A small smile graced her face as they finished preparing the room, and she breathed, excited for the experience ahead of her.
Every passing minute seemed twice as long as they waited for the cook to arrive, and she sat, folding her hands in her lap. She watched as Martin stood near the window reviewing a few notes.
Perhaps she would someday attain the same level of calmness as her teacher.
The thought brought a smile to her lips despite herself, and she cleared her throat, choosing instead to focus on the moment.
Martin turned around, facing her. “Ye wished to ask me something?” he asked.
She straightened. She had not meant to draw his attention.
“Nay,” she said.
“Are ye certain?” he asked. “Earlier, as we left the hall, ye said so yerself.”
Edith blinked. She had totally forgotten about the things that had been on her mind before he brought up the examination, and now it felt silly to even bring them up.
“I… I daenae want to impose,” she said quietly. “Nae again.”
Martin dropped the notes in his hand and pulled a stool next to her. “Is all well with ye?”
She swallowed, feeling bad for causing him to worry.
“Aye,” she responded quickly, her cheeks flushing. “Please daenae fash. I had only meant to ask if ye were… betrothed.”
Martin did not respond at once. He stared at her for a brief moment, then gave the faintest shake of his head. “Nay.”
Edith paused. After their last conversation, she had expected him to be. She hesitated before asking another question.
“Would ye be interested in such a thing?”
Martin’s brows rose slightly. “A wife?”
The way he asked it made the question sound even more out of line in her head. But she could not back down now.
“Aye,” she said quietly, holding his gaze.
“Why do ye ask?”
Because Violet turns pink whenever she speaks of ye.
“Because…” She reconsidered her answer. “There is someone. And she is kind and remarkable.”
Martin studied her for a moment. Then his expression softened slightly.
“I am betrothed,” he said.
Edith frowned slightly. He had just said otherwise.
“What do ye mean?”
“That I could never take a wife,” he said simply. “No matter how worthy she might be.”
Confusion flickered across her face. After her last conversation with him, she had concluded that he did not know Violet well enough to be attracted to her. But now, it seemed there was something else she did not yet understand.
Martin stood, turning his back to the table. “I am betrothed to me work, me Lady,” he said. “I have devoted me life to healing. I always will.”
“Is that truly the only reason?”
