Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

E lisiana was fairly certain she hadn't slept all night.

Not that sleeping was at all important. She couldn't surrender to something as mundane as sleep when her life was on the precipice of something wonderful. Sleep meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. It only meant that she wasn't thinking about Sinclair, and all she wanted to do was think about the man.

She'd jumped out of bed well before dawn and dressed in the lavender garment. It reminded her of Sinclair and she wanted to wear it again. Bundling an apron over it, she entered the kitchens just as the kitchen servants were stoking the big ovens for the day, and she proceeded to make several loaves of bread with currants in them, basted with butter and honey.

Feeling industrious, she left the kitchens while the bread was baking and headed into the common room, which was strewn with people sleeping. They were on the floor, on the tables, on chairs—anywhere they could find space. She noticed that the room was particularly filthy, so as people slept, she went out to the well and drew several buckets of water. After mixing the water with vinegar, she brought the buckets back into the common room and began kicking people off the tables so she could wash them.

And also so they could purchase a morning meal.

Ignoring the complainers who were upset that they'd been roused, Elisiana proceeded to splash the vinegar water across the tables and mop it up with a rag. This was one of her chores in the morning, so she was simply going about her duties. But she was also wondering when she would see Sinclair again. It was daylight, after all. Shouldn't he be here to bid her a good morning?

The thought made her smile.

Already, she was making plans to visit Blackchurch around the nooning hour and bring him some food. He would love the currant loaf, she was certain, but there was also leftover stew from the previous night. She would bring him some of that.

Perhaps he really would be too fat to run away from her.

It was a delightful thought. Aster and a couple of the other serving women joined her in her duties in the common room, kicking people off the floor and forcing them to rise as they swept and cleaned. Outside, in the village of Exebridge, merchants were opening their shops and farmers were bringing their goods in from the countryside. There was a large market every sixth day of the week, but there were also a couple of merchants in town with smaller stalls who sold things like vegetables and other consumable items. Not everyone in or around Exebridge had gardens big enough to supply their families, so the vegetable merchants did a good business.

Elisiana had just finished scrubbing off a layer of spilled, dried wine from a table when the entry door opened. Glancing up, she saw Athdara and another woman she recognized. Gisele, Lady de Merest and the wife of Fox, lifted a hand in greeting as Elisiana smiled and left the table she'd been working on.

She made her way over to the women.

"Good morn to you, my ladies," she said. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"

"It seems that my husband may or may have not lost some coin he had in his purse," Athdara replied. "When he came home last night, he found that his purse had a slight hole in it and he thought some money was missing. I thought I would see if you've found any on the floor."

Elisiana gestured toward the private room that the trainers always used. "If he did, it might be in there," she said, leading the way as they headed over to it. "We have yet to clean in there, so it may be on the floor."

Entering the chamber, she went straight to the side of the room Tay had been sitting on as Athdara and Gisele lingered by the door.

"He did not lose any money," Gisele said. "He purchased too much wine and simply does not remember."

Athdara chuckled. "I know," she said. "But the excuse has served a purpose. We now have Elisiana to ourselves."

Elisiana, who had been crouched under the table looking for Tay's lost coinage, heard her name. Everyone except Sinclair knew her as Lisi, and she stood up, immediately suspicious that they'd called her by her given name. She'd known these ladies for six months, not too terribly well, but she assumed them to be women of honor, since they were married to Blackchurch trainers.

But now…

She wondered why they'd come.

"Who told you to call me by that name?" she asked.

Athdara could immediately see that she was uncomfortable. "Please do not be angry," she said. "We will not tell anyone, I swear. But Payne… He talks too much sometimes, and he returned from the tavern last night, drunken and depressed, and spent most of the night in my cottage, telling my husband that he'd lost the only woman he wanted. He meant you."

