Maybe he really had recently come into their country. That gave her a better sense of timing. “What else?”
“We have other animals where I come from that I haven’t seen in these parts.”
“Like what?”
As he spoke of bright red birds and tiny cougars he called house cats, she could almost picture the animals. Her chest tightened as an old longing rose up within her. She loved her home here, but how wonderful it must be to see distant lands. These things he described were probably only a small taste of other wonders to be seen.
As her mind spun with images, she finally realized quiet had settled over them. She blinked to pull herself back to the present.
He looked at her with his head tipped as if trying to decipher something about her. “So you’ve really lived in this place your entire life? You never traveled elsewhere?”
She shrugged, pulling back to lean against the wall. Perhaps she’d shown too much eagerness. “We have all we need here.” She’d always believed that before anyway. They had safety and food and clothing and companionship. What more could they require?
Silence settled again, but not an awkward quiet. He appeared as deep in his thoughts as she was.
But she should probably keep him talking. He seemed open to speaking of the place he came from.
“With so many differences in animals and mountains, and even the length of the day, your home must be far away. How long did you travel to reach this place?”
He raised his gaze to the ceiling, as though calculating the time.
But before he could answer, the scuff of footsteps sounded outside the door. Then a tap so light it must be Audrey’s.
“Enter.” Brielle pushed to her feet and moved toward the door as the clang of the bar sounded, then the wood pushed open.
Audrey’s sweet smile glowed in the light of the torches as she stepped into the room carrying a large tray. “I come withBreton galetteto break your fast. And also fresh torches.”
Thoughtful Audrey.
Audrey’s smile brightened even more as she turned to their prisoner. “And how are you feeling this morning, good sir?”
Brielle had to hold in a snort. If Audrey had her way, she would send the man off with a fortnight’s provisions, including sweet meats and all manner of pastries. That is, if she couldn’t talk him into staying so she could continue to ply him with her hospitality. The woman truly saw the best in everyone and lived to bring pleasure, especially through the stomach.
“I’ll be doing even better when I taste whatever’s under that cloth that smells so good.” The earnest appreciation in Evan’s eyes pressed a twinge in Brielle’s chest. Maybe she should try kindness, too. Real kindness, not feigned to get what she wanted. Perhaps Audrey was right in her claim that a kind word or act always brought out the best in people.
While Audrey fussed over the man, rolling part of his furs to prop his head up, Brielle took her portion of the mealfrom the tray. The aroma from Audrey’s meat pastry filled the room, raising her empty belly to life.
Audrey worked with her back to Brielle, setting out platters she’d brought. “I’m going to free his hands so he can eat. A good meal will help his wounds heal, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t feed himself.” She spoke in French without looking back at Brielle, but her tone and the switch in language made it clear the words were meant for her.
Frustration surged through Brielle, and she changed to Italian for her response, just in case the man could understand French. “Don’t do it, Audrey. He might be dangerous.”
Her friend didn’t answer, simply sent raised brows over her shoulder that meant she would do what she wanted—or felt was necessary. She probably also meant the look as her opinion on Brielle’s lack of trust in the goodness of humankind, but she wouldn’t ponder that line of thought any longer.
She sighed and put down her bite of galette, then reached to make sure her blade sat at the ready. The man probably wouldn’t do anything to endanger Audrey—truly, how could anyone hurt someone so innately good? Especially when she was offering such tasty fare.
But Brielle’s duty was to make sure her people stayed safe.
Audrey’s body blocked her view of what she was doing, but when Evan’s eyes slid shut and he released a long groan of pleasure, Brielle was fairly certain his hands had been unbound.
Audrey sat back, pushing the tray closer. “There. Now you can eat at your leisure.” She clasped her hands around her knees and settled in to watch the man enjoy what she’d brought him.
Brielle shifted her focus back to Evan to watch for any plan of escape he might be crafting.
But running away seemed far from his thoughts as he took his first bite of Audrey’s honey-drizzled pastry. His eyes drifted shut as his mouth worked the bite, and for once, she could see why Audrey loved to watch the delight of others.
Before, Brielle had been able to ignore his striking features, but the joy lighting his entire face raised a yearning inside her. What was she doing, feeling this way toward a stranger? An Englishman, at that.
She forced her focus away from his face, dropping it down to his tunic. Maybe the bloodstain there would provide enough distraction. But the pleasure in his expression was forefront in her thoughts and she imagined each nuance of his joy as it played across his features.
