Chapter Eight
In the two days that had passed since the trip to the village, Flora had been accommodated at a level that she hadn’t thought possible. Lucas and his family were careful about the questions that they asked her, only expecting her to shake or nod her head or point, and they seemed to be anticipating her needs without pushing her to do anything she didn’t want.
Since she’d been unable to talk, she’d taken to spending time in the library. The books were undemanding, and when she was seated here, she didn’t have to worry about someone trying to strike up a conversation with her. People in the library were more than content to stay silent. Plus, it was comforting to not only have access to stories she could read for pleasure but also the time to immerse herself in whichever novel she pleased.
Just as the book in her hands was reaching its climax, someone entered. Instinctively, her head shot up, her heart skipping a beat as she chastised herself for becoming so immersed in the story that she’d forgotten about her surroundings. The mild panic lingered when she saw that it was Lucas. Politely, shenodded her head in greeting, her fingers tightening on the edges of the novel.
“Ach, I thought I’d find ye here,” he said, keeping his voice quiet despite the fact that they were the only two in the space. “Are ye enjoyin’ the story?”
Flora nodded enthusiastically, a grin on her face. She was relieved to be asked about something that wasn’t her own well-being. Then, without thought, she opened her mouth and said, “Aye, it’s one of the best I’ve read.”
The moment the words left her mouth, both of them froze. Lucas’ eyes widened, his shock evident. Flora felt much the same.
Was it because I dinnae think about it? I’m still frightened, especially when it’s just the two of us.
Lucas cleared his throat after a beat, very obviously trying to keep from drawing too much attention to the new development, but as he spoke, there was a pleased smile on his face, one that even his beard couldn’t hide. “Ye’ve been readin’ quite a bit in the last few days. I’m surprised ye’re readin’ fiction. The last time I found ye in the library, ye were studyin’ a ledger.”
“I like the numbers,” she murmured, her throat a bit scratchy from disuse. Still, she was relieved to have found her voice again. “Seein’ how the castle’s accountin’ is balanced is fascinatin’.”
Lucas nodded, taking the seat next to hers. “Most people daenae enjoy numbers. They get confused, especially when they’re lookin’ at records that span decades. Ye’re quite bright, Flora.”
She smiled shyly, ducking her head as her face heated up. She wasn’t sure if she liked having his full attention like this. Softly, she said, “I daenae ken if I’m bright, but the numbers make sense. The answers are always there if ye ken how to add them and subtract them.”
Lucas grunted in acknowledgement as he glanced at the cover of the novel in her hands. “That’s one of me favorites, ye ken? Have ye gotten to the battle yet?”
“Aye,” she said, looking down at the page that she’d abandoned. Her index finger rested over the paragraph she’d looked away from. “I was just beginnin’ to read it when ye walked in.”
“That explains why ye seemed so surprised when I arrived. It’s an engagin’ fight,” he said, leaning back and cocking an eyebrow. “I’m sorry I interrupted yer readin’.”
“I daenae mind,” she said, surprising herself when she realized there was a tiny bit of truth to it. “Though, I’m lookin’ forward to findin’ out what happens.”
“Well, ye daenae have to stop readin’ on me account,” Lucas said, reaching over to grab a book from the table to his right. “I could do with a bit of silent readin’ as well. I’d like to ken what ye think of the fight.”
“Truthfully, I daenae think they needed to have a battle,” she admitted, staring down at the page, her brow furrowing slightly. “It’s interestin’ to read, but it’s all a misunderstandin’. Couldnae it be dealt with diplomatically?”
“Perhaps,” he said after a long moment. “But they’re past the point of talkin’ things out. The only thing they have left to do by that point in the story is fight.”
That sat wrong with Flora. She looked down at the pages, then back at Lucas. With a force she was surprised to muster, she said, “Ye can always talk things out. It only stops bein’ an option when ye throw the first punch.”
He paused at that, halfway to grabbing a book. “Ye really think so?”
“Aye,” Flora said, her face getting even hotter with embarrassment at her firmness. She focused on the words in front of her as she said, “Force and violence should be the last option, nae the first.”
“Ye may have a point,” Lucas conceded after a long moment, though he sounded reluctant. “But if yer enemy only thinks of violence as a solution, ye cannae reason with him. Ye must strike before he does to prevent it from escalating and hurtin’ people that are nae involved.”
“Perhaps we just have different ideas of how to handle conflict,” Flora conceded, realizing that they’d reached an impasse. Being unable to make him see her side made her feel powerless.
She wasn’t strong physically. Her only weapons were her words. And here she was, trying to argue that words were more important than force, completely at a loss for how to convince him. She started to doubt herself and her own convictions. Swallowing hard, she averted her eyes, shrinking in on herself.
“Perhaps we do,” Lucas agreed, not pushing any further as she frowned down her lap. “Perhaps the battle scene will change yer mind.”
The relief that flooded through her at his acceptance was profound. Without noticing it, she’d been bracing for him to insist on proving his point. Instead, he let the argument drop without getting upset with her. She wasn’t sure that there had ever been a time when she hadn’t been pushed into agreeing with someone she fundamentally disagreed with.
I’m nae sure what to make of this man. He believes violence could be an answer, yet doesnae use it with me. I’m afraid he may turn on me, yet he never takes the opportunity to do so.
With that thought in her mind, she settled in and picked up the book again, though it didn’t hold her attention in quite the same way now that Lucas was here and now that her voice had returned. Her eyes kept drifting to the man, and she was surprised to find that his own gaze continued to find her.
In the silence, she allowed herself to really look at him for the first time since arriving. She had registered briefly that he was handsome, but without the looming danger from before, she was able to truly appreciate the way his muscles seemed to bulgeagainst his shirt. His strength was something she never doubted, not even from the beginning, but the sight of it made her heartbeat quicken.
