Roul eyed Leigh, suddenly irritated by the well-mannered man. His eyes met Blake’s as he stepped back from the table. She appeared amused, like she could read his thoughts.
‘Goodnight,’ he said before leaving the room.
The three of them exited the house via the back door through the kitchen. Roul held the door open for Eda, tempted to let it close in Leigh’s face. The bootmaker stepped past him and jogged to catch up to Eda. Roul followed them.
‘Your uncle tells me you made the tapestry hanging on the wall,’ Leigh said to Eda as they headed towards the stables.
Eda watched her feet, not one for small talk. ‘Well, sort of. My mother ended up finishing the piece because I lost patience with it.’
Leigh glanced sideways at her. ‘Oh.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Your uncle mentioned that you kept yourself busy with various leisure pursuits.’
‘Archery, sparring, knife throwing…’ Eda said, listing some of them.
She was so unashamedly herself, something Roul admired about her.
‘It seems you enjoy weapons’ was Leigh’s reply.
‘Mm.’ She slowed to walk beside Roul when they reached the stables. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘So long as it’s not about Prince Becket.’ Yes, he knew her that well.
‘What will happen if he simply never returns?’ She was undeterred by his warning.
Roul continued to the stall where his horse was housed. ‘The people of Chadora are content with Queen Fayre as regent, as long as the meat continues to show up in the borough.’
Eda held the stall door open while Leigh stood awkwardly back from them. ‘I’m asking about everyone outside of Chadora. Will King Edward come for our meat?’
That mind of hers just never stopped. ‘You know, you don’t have to carry the weight of this kingdom on your shoulders.’ He led his horse out into the mounting yard. Leigh trailed behind them. As Roul gathered the reins, Eda’s hand landed on his arm.
‘I could do it,’ she said. ‘No one would feel threatened if I showed up at Harlech Castle.’
Roul turned to her. ‘Stop.’
‘Stop what?’ Leigh asked, looking between them with a confused expression.
Eda’s eyes never left Roul. ‘I’m capable. Entirely self-sufficient. I could make it there safely and convince the prince to return with me.’
Roul shook his head. ‘I said stop.’
‘I’ll make him listen.’
Roul mounted. ‘Go inside.’
She took hold of the reins, preventing the horse from moving. ‘Can you at least hear me out?’
‘No.’ He reached down and took her hand off the reins, eyes meeting hers. ‘The prince doesn’t know you, nor does he have any reason to trust you. The entire idea is ludicrous, and I’m not indulging you any longer.’
She raised her chin and stepped back. ‘Well, maybe Queen Fayre will indulge me.’
Roul levelled her with a stare that made it clear he was not messing around. ‘You saw firsthand what happened to your sister when she played these games.’
Leigh took hold of Eda’s arm. ‘Come. I’ll take you inside.’
Roul’s eyes went to the hand wrapping her arm. ‘She can walk herself inside.’ The words had come out harsher than he had intended, but the second Leigh had put his hands on her, he could not stop it.
Leigh let go of her arm.
Eda stepped away from the horse, looking taken aback. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow.’
