Thomas tapped one foot. ‘I assume we are to be duly compensated regardless of the outcome. If Eda is to train for the next month, we shall be forced to delay the wedding.’
Everyone looked at him.
‘I shall seek some clarity when I send my response,’ he finished.
‘Wedding?’ Eda said. ‘I’ve only met the man once.’
‘And surprisingly, Leigh agreed to return—despite your dismal efforts,’ Thomas said as he headed to the door. He stopped and turned when he reached it. ‘You will do the queen’s bidding, and then we shall reassess. If you did play a part in bringing Chadora a king, I think we could aim higher than the bootmaker.’ He opened the door, stepped through it, and closed it behind him without another word.
‘Poor Leigh,’ Candace said after a long silence, sitting back in her chair with a heavy breath.
Blake had picked up the letter again and was rereading it. Eda’s heart pounded with nervous excitement. She would finally get to train with the defenders. It was already more than she dared hope for.
‘Of course Uncle is in agreement,’ Blake muttered. ‘Anything to gain favour with the queen.’
‘Why did you do this?’ Candace said, looking at Eda. ‘I am trying to understand. Why? To avoid marriage?’
‘No.’ Though that was a nice perk. ‘I just want to help, feel useful.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Blake said. ‘You’re already useful.’
‘Because there are easier ways to get out of marriage,’ Candace added.
Eda rose to her feet. ‘Again, this isn’t about marriage, though surely you see that Leigh Appleton is the most boring man Uncle could’ve selected for me.’
Candace’s eyebrows came together in disapproval. ‘I think that was intentional on his part.’
Eda waved a hand and went to leave the room.
‘Stay where you are,’ Blake said, voice firm. ‘You can’t run away from this conversation. You’re not a child anymore.’
Eda turned back to them, crossing her arms. Garlic chose that moment to fly into the room, crash-landing in the middle of the table and looking around. They all stared at the duck, not speaking for the longest time.
‘My soul itches,’ Eda said quietly. ‘I used to think it was grief, then anger. Then I learned to live with the grief, and the anger subsided. Yet still I’m restless.’
Candace sighed and looked down at the floor.
Blake leaned back in her chair. ‘Do you really think getting beaten up by soldiers for a few weeks is going to fix that?’
Eda stepped forwards and picked up Garlic, stroking the duck’s silky feathers. ‘I don’t need your permission. Uncle has already given it. But I do need you to love me through this.’ She looked between them. ‘This might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. I might regret it. But I’d really like a chance to learn the hard way.’
Candace raised her eyes. ‘Must all my children learn the hard way?’
Eda understood her mother’s frustration. Her brother’s mistakes had cost him his life. Her sisters’ brazen acts had almost cost them theirs. And now Eda was reaching for trouble with both hands.
‘The letter says you’ll only be sent if you’re deemed to be both physically and mentally capable,’ Blake said. ‘You do realise a quarter of the recruits never make it past the initial training period?’
That was admittedly higher than Eda had expected. ‘They’re good odds.’
‘Roul and Harlan can’t give you any special treatment,’ Blake added.
Eda shrugged. ‘I don’t want special treatment. I want to find out what I’m capable of as much as they do.’
Candace smoothed her hair back. ‘You will be stuck with a group of foul-mouthed men, day after day. There will be no ladies for company.’
‘I don’t need company, Mother. It’s not a picnic.’
Candace rose abruptly. ‘You live as if we have not lost enough members of this family.’ She left the room.
