Blake tilted her head. ‘Didn’t you ever wonder why Eda neveraccidentallytripped the man or dropped soup onto his lap? She saw it before I did.’
Lyndal looked over at Astin, who continued to survey their surroundings as though an army of assassins were about to descend at any moment. ‘Why did neither of you say anything?’
Blake’s eyebrows rose. ‘What for? You made it abundantly clear you couldn’t stand him.’
Shehadgiven that impression. It had been a matter of pride. He was always noticing other young women and never her, so she made a point of not noticing him right back.
Except he had noticed her.
When she turned back to her sisters, she found them watching her with an amused expression.
‘Why are your ears turning red?’ Blake asked. ‘Is it possible the attraction is mutual?’
‘Louder,’ Lyndal whispered back. ‘I don’t think he heard you.’
Eda pursed her lips.That’s quite a pickle you find yourself in, Lady Lyndal.
Lyndal took a step back. ‘Off you go. Bring me some children to feed. I’m here in the square with food enough for two hundred people because I’ve agreed to wed the king.’
The smile fell from Blake’s face. ‘And we’ll stand by you through the entire disastrous marriage.’
Unless he hurts you,Eda signed.Then I’ll cut off his—
Lyndal grabbed hold of her sister’s hands. ‘Best not to finish that just in case.’
‘In case of what?’ Astin said, appearing beside her.
Lyndal let go of her sister’s hand. ‘Oh. We’re talking again.’ She turned her younger sister in the other direction and gave her a gentle push. ‘Off you go. Many mouths to feed.’
‘There’s already a line,’ Astin said.
Lyndal turned back to the fires and saw he was right. The smell of simmering meat had lured people from every crevice of the borough.
‘Keep order,’ Astin instructed a nearby defender.
‘For goodness’ sake,’ Lyndal said as they walked over. ‘People are quite capable of forming a line without defender supervision.’ She stopped in front of the bubbling soup pot and peered inside. ‘This one ready?’
Wallis added a handful of salt, then gave it a stir. ‘Now it is.’
‘Bring your children forwards,’ Lyndal called to the crowd. ‘Everyone else is welcome to broth if you have something to take it home in.’
They removed the pots from the heat and placed two more over the flames.
The two women found their rhythm, Lyndal ladling soup into bowls and reminding people to return them so they could be washed and reused, and Wallis doing the washing while handing out the bones and offal.
‘May Belenus bless you,’ people said as they took the steaming soup from her.
Other common sentiments included ‘Can we expect an announcement soon?’ and ‘He’s a fool if he doesn’t marry you.’
Lyndal was aware of Astin’s gaze constantly flicking in her direction. That combined with the heat from the fires had her feeling hotter and hotter by the minute.
‘The line’s only getting longer,’ Wallis whispered.
Lyndal looked down the growing line as she handed a bowl to the eldest of four boys. ‘You’re responsible for bringing the bowls back to me. All right?’
He nodded, eyes never leaving the food.
‘Halve the portions to make it stretch further,’ Lyndal whispered to Wallis when the family stepped aside. ‘And one bone per family.’
