‘If I had known he intended to give it to you, I might have offered him a more mature duck,’ Kendra replied. ‘He was being quite reticent in the beginning.’
‘What do you mean?’ Blake asked, confused.
Kendra leaned in. ‘I gave it to the commander in exchange for information. I thought he intended to sell the bird on the black market.’
Blake blinked. ‘You didn’t tell him to give it to us?’
Kendra sat back in her chair. ‘I might have if I had known how dire the situation was here. There is not a dog to be seen on the street.’ She looked between her cousins. ‘And now I find myself asking which sister the gallant gesture was for.’
‘Blake,’ Lyndal said matter-of-factly. ‘The commander was accompanying the prince the other day and stared at her through the entire exchange.’
‘No he didn’t,’ Blake said. Sure, their eyes had met a few times, but that was due to their awkward history.
Her eyes went to the crate holding the bird. The man was such a contradiction. All duty and honour one minute and bringing her gifts the next. She was glimpsing a human heart in place of the stone one usually found in defenders. The question waswhy.
‘What spell have you cast over the commander?’ Kendra asked, her tone playful.
‘Look at her,’ Lyndal said. ‘What sane man wouldn’t be attracted to her?’
Attraction seemed improbable. But what did she know? Drunk men whistled after her when she passed the taverns in the port borough—usually while relieving themselves. Though they whistled after most women.
There was Odo, the ship merchant who delivered their supplies. He had offered to marry her the last time she had seen him. Though his reasons were of a practical nature. He never mentioned attraction. But maybe that was because Kingsley was at her side.
If she were being completely honest,shefelt some level of attraction towards Harlan. Her and every other woman in the borough. The man was easy on the eyes.
‘Did you hear anything I just said?’ Kendra asked, laughing.
Not a single word.
‘Perhaps the feelings are mutual,’ Lyndal said.
Blake gave her a tired look. ‘I have a little more sense than that.’
‘I was just saying what a run-down mess the Wright house is,’ Kendra said. ‘I suspect no one has been out there in years. Probably not since… you know.’
Blake was paying attention now. ‘Know what?’
Kendra glanced in the direction of the house, then whispered, ‘Since the warden’s wife killed herself there.’
Blake’s lungs stopped.
‘The warden and his son have lived at the barracks ever since,’ Kendra finished.
Lyndal tutted. ‘A military base is no place to raise a child. How did she… do it?’
‘Some say she cut her own wrists and bled out in the tub. Others say she hung herself from the banister.’
Why?Eda signed.
Kendra looked to Blake to translate.
‘She’s askingwhy.’
Kendra lifted one shoulder. ‘She was married to the warden. That is reason enough. He probably had her running laps around the house before breakfast each morning.’ She narrowed her eyes on Eda. ‘When are you going to start speaking again? You are only a few years from needing a husband.’
‘Eda’s already married to her bow,’ Lyndal joked.
Eda signed profanity at her sister.
