Vesta’s cheeks were splotchy, and she grasped her hands so tightly together in her lap that the knuckles turned white. She bowed her head, but I could see the glisten of tears in her eyes.
I knelt in front of her, and my breath caught in my throat. Vesta wasn’t wearing her scarf, so I could now see the bruises on her neck. They were a deep purple, the kind that needed a lot of strength to pull off.
“What happened to your throat?” I whispered to her as I looked the rest of her over. Her shoulders were covered by her nightgown, but I suspected her flinching from my touch had something to do with more bruises.
She sniffled. “The squire.”
Cassian knelt beside me and examined the injury. A dark look slipped into his eyes. “This must have hurt.”
She could only manage a nod.
“Did you wish us to call a doctor?”
Vesta shook her head.
“Did you tell Mrs. Arvina about this?” I asked her.
Vesta cleared her throat, but still spoke in a hoarse, trembling whisper. “No. I was afraid she would try to hurt the squire and lose her job. Her husband was injured in a wagon accident a month ago and can’t work quite yet.”
“Does she sleep here?” Cassian asked her.
“No. She lives in a cottage on a street behind the manor. It’s cheaper that way.”
“Cheaper than what way?” I inquired.
Vesta tightened her grip on her lap. “My master charges me room and board…”
My jaw hit the floor. “He what?!” She winced, and my heart dropped into my stomach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound, um, so loud.”
“It’s alright,” she whispered as she rubbed a hand up and down her arm, though not high enough to brush over where I had touched her. “I…I know I’m in a bad spot, but there’s nowhere else to go.”
A thought struck me that made my eyes light up. “You could come with us!”
Vesta lifted her head and blinked at me. “With you?”
I bobbed my head. “Yes! You could leave with us tomorrow! Just pack up everything you own, tell the squire off, and walk down the road with us!”
She bit her lower lip. “I’m not sure. That’s such a short time…”
“We could help you pack,” I insisted as I looked to Cassian. “Couldn’t we?”
“We would welcome your company,” Cassian invited her.
Vesta trembled all over. “I…I’m not sure. To leave everything behind so suddenly…”
“I’m sure you’d be happier somewhere else,” I insisted. “And I’m sure we’d be able to find you a job somewhere, maybe even with the king.”
The young woman closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath. “I…I don’t think I could.” She opened her eyes, and there was a flicker of hope in them. “But thank you for the offer. I feel better just for that.” She stood and smiled at me. “Truly. Thank you.”
I followed her to the door, where she paused and grasped the handle. Her hand wasn’t shaking anymore. “I’ll think about what you suggested. About leaving.”
“One moment,” Cassian called, and he soon joined us at the entrance. He grasped her hand and turned it so the palm faced upward. My companion pressed his hand against hers and looked into her eyes. “Should you still desire to leave, this will help you on your way.”
Vesta opened her fingers, and her eyes widened. The meager remains of our coins lay in her palm. She lifted her eyes to us and shook her head. “I-I couldn’t take this-”
“Of course you can,” I insisted as I closed her fingers around the money. “Just think of it as a thank-you for the dessert.”
“There’s enough money there for the coach, and a place to stay for a night,” Cassian told her.
