When she finished cutting, he moved back to his position by the wall, but she remained sitting in the center of the fur mat. If he commented on why she didn’t sit beside him again, she could say the lighting was better here, which might be true. Though this entire end of the cave was dim enough to make her eyes ache from squinting over her needlework.
After securing the first few stitches, she proceeded quickly, finishing the last within minutes. She tied off the thread, then straightened her back and blinked, giving her eyes a chance to rest. She tucked her needle back in her kit of healing supplies, then took up both stockings and turned to Levi. “See how they fit.”
He took them almost reverently, but as he lifted his foot to obey her command, she jerked her focus away. She daren’t watch him dress. This man affected her far too much, even his feet.
Turning away, she busied herself with food for them to eat. They both needed sustenance to keep their strength up.
From the corner of her eye, she watched Levi’s outline enough to know when he’d finished donning both stockings. She glanced back, just to make sure they fit.
He sat with his knees bent, soles of his feet resting on the floor. The stockings appeared to cradle his feet perfectly, the leather wrapping almost like moccasins.
She lifted her gaze to his face, and a grin flashed in his eyes. “Perfect. They’re already warmer.”
She tugged her attention away as heat swarmed up her neck. Gathering a packet of smoked caribou and a roll for each of them, she kept her gaze on the food as she crawled back to her seat beside him. They could both eat from the meat if she sat here. And this way, she didn’t have to look at him.
After they’d eaten the meager meal, silence surrounded them. Then a noise sounded outside, like a shout. She cringed, and Levi stiffened too. When he looked her way, the shadows darkened his face, so it was hard to see the expression in his eyes.
But then he turned toward the cave opening, and they both sat in intense expectation.
Nothing happened. No one entered the cave. No more voices sounded outside.
They were simply cloaked in silence.
As more time passed, she almost reached for her needle and the leather again. She could make a pair of true moccasins, but this leather had been worked until it was thin and very pliable, so it wouldn’t hold up well against the stony ground. And the darkness of the cave would make her head ache if she did precision work for a longer span of time.
After a while, her eyes grew heavy. She always rose early, and this morning had been no different. But she rarely sat still for so long. She blinked and straightened, stretching her back to reawaken her muscles. She had to keep herself ready for whatever might happen.
Levi’s neck and shoulders throbbed from holding himself so still. But the woman resting against him, head nestled on his shoulder, felt like a gift. He didn’t dare do anything to wake her. She’d done so much for him. The least he could offer in return was to allow her a shoulder to lean against during her much-needed nap.
As dusk had fallen, he’d watched the search party turn with slumped shoulders back toward Laurent. They would surely be back tomorrow morning. Did that mean it was safe to venture out until then? He wasn’t willing to risk a fire again.
He’d had hours to sit here and contemplate what they should do next—and he still wasn’t certain. If he were the only person he had to consider, he would leave this place. Head back to Washington, gather his belongings, and board a ship to England. His work with the intelligence branch was over now. He could finally pursue the life he wanted.
What was that, exactly? In truth, Mum needed him more than anyone else did, so he should return to Kettlewell and see what he could do for her. Maybe the work he’d done during the war would finally be enough to earn his father’s respect.
But hewasn’tthe only person he had to consider. Whatwould happen to Miss Moreau? Could she even return to her village? What kind of punishment would she suffer?
A new thought slipped in. She’d been alone with him for the better part of the day, and now night had fallen. In England, that would be enough to ruin a woman. Did her people hold the same standards? In such a small village, would their rules be more lenient—or even stricter?
Against his arm, she stirred. In the darkness of the cave, she might awake completely disoriented. Would she cry out? In the same situation, his sister would probably awaken with a scream, though he couldn’t imagine innocent little Libby being alone with a strange man in a black-as-pitch cave.
She stiffened, then lifted her head. He kept his voice to a whisper. “Miss Moreau? Nothing to be alarmed about. The cave is a bit darker now, is all.”
She was silent, save for the rustle of her clothing as she straightened. At last, she whispered, “Has anything happened?”
He shook his head, though she wouldn’t see that in the darkness. “All has been quiet since the searchers left. I think I’ll go to the cave opening and see what’s happening out there.”
“Can I come too?” Her whisper barely sounded as he prepared to move.
He stilled. “Of course.” She didn’t have to ask, but the fact that she had touched something deep inside him.
Miss Audrey Moreau was such a good, kind woman. The very last person he would expect to break a captive free from his jail cell. Yet the fact that she’d believed in him enough to risk so much made him ache inside. He owed her everything. What could he do to make her situation better?
He stood, and from the sounds of shifting, she must be doing the same. This utter darkness was uncanny, making his senses feel unreliable. Should he let her go first? He’d be more comfortable taking the lead, but he didn’t want to lose her or cause her to trip.
He extended his hand. “Here. Take my hand so we don’t run into each other.” A heartbeat later, her fingers brushed his sleeve, then slid down his arm to fit into his palm.
He closed his hand around hers, the weight of the trust she offered pressing in his chest. Holding her grip secure, he started forward, small steps at a time. Thankfully, this cave had very few loose rocks littering its floor, so there wouldn’t be much to stumble on or raise a clatter.