Elisiana puffed out her cheeks, letting out a heavy sigh. "I see," she said, no longer suspicious as it was explained to her. "I am sorry if he is upset, but it could not be helped. I never gave him any encouragement if that is what you are here to discuss. And if you are here to convince me to accept his affections, I will tell you that I cannot. I will not. I simply do not feel that way about him."

Both Athdara and Gisele were nodding. "We know," Gisele said. A petite, beautiful woman, she had a soft and comforting way of speaking. "We know everything. Tay sent for Sinclair when Payne came to him and Sinclair roused my husband, so all four of them were up most of the night, discussing the… situation."

Elisiana wasn't sure what to say. Suddenly feeling weary, and perhaps a little irritated, she plopped down in a chair and lingered over what they'd said.

She didn't like that she'd been the topic of discussion.

"And what was the resolution that I am to be part of?" she finally said. "Did they decide, collectively, that Sinclair should surrender his intentions because Payne is so upset about it? Have men I barely know decided my future for me?"

Gisele and Athdara came closer and Gisele sat down next to her, turning the chair toward her. "No one has decided anything," she said quietly. "Sinclair would not surrender his interest in you, and he was adamant. At least, according to Fox he was adamant, but the point is that no one is making decisions for you. Only you and Sin make the decisions that are the best for you both. But he did send us over here this morning. He has recruits to teach and could not come himself."

Now they had her curiosity. Elisiana looked between Gisele and Athdara. "Why did he send you to me?"

Gisele smiled. "Because he wants to know if you will come to Blackchurch and manage the kitchens," he said. "It would be a far better-paying position than what you have here with Hobbes. And you would be safe. No one can breach the walls of Blackchurch."

That told Elisiana that Sinclair must have told them about her father. A secret she'd never intended to tell, and when she did, it seemed to spread. She wasn't happy about that. When she sighed heavily and lowered her gaze, Gisele hastened to reassure her.

"Truly, Sin only told us out of concern," she said quietly. "At Blackchurch, we are like a family. We all care for one another deeply and what affects one affects us all. Athdara knows Sinclair better than I do, but I know that he is a great and honorable man. He deserves to be happy in life, and from what my husband says, the mere mention of you sparks a light in his eyes. Will you at least think about coming to manage our kitchens? Sin says that you are very talented in your management and cooking skills."

Elisiana was still looking at the floor. It took her a moment to answer. "It is a very generous offer," she said, finally looking up at the pair. "What else do you know about me?"

This time, Athdara took a seat on the other side of Gisele. "That you are a noblewoman hiding from your father," she said. "What more do we need to know? Sinclair believes you are a remarkable woman, as does Payne. These are two men that are well loved and trusted by those at Blackchurch. I would say that speaks very well for you, my lady. We only wish to help."

Elisiana believed that. She truly did. She didn't get any sense of judgment from the pair—judgment in her actions, that she'd run from her father, that she was hiding out. They seemed to genuinely want to help her and, truth be told, she was touched. She'd spent six months taking care of herself, working a labor- intensive job, so she was used to being solitary as of late. She was accustomed to not having anyone by her side, friend or family. It was just her. But looking at the women in front of her, she could see that she wasn't solitary anymore.

There were those who wished to help her.

But she wasn't so sure she wanted the help.

"I do believe you," she finally said. "And I am very grateful. The fact that you would take the time to come to me like this speaks of your good intentions."

Athdara's eyebrows lifted. " But …?"

The woman was intuitive. She could sense that there was something more on Elisiana's mind, and she was right.

"But I must think on it," Elisiana said. "You must understand that Sinclair and I have only just met. We have only just begun this journey between us and nothing is certain yet. Nothing is definite. We are only just coming to learn about one another and I fear that if I go to Blackchurch too soon, and it does not work out well between us, then I will have nowhere else to go. I will be dependent on Blackchurch and will be forced to see Sinclair every day. It would be torture if… well, if our future is not meant to be together."

