Her older sister was silent for a long time with her forehead wrinkled and lips pressed together in deep thought.
“What if you didn’t love him?” she finally asked.
The question caught Lizzie off-guard. “But I do love him; he’s my best friend.”
Belinda tossed the pillow aside and leaned forward. “No, I mean, what if you didn’t love him when you married him? If it was purely a business transaction, like Father says, then it wouldn’t matter whether he welcomed you with open arms or an open hand. The less you feel, the less you’ll hurt, right?”
“Right.” She nodded slowly.
“What if I told you that I knew a way to make it so that you don’t feelanything?”
Lizzie took a deep breath. “Tell me more.”
Chapter Twelve
Freddy
“As I always say, ‘The two things in life most important to protect are your heart and sole, so be careful who you marry and make sure to keep your shoes in good repair.’”
Freddy laughed as he looked down at his new boots then over at his wife. “Excellent words of wisdom, Mormor. Thankfully, I can say now that I have been successful on both counts.” He bent down to give the old woman a hug. “Thank you for looking after my princess.”
She patted his cheek. “You’re a good boy, Kai. I wish you could have met my grandson Jem; I think the two of you could havebeen good friends. Take good care of Eliza. There’s more to her than meets the eye.”
“I will,” he promised, stepping back as Norva took Mormor’s place.
She handed him a covered basket. “Just a little something for your journey. Remember, the best way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.”
He chuckled. “I always heard it the other way around.”
“You’ve not heard it the Norditch way, then. As Mormor always says, ‘The tears of a woman are dried with a snack and her anger soothed with a soft pillow.’” She smirked up at him. “That one Idohave embroidered on a pillow.”
After a final round of goodbyes, Freddy and Lizzie were finally on their way. The bright sun took the edge off the freezing air, and the cloudless blue sky seemed to stretch away endlessly. Mormor and Norva had ensured that they were properly dressed for the cold, and between the sunshine and the soft, thick scarf around his neck, Freddy almost felt too warm.
He tried to keep his enthusiasm in check, but it was hard to temper his joy at finally being homeward bound with Lizzie safe at his side. Her cold demeanor still puzzled him, but for the time being, it was enough that she was there.
They crossed the ferry to the mainland of Eukarya without trouble, receiving a warm welcome in Cabriole from the ferry worker who recognized Freddy from his initial crossing. With Norva’s rhubarb pie in their belly and the wide road in front of them, the miles passed quickly under their feet and Freddy found it easy to be optimistic about the future.
Until nightfall.
Lizzie stood on the side of the circle of ground he had cleared for their camp with her arms crossed in front of her chest. “What are you doing?”
He pulled out the rope that would support the top of their tent and began tying one end around a branch. “Making camp.” He pointed with his chin to his pack. “There’s a roll of canvas in there; could you get it out?”
She wordlessly did as he directed, first in setting up the tent and then in gathering wood for a fire. He tried to engage her in conversation as they shared a meal, but after his first questions were met with silence, Freddy gave up. He pulled out his lute, playing and humming along as the sun was setting, and still she said nothing.
She finally broke her silence as the first stars began to appear in the sky. “I’ll sleep out here.”
Freddy was so surprised that his fingers slipped on the strings, striking a dissonant chord. He set the instrument to the side. “What? No.”
She folded her hands primly in her lap. “There’s only one tent.”
“Yes, but there are two blankets, and it’s too cold for you to be sleeping on the ground out in the open air.”
“The cold doesn’t bother me.”
Freddy scrubbed his hands down his face and took a deep, calming breath.
She doesn’t know that it’s me. As far as she knows, I’m just some stranger that she’s known for two days. It makes sense that she would be cautious.
