Ethenn tightened his jaw while Ilain—standing by Isla’s side—gave a small curtsy, her expression abnormally uncomfortable.
“Ilain is Mr. Calder’s sister,” Deckard explained, then motioned to Brea, standing next to Ethenn. “And this isMissLohen.”
Rafferty leaned in and said, “Mywife.”
“I’d sooner eat a dagger,” Brea quipped, then offered a friendly smile to the Glaas family. “This is a charming village.”
Lawton, Laurisa, and Calyn smiled with curiosity in their gazes.
“Well,” Lawton cleared his throat, “we will certainly have to be creative in finding rooms for you all. But be assured, we’llbe happy to provide a hearty dinner. Colonel,” he looked at Deckard, “I’d appreciate a word in my office if you don’t mind.”
Deckard drew his shoulders back, and Evylin felt her stomach twist. Her father knew. Somehow, he’d figured out that things weren’t what they appeared to be.Somehow?she thought contemptuously.You and Brea are wearing trousers, and you’re both heavily armed. No Ephrian woman of repute would look as you two do.
“Of course,” Deckard said with charming ease. “Might Evylin join us?”
“No,” Lawton said in a sharp tone despite his casual demeanor. “Let her and the womenfolk freshen up. I’m sure our talk would only bore her.”
Deckard nodded and turned to Thom. “Once lodging is determined, get everyone settled,” he said, dropping his voice. “This will take a while.”
Laurisa and Calyn stepped forward to guide their guests toward the parlor, causing a flurry of motion around them. Evylin caught Deckard’s hand, pulling him close. “Keep it simple,” she whispered. “He won’t understand.”
Deckard dipped his chin reassuringly. Then he was gone, shut into her father’s office.
“Come now,” Laurisa said, setting a hand on Evylin’s shoulder. “We’ll get you all figured out and settled with rooms.”
Ushered into the parlor with the others, Evylin forced herself not to worry about her husband. She helped her mother determine where to place all her guests. Calyn hurried off to make tea, returning shortly with all the teacups their family owned. It was decided that Evylin and Deckard would stay in her old room, Isla and Vayden would take the guest room, and Calyn graciously offered her room to Ethenn and Ilain.
“I’ll go stay with Doli and Devaan,” she said, then turned to Brea. “Miss Lohen, you may join me if you don’t mind sharing a room.”
“Oh, Brea is a splendid roommate,” Thom teased. “She positively loves ‘girl talk.’”
Brea passed him a bored look, stirring cream into her tea. “I’m rather an expert at feminine chatter,mi’caro,” she said. “I grew up with a sister of my own.” She turned to Calyn with a kind smile. “I’d be delighted, Miss Glaas.”
“Please, call me Calyn,” the girl said cheerily.
“Then you must call me Brea.”
Thom leaned over to Brea then, whispering so only she and Evylin could hear when he said, “Put in a good word for me, eh?”
“There is only one word I’d use to describe you,” Brea returned. “And it isn’t good.”
Thom chuckled, then turned back to Laurisa. “Evylin mentioned that Hewitt’s old apartment is vacant,” he said. “Rafferty and I can bunk there if that’s all right with you.”
“Hewitt’s...” Laurisa’s expression filled with momentary sorrow, but she recovered quickly. “Oh, I would hate to put you gentlemen there. It’s awfully small and drafty. And there’s only one small cot.”
“That’s all right,” Thom replied. “Raff can sleep on the floor.”
With the arrangements settled, the men left to retrieve their things. Evylin watched forlornly as they left. She didn’t care to be stuck with the women sipping tea and sharing idle chatter. Not while she could feel Deckard’s tension leaking toward her down the hall.
Setting her teacup down, Evylin turned to her mother. “I do apologize,” she said, keeping her voice low as Calyn asked after the other three women’s unique accents. “But might I be excused? We’re only here for the night, and I’d like the chance to visit...”
Evylin didn’t complete her thought, and Laurisa didn’t need her to. “Yes, of course, dear.” She squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Go, and I’ll prepare a bath for when you get back.”
With a grateful smile, Evylin left the parlor. She slipped back through the hall and out the front door. Catching up to the men in the stables, she waved her hello to great-uncle Ned, the farrier. The wizened old man should have retired, but he’d lost his son in the war, and his grandson had been taken by the last draft.
“What are you doing out here?” Thom asked as Evylin approached.
Evylin joined in unlacing their bags from the saddles. “I wanted the chance to visit my and Hewitt’s old haunts,” she said. “Care to join me?”
