He shifted his focus to her face, the faint glow of daylight illuminating her cheeks. “Do you think you should go back?”
She hesitated only a heartbeat before shaking her head. “I can’t leave you. Not when you can’t get around for days. Ifyou move too soon, your hip joint could move out of place again and cause permanent damage.”
Heaviness pressed down on him. She was staying here—had thrown her reputation aside—solely for him. And he needed her. She was probably right about his hip, especially the part about permanent damage if he mangled it again right away.
So, what should he do? Insist she return, despite his need of her? That’s what any decent man should do. But what if he was sending her back to dire punishment? Or, at the very least, a miserable life as an outcast? He wasn’t a good judge of how her people would respond, but in England, her lot in life would be hard with such a reputation.
In the end, this had to be her choice. But he needed to make sure she was making the decision based on whatshewanted and what would be best forher, not him.
Shifting his head so he could better face her, he met her gaze. “Please don’t stay away from your people on my account. If you want to return, I want you to go. I’m more grateful than I can say for everything you’ve done for me. But I don’t want you to give up your life and happiness because of me.”
She shifted her hands on the cup in her lap, then dropped her gaze to stare at it. If only he could tell what she was thinking. Part of him—the very selfish part—feared she might pack up and leave him here, right now. What would he do then?
That question didn’t bear pondering, for a greater part of him knew she wouldn’t go. Though he didn’t know why it was that she stayed.
Finally, she lifted her face to him. “I want to stay here. I want to help.”
She spoke plainly, and her tone gave no insight as to her reason. Perhaps he was overthinking this. He should simply take Audrey at her word and let his weary mind rest.
He tried to nod, but the movement sent a pain through his head. “I want it always to be your choice, and please know how grateful I am for you. Anything I can do in return, tell me.”
Her glance flicked down the length of him, then back up, and the firelight deepened the shadows as her mouth tugged in a grin. Clearly, they both knew he was in no condition to do anything for her. He’d have to make sure he repeated the offer later, when he could follow through.
She lifted the cup. “Are you ready for this now?”
“Very.” His body was already drawing him into the abyss, but hopefully the drink would dampen the pain radiating throughout him.
17
Audrey eyed the dark clouds pressing low in the morning sky as she stepped from the trees with an armload of wood. The air felt much thicker than the usual winter morning. Snow would fall sometime today. She’d fully stocked their woodpile the night before, mostly because there was little else to do. Perhaps she should still bring up a few extra loads this morning.
For the last three days, the weather had been tolerable, but she’d stayed tucked in the cave during daylight hours. The searchers hadn’t been back for two days now, but she still tried to stay in the cave during the brighter hours of each day, saving her outings for wood or water for the dusky light of morning or evening.
The long daylight hours sitting across the cave from Levi had been a treasure, getting to know him and hearing stories of his family, especially his baby sister, who was only a year younger than he was. Hearing their escapades as they grew up in the countryside made her chest ache with laughter. She’d never had the chance for a younger brother or sister. Not when her own mother died during her birth.
The low chattering of a bird brought her back to the present.She needed to focus on what should be done to prepare them in case they were snowed in for several days.
Food. She’d been rationing what little they had left, but soon there would be only berries remaining. Could she hunt with only a knife? The thought of killing an animal soured her stomach. She’d dressed hundreds of carcasses brought to her by the village hunters, but she’d never had to look in the eyes of a creature and take its life. Could she do it, knowing the alternative was to starve?
Maybe she should return to Laurent for food. But once she made it through the gates, they would never allow her to return to Levi. That wasn’t an option.
Perhaps she could set a snare. That would be an easier way to hunt. She would only have to skin and cook the animal, both things she was very accustomed to.
When Levi awoke, she could ask him if he knew much about trapping. With the snow coming, today wouldn’t be a good day to set the snare, but they could prepare.
By the time she carried three more loads of wood up to the cave, Levi had awakened. Anytime she glanced over and saw his dark brown eyes watching her, shivers of pleasure swept through her. She could imagine them as an old married couple, her keeping house for him and cooking his meals. Reveling in the warmth of his gaze and snuggling in the strength of his arms.
She pushed the daydream aside, a task getting harder and harder as the days passed. In many ways, it felt like this world they created had always been.
But shewasn’this wife—she was his nurse. Here to tend his injuries and see that he stayed warm and received the nourishment he needed to recover.
Fortified with that reminder, she brushed the wood residue from her hands, then moved to the fire to pour a cup of the broth she’d kept warming. “Are you hungry?”
“Very.” His voice rumbled in that way it always did first thing in the morning. There was a brightness in his eyes today that hadn’t been there in a while.
She approached with the cup, but he raised a hand to pause her. “I’ll sit up.”
After helping him to an upright position, she shifted his injured leg while he turned so his back could rest against the cave wall. “There. You look ready for some breakfast.” She handed him the cup and a chunk of bread. She’d save the last pastry for his evening meal. “This bread is so hard you’ll need to dunk it in the broth to keep from choking.”