Both Athdara and Gisele nodded. "That speaks well for your independence," Gisele said. "You do not wish to be dependent upon anyone but yourself, and provide for yourself, and I think that is very honorable. I think if you would have been too agreeable to this I might have been suspicious of you, but instead, you are suspicious of us."

The three of them broke down in snorts of laughter. "I would not say that I am suspicious of you," Elisiana said. "But I only just met Sinclair. I cannot be dependent on him so soon. I must still have a space, and a position, that is separate from him. I will explain it to him when I see him. But you may tell him… Please tell him how much I love that he wants to make sure I am safe. That is such a wonderful thing."

Athdara and Gisele were smiling. "He is a good man," Athdara reassured her quietly. "He is loyal to the bone. He will kill, or die, for his friends, and he will make you a fine husband, my lady. I swear it."

Elisiana lifted an eyebrow. "You address me as ‘my lady'?"

Athdara looked at Gisele, and they passed nervous glances between them until Gisele finally broke down and confessed. "You are the daughter of a Castilian count," she said. Then she shrugged. "Athdara is the daughter and sister of a duke, and I… I am the bastard of a king. We all have secrets, Lady Elisiana. But yours is safe with us, I promise."

Elisiana looked shocked for a moment before closing her eyes and shaking her head. Then she started to laugh.

"God's Bones," she muttered. "Remind me never to tell Sinclair anything. The man cannot keep his mouth shut."

Athdara grinned. "In fairness to Sin, it was Payne who mostly spoke," she said. "Sin told him about you as they were discussing who had the better chance of wooing you, and then when Payne ended up in my cottage, drunk and distressed, more of your background was discussed and my husband told me. Please do not be upset. I swear to you that it will not go beyond the trainers. They may talk to one another, but they do not gossip to others. I am sorry if you are angered by it."

Elisiana shook her head. "I am not angered," she said. "But I do wish he hadn't told anyone. Still, I suppose there is nothing to do about it now."

"But you will think about coming to Blackchurch to manage the kitchens?"

"Aye, I will."

"Good," Athdara said, reaching across Gisele to clasp Elisiana's hand. "You would be most welcome, Lisi. Those big bulls need us to keep them in line, and I think you would be a fine addition."

Elisiana really wasn't peeved. Not too much, anyway. She was flattered and honored by Athdara and Gisele's attention toward her. She'd spend so much of her life without the comfort of good friends that the prospect of becoming close with these ladies was an exciting thing, indeed. Perhaps part of a better life than she could have ever imagined for herself.

Becoming part of something important.

"When you put it like that, I can hardly refuse," she said. "You will have to let me speak with Hobbes first. He has been good to me and I must tell him that I am leaving. I am not entirely sure he will be happy about it, but I do not want to sour our relationship. I will need a few days before I can consider going to Blackchurch."

Athdara and Gisele beamed. "Take as much time as you need," Athdara said, standing as Gisele stood up beside her. "We shall return and tell Sin that you are, at least, receptive to joining us."

Elisiana stood up also. "Please don't," she said. "I was planning on taking some food to him at the nooning hour, so I will tell him myself. But… will you take something to him for me in the meantime?"

"Anything," Athdara said.

Elisiana held her hands up, silently instructing them to stay where they were, as she scooted out of the room. She was barely gone a minute before she returned with a piece of vellum in her hand. It was rolled, tied off with a small strip of leather.

"Please give this to him," she said.

She handed it to Athdara, who took it curiously. "What is it?"

Elisiana grinned. "He will show you when he opens it, I am certain," she said. "He is expecting it."

That didn't help their sense of curiosity, but Athdara and Gisele nodded. Gisele even took the vellum from Athdara and tried to peer inside of it as Elisiana laughed. She made no move to actually open it, but she was definitely curious, which amused Elisiana. The three of them were coming out of the room when the entry door to the tavern opened and a few men spilled inside.

The sight of them had Elisiana stopping in her tracks.

Hell, for her, had arrived.