiled brightly and he was enchanted. “It was no trouble at all,” she said, moving to the nearest table surface, which happened to be littered with a mixture of tools and scraps of food. Setting the basket down, she peeled back the embroidered cloth. “I brought you pear and cinnamon compote, and different types of bread, cherries soaked in honey, and– oh!– pickled onions. Have you ever had them? They are quite delicious. The cook pickles them with vinegar and herbs.”
Sebastian was extremely interested in the contents of the basket, pulling things out to smell them, while Mathias tried to control his boorish brother by putting things back where they belonged.
“I have had them, aye,” he replied, smacking Sebastian’s hand when the man tried to stick his fingers in the cherries. “This is most kind and generous of you, my lady. This is truly an unexpected treat.”
Cathlina beamed happily, thrilled by Mathias’ response but rather peeved at his brother’s uncouth manners. She had the little cakes she had made tucked down in the corner of the basket and she pulled them out before Sebastian could stick his fingers in them, handing them over to Mathias.
“Here,” she said. “I made these just for you. I do hope you like them.”
Sebastian was busy with the bread and wasn’t paying much attention to the cakes Cathlina had presented to Mathias. But Mathias was acutely aware that she seemed to be speaking only to him. His eyes were on her as he unwrapped the cakes, hit in the nose by the clove and nutmeg smell. The gesture of bringing him gifts coupled with the delight of her lovely face had his careful control slipping.
“They smell wonderful,” he said quietly. “It was very kind of you to do this.”
She picked one out of the bundle and held it up to him. “Would you try one?”
He did. It was a marvelous bit of culinary achievement. “Did you make these yourself?” he asked.
“I did.”
“Then they are the most wonderful gift I have ever received,” he said. “No one has ever made treats for me before.”
Cathlina was smiling so broadly that her face threatened to split in half. “Then I am happy to be the first,” she said, noticing that Sebastian was tearing into the onions. She sighed at the sight. “Mayhap I should have made two baskets– one for you and one for your brother. It would seem he is going to eat everything before you have the opportunity to taste it.”
Mathias cocked an eyebrow as he snatched the basket away from his brother, shoving the man back by the chest when he tried to pursue. Sebastian balled a fist but Mathias held up a finger.
“You have already shown Lady Cathlina what an animal you are,” he said. “Would you show her that you are a brute as well? Show some manners in front of the lady, Sebastian. You are shaming me.”
Sebastian tried to throw the punch but couldn’t bring himself to do it. His brother was right; moreover, if he had any chance of wooing the woman, he would have to behave himself.
Lowering his balled fist, he forced a smile at Cathlina and sought to apologize for whatever brutish manners he had thus far shown when Justus entered the stall with a customer, bellowing for Sebastian. Disgruntled, Sebastian was forced away from his brother and the lovely lady.
“Good,” Mathias snorted as he watched his unhappy brother stomp away. “That should keep him occupied for a while.”
Cathlina watched Sebastian move away. “Your brother is quite… lively? Friendly? I am searching for the correct word that will not offend you.”
Mathias laughed softly. “He is aggressive and he is a boor,” he said. “But he is also fiercely loyal and strangely compassionate. It is an odd combination.”
Cathlina grinned at him. “Mayhap you should hide this food from him. I have a feeling he will eat it all given the opportunity.”
“He will,” Mathias agreed, his gaze drifting over her delicate features. “Truly, it was quite kind of you to bring this. Where is your father so that I may thank him also?”
Cathlina’s grin faded. “He is at home,” she replied. “He did not come with me.”
Mathias looked over her shoulder, back in the direction she had come from. “Where is your escort?”
“I do not have one.”
His brow furrowed. “Did you come here alone?”
