“Ridiculous,” she said, and moved on.
They browsed a little longer, then Solway declared they ought to stroll back toward the inn. “Ye’ve been out walking long enough, Miranda. We need to turn back before ye’re too sore.”
In truth, she was indeed starting to feel some twinges. “All right.”
They were only a short distance from the inn when she felt a sudden, sharp pang to her ribs that caused her to gasp and almost double over. Fortunately, she had been holding on to Solway’s arm, and this prevented her from stumbling.
“Och, ye need to tell me when ye are in discomfort.” He glanced around. “Let’s stop for a bite at this tea shop. It’ll give ye the chance to rest. What do ye say?”
“An excellent idea,” Gwenys immediately responded, and marched in before Miranda could utter a protest.
She would have preferred to return to the inn, but her ribs were suddenly in revolt and truly aching. The sharp twinges were relentless as they ran up and down her sides, and it was quite possible she would not have made it to their lodgings on her own legs.
She would never admit this to Solway, however, and opened her mouth to protest. “I—”
“Gad, ye’re stubborn.” He continued to regard her with concern. “Gwenys is already inside, and ye look ashen. Are ye going to faint?”
“No! I never faint. I’m no frail daffodil.” But her head was beginning to spin. “All right, I may have overdone it just a little today. The market was so much fun, was it not?”
“Aye, and I surely enjoyed yer company.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and kept her body closely up against his as they followed Gwenys.
The aroma of fresh strawberries and cinnamon apples accosted her senses as she walked into the tea shop. It brought a smile to her lips.
“Yes, an excellent idea,” she declared as they were led to the only available table, since the place was filled with customers.
“We are always bustling on market days,” their server said with joviality. “What may I get you?”
Even though they had been eating and sampling their way from stall to stall in the marketplace, Gwenys was still hungry and chose a shortbread filled with strawberry jam. Solway ordered the same.
“Just chamomile tea for me,” Miranda said.
“Och, that won’t do.” He turned to the serving maid. “An apricot tart for the lady. And make it chamomile tea for all of us.”
The pleasant girl bustled off to fetch their orders.
“How did you know apricot tarts were my favorite?” Miranda asked him.
He chuckled. “I didn’t. But they’re one of my favorites, and I thought I would eat it if ye put up a fuss and insisted ye did no’ want it.”
She held her ribs as she laughed, because they were sore and she still felt jolts of pain with every slight movement.
But she felt much better after sitting for a little while and having her tea, which soothed her insides and warmed her hands and toes.
“Are ye feeling better?” Solway asked when they walked toward the inn a short while later.
She nodded. “Yes, much.”
Although it wasn’t quite true.
An odd feeling came over her as they approached the inn, and she did not understand exactly what this was, for the pleasant half-hour spent at the tea shop had restored her strength and her ribs no longer ached.
But this feeling was something dark and put her on edge—which made no sense, because the sun was shining and the cool air that had been swirling on an April breeze earlier in the day had died down now, making for a delightful afternoon.
She took Solway’s arm when he offered it, mostly because she liked holding on to him. There was something quietly assuring about his muscled strength.
But this also troubled her. Solway was thawing her heart. Could she trust what her heart felt for him?
She was contemplating this very problem when they entered the inn. For this reason, she did not immediately notice the two smartly dressed ladies walking out of the dining room.
