Oh, the man was frustrating! Why couldn’t he simply talk to her?
“Well,” she tried again. “My mother always said that you should share your troubles. If you let them out, then they are less likely to burden you, whereas if you keep them inside they fester your blood and taint your soul.”
“Perhaps I like my soul tainted.”
“Perhaps. But you really should speak your mind. My father says is keeps one healthy.”
“Then you are the healthiest person I know.”
She laughed. “He says that, too.”
Emily handed him the book she held and as he took it, their fingers collided. He froze and stared at her fingers. Something warm flickered in his eyes, brightening the blue tones.
Kiss me, she begged silently, longing to feel his lips against hers.
But he didn’t. Instead, he took the book and placed it on the shelf with the others.
Emily sighed. “At least you’re finished now.”
“Aye. If we leave within the hour, we should be at the inn by nightfall and Ravenswood by this time tomorrow.”
Emily’s breath caught in her throat as disappointment filled her. He had completely forgotten her request to go to the fair?
“But...”
Draven turned at her squelched word. “But?”
He saw the disappointment in her eyes.
“Nothing.” She hung her head dejectedly. “I shall go pack my saddlebags.”
Draven frowned at her as she left him. What the devil was wrong with her? Surely, she wasn’t still angry over the saddlebags?
She’d seemed so happy just a moment before and now....
He shook his head.
Women. What man would ever understand them?
Shrugging it off, he left the room and returned to the hall to find Simon still sitting at his place on the dais. Draven quickly averted his gaze from the lord’s table to his brother. “Where’s Orrick?”
Simon gestured toward the stairs with the grape he held in his hand. “Christina took him above until he could compose himself. ‘Twould seem he is overwhelmed by your mercy.” He popped the grape into his mouth.
Draven nodded. He’d pay the money to Henry from his own coffers, and so long as Henry had his full due, the king would leave the baron in peace.
“Have you any idea what is wrong with Emily?” Draven asked after Simon had swallowed his grape.
Picking through the bowl of grapes in front of him, Simon shrugged. “She was fine when she left here. What did you say to her?”
Draven stiffened at the implication. “I did nothing more than tell her to get ready to leave. We’ll be departing as soon as everyone is packed and saddled.”
Simon tossed the grape in his hand back into the bowl and leveled a droll look at him. “You dolt!”
Draven lifted his brows at the unwarranted insult. “I beg your pardon?”
“I realize, brother, you’re used to snapping your fingers and having your men follow you while they swallow any complaint lest you mangle them over it, but the lady isn’t used to it. You don’t just finish your work, hop on your horse, and make for home. Emily wanted to go to the fair.”
Draven stared at him in disbelief. “We’ve been here two days, I assumed you had taken her already. That is why you came, is it not? Or are you here simply here to gorge yourself on grapes and pester me?”
