‘And women with black hair. And redheads. And every shade in between. I don’t care about hair colour.’
She noticed he did not say blondes. ‘Oh, well, good to have options, I suppose.’
His gaze slid to her. ‘Now that we’re both thoroughly uncomfortable, can we never speak of this again?’
She nodded and fell silent.
Out front, two horses stood saddled and waiting. As Lyndal was preparing to mount, hands landed on her waist, gripping in a way that made her throat close. She did not have to look over her shoulder to know it was Astin. Then he was walking away before she had even landed in the saddle. She watched him mount and adjust his reins before looking in her direction.
‘Ready?’ he asked in the tone of a man doing his job.
Her gaze fell to her own horse. ‘Ready.’
The moment they stopped their horses out front of Wright House, Blake appeared from around the side, arms open. ‘You are the proud owner of two boarlets so far.’
Lyndal hugged her sister so tightly Astin thought he heard bones creak. Her eyes pressed shut before she released her sister. ‘Be honest. On a scale of one to ten, how bad has the pining been within the house?’
Blake laughed. ‘It’s only been a few days. Though I was ready to steal you back when Harlan told me about the feast.’ Her eyes went to Astin. ‘Lucky you now have a tall, strapping bodyguard to keep you safe.’
‘Yes, lucky me,’ Lyndal said dryly. She was distracted by the sight of the family’s duck racing towards her. ‘Oh, hello, Miss Garlic.’ She scooped the duck up in her arms, kissing its face. ‘At least someone has missed me.’
‘I never said I didn’t miss you.’ Blake looked at Astin again. ‘Has she been unbearable?’
‘Don’t ask him that,’ Lyndal said. ‘He doesn’t need further encouragement to wound me. He’s quite capable of taking a knife to my feelings without prompts.’
Her words prickled over Astin’s skin. ‘When have I ever taken a knife to your feelings?’
‘At my uncle’s house recently you asked me to test food for poison.’
Blake sighed. ‘I’m sure he was joking.’
‘Of course I was joking.’ Harlan’s words came back to him, slapping him in the face. ‘I’d never let you near the food if I thought there was the slightest chance it had been meddled with.’
‘He’s only saying that to appeaseyou,’ Lyndal said as she placed Garlic on the ground.
Astin made a mental note to reduce the severity of his jokes, since she did indeed appear to be taking them to heart.
‘Lyndal!’
Everyone looked in the direction of the house as Candace rushed out to greet her daughter.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, kissing both of Lyndal’s cheeks.
Once upon a time, Astin’s mother had shown that level of affection to her children. When his father was still alive. Cooper had done a proper job of blowing up family relationships when he arrived on the scene.
‘Eda is at the shop,’ Candace said. ‘How long are you staying?’
Lyndal’s disappointment was palpable. ‘Not long, unfortunately.’
‘We are more than happy to spare you,’ Candace said, ‘given all the good you have done in only a few days.’
Lyndal appeared confused. ‘What on earth are you talking about? What good?’
‘You don’t have to play modest,’ Blake said. ‘We know all about your little speech in the lazaretto borough. The merchants have spoken of nothing else since you demanded their release.’
Lyndal blinked. ‘Oh, that.’
‘Yes, that,’ Candace said, frowning. ‘It was very brave.’
