‘Ships off the coast. Second time they’ve passed this week.’
‘Sea warriors?’
The defender glanced at Blake before nodding.
‘I’ll be right there.’ Harlan waited for him to leave before turning to her. ‘Go straight home, and make sure you eat one of those eggs. Hear me?’
She gave him a mock salute, and he responded with a disapproving look before striding off.
* * *
When Blake arrived home, she found her mother sewing in the shop. Garlic was beside her, wedged between her thigh and the arm of the chair.
‘Where were you?’ Candace asked.
‘The market. Where’s Eda and Lyndal?’
Garlic rose and dropped off the edge of the chair, wandering over to greet Blake. She bent to pet him.
‘Eda is getting water,’ Candace said, sounding tired. She was sleeping more and more of late. ‘Lyndal is inside somewhere.’
‘I have eggs.’ She held the basket out for her mother to see.
Candace dropped her sewing and stood to inspect them. ‘Please tell me we have some coin left.’
‘Actually, we haveallour coin left.’ She kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘Commander Wright paid for the eggs.’
Candace’s eyebrows came together. ‘Why?’
‘He was being kind, I suppose.’
Her mother sighed. ‘And what does he expect in return?’
‘He’s not like that.’
She patted Blake’s arm. ‘I am too tired and hungry to argue.’
Blake wandered into the house, Garlic in tow, and when she did not find her sister in the main room, she placed the basket on the table and went through to the bedroom.
Lyndal was standing in front of the mirror in one of her best dresses, studying her reflection. She turned when she caught sight of Blake. ‘Have you bled this month?’
‘Bled?’ It took Blake a moment to register the conversation they were having. ‘Oh. I haven’t exactly been counting the days. Why do you ask?’
Lyndal immediately teared up. ‘Ihavebeen counting the days. This is my second month of… nothing.’ She pressed her lips together to stop from crying.
Blake walked over and wrapped her arms around her sister. ‘Please don’t cry. It’ll come back when the food does.’ She released her as a thought came to her. ‘Don’t hate me for asking, but is there another reason it might be late?’
It was the kind of conversation their mother used to be good at. At present, the only thing she was good at was sewing in silence.
Lyndal pushed her away. ‘No. My virtue is the only asset I have to offer my future husband. Do you think I’m foolish enough to hand it over to a man without locking him down first?’
A smile spread across Blake’s face. ‘How foolish of me to think my sensible sister would be swept off course by something as silly as love.’
‘Many a merchant have tried.’ She adjusted her dress. ‘The Solar Festival is approaching. There will be eligible farmers as far as the eye can see.’
‘And you and every other merchant woman will be trying to catch one.’
Lyndal looked up. ‘Must you rain all over my dreams?’
