Blast.
He forced a cheerful smile and turned. Inara stood on the opposite side of the room, her arms folded and her brows raised.
"Good morning, Mother. I trust you slept well?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't change the subject. Where are you going…and why are you being so secretive about it?"
"I thought a walk and some fresh air might serve me well. I was going to the meadow. Wanted to clear my head."
He chewed the inside of his cheek. Lying to Inara made his stomach churn. But he wasn't really lying, just leaving out a few details. Last night, she had demanded to know everything that happened at dinner. Of course, he hadn'tactuallytold her everything. Not about the meadow or the soft kiss Evree placed on his cheek.
Her exuberance had unnerved him all the same, and when she mentioned wedding decorations…
A shiver spread through his body. No, she needn't know he planned to see Evree.
Inara drummed her fingers against her arm. "All right. I suppose you must have a great deal on your mind. Would you like me to come with you?"
"No!"
The word came out with more force than he intended. Inara's expression broke, her lips curling up on one side and a glint in her eyes that sparkled with mischief. "Very well. Be careful, then."
She moseyed over to the washbasin and set to work on some dishes. Even from across the room, he could see the grin still plastered on her face. She couldn't possibly know, could she?
Eramus rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll see you later, Mother."
"Goodbye, dear." She didn't so much as glance at him, but he could still hear the amusement in her tone.
Inara knew. Or at minimum, suspected.
The village rested quietly in the early hours of morning. He passed two people along the main path, and both offered him a polite, albeit reserved, smile. It would take time to earn back the trust he had lost, but there was hope. He turned the corner of a large cottage with a red thatched roof, picking up his pace. The last person he desired to see was—
"Eramus."
Arnan's deep baritone fell over him, halting his steps. If there was one person who could kill his excitement this morning, it was the man standing behind him. Eramus turned and cleared his throat.
"Good morning, Arnan."
The man folded his arms and studied him for a moment. "Where are you going?"
The demand irked Eramus, but he forced himself to remain calm. If he wanted to earn back the trust of his people, he would have to endure Arnan's prejudice. "I'm taking a walk to the meadow."
"Why?"
Eramus clenched his jaw. "Because it's a lovely day."
Arnan narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. He jabbed his finger at Eramus's chest. "Just because the vote allowed you to stay doesn't mean you're wanted here. Thispowerof yours is a threat to us all, and when the others finally see it, they'll demand your banishment. One misstep…that's all I need to convince them."
Eramus wanted nothing more than to rebuff, to defend himself, but it would do no good to argue. Arnan wanted him gone, and any mistake would give the man leverage.
Arnan backed away and sneered before entering his cottage. Eramus released a heavy breath. His life felt like a sea of broken glass, and he was a ship maneuvering through the shards. It was only a matter of time before one cut so deep that he would plummet into the dark depths below.
Tiny yellow and purple flowers dotted the meadow. The dark green grass stretched for a hundred yards before meeting a thick forest of oak and pine. Eramus closed his eyes, listening to the chirping of the blue jays that fluttered between the trees. Evree was right; the meadow was peaceful.
"You came."
Eramus turned around. Evree's pale pink dress was a sharp contrast against the grassy meadow. She fit perfectly with the scene of pretty flowers, and her smile could easily outdo the warmth of the sun. He tilted his head and faked a scowl. "You doubted I would come?"
She averted her eyes. "I thought my father might have scared you off after last night."
