She nodded timidly.“I’m sorry, miss.I shouldn’t have spoken of such things.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.It’s me.I’m…”
Trent walked in then, saving her from having to decide how to finish that sentence.He knelt before her, placing a basin of water on the floor.As he gently washed the blood and dirt from her palms, he spoke over his shoulder to the maid.
“Will you please find a pair of gloves that will work to hold bandages in place?”
“Yes, sir.”She gave a quick nod and scurried from the room.
“Did you reprimand her?”she asked when Sandra was gone.
“For what?”
Even though he was gentle, it burned as he cleaned the wounds.“For mentioning the fake marriage scheme.”
He stopped and sat back on his heels with a sigh.“Is that what sent you running?”
She nodded.“I didn’t really think through her words.She said the man was arrested here, which should have made me realize it wasn’t what was happening to me.But I just panicked.”
He closed his eyes for a moment.“Your brother told me you were a victim of that.”
That word shocked her.She’d never thought of herself as a victim.At first, she’d just assumed all wives must go through what she did.But then, when Simon appeared and told her the marriage had never been real, she thought she must have done something to deserve what had happened to her.
Perhaps she hadn’t been a good enough daughter.
“Hey.”The soft word pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts.He was looking into her eyes.“You didn’t deserve whatever happened to you, Samantha.”
How did he know where her thoughts had gone?
Sandra rushed into the room and handed him a pair of gloves.
“Thank you.”
Please and thank you, even with a maid.
After wrapping her hands with bandages, he slid the gloves into place.“There.I told you I could manage it.”He winked, but she continued to stare into his dark brown eyes.
His throat bobbed with a swallow, but he got to his feet.“I think you’ll still be able to manage a knife and fork.Would you like me to carry you down to the dining room?Or would you prefer I have a tray sent up for you?”
“Which is less burdensome?”
“Neither is a burden.”
It would be so easy for her to simply hide away in this room and close herself off from the rest of the world.But everyone else was working so hard to help her, she needed to put in her own effort, as well.She owed them that much.“If you're certain, I’d prefer to dine with you.”
A smile turned up his lips.“I’ll be glad to have another adult at the table.”He waited for her nod before scooping her into his arms.
“Mantha!”Maggie’s eyes grew wide as Trent settled Samantha into the chair across from her.“What happened?”
“I took a little bit of a tumble.”
“Did Trent give you special kisses to make it all better?”
Trent choked on a laugh, as he walked around the table, and when he sat down, his cheeks were stained with scarlet.So were her own, if the warmth that filled them was any indication.
“No, Little Mouse.Those kisses only work on you because you’re my sister.”
Plates of food were placed in front of each of them.
