Ethenn took the wisdom with his usual steadiness, though the corner of his mouth quirked. “I didn’t exactly expect to come out of that room married,” he said.
“Technically, you aren’t, if that helps.”
Ethenn gave a wry scoff. “She’s my wife, though.”
“Evidently.”
“I’m not sure how to feel about that.”
“You said you love her,” Deckard prompted.
“I do,” Ethenn assured him.
Deckard smiled. “Then love her,” he said, knowing that was the advice he would have given himself all those months ago. “Whether she returns your feelings or not, love her with your whole soul. In the end, it’ll turn out just fine.”
CHAPTER NINE
After parting with Deckard, Evylin and Thom found Rafferty lingering in the dining hall. He was piling a plate full of the last bits of breakfast while the cook, Mrs. Howerth, glared at him.
“Eve!” Rafferty called as they walked in. “I’ve got your breakfast. No thanks to this old bag.”
Hastily, Evylin apologized to Mrs. Howerth and then pulled Rafferty to a table in the far corner. Thom managed to patch up relations with the cook and procured cups of tea for them as Evylin tucked into her meal.
Once they were all seated, Rafferty leaned forward, brows raised. “Did you hear the news?” he asked.
“What news?” Evylin asked around a bite of browned bread.
“Little Loxley’s done got himself into Highlady Calder’s knickers.”
Evylin choked on the bread at the same time Thom choked on a sip of tea. “I beg your pardon—what?” she asked.
Rafferty’s eyes glimmered as he reached across the table to nudge Thom’s arm. “You know how Lox decided to get chatty with her earlier?” At Thom’s hesitant nod, he continued, “Well, I tried to listen in, but with you prattling on about the beguiling lieutenant, I had a hard time getting all the details.”
“You’re the one who asked about Brea,” Thom protested.
Rafferty ignored him. “But then Lox stepped out on his own while Ilain spoke with her brothers. Shortly after, the three of them disappeared, leaving Isla and her daughter behind, and that Graicelle girl came to get Thommy. So I did what any sane man would—I eavesdropped.”
Though Evylin felt she was missing a few key details to fully understand Rafferty’s story, she smirked and said, “Naturally, of course.”
Rafferty winked at her. “And wouldn’t you know it,” he said, “the Calder girl was all enthusiasm over the news that her aunt was going to be married.”
“Married?” Evylin and Thom said in unison, then shared a look.
“Isn’t it bloody ridiculous?” Rafferty laughed uproariously. “The kid’s too young. He’s got so much life to live! He’s wasting his best years.”
Evylin frowned. “I will admit I think it hasty, but I fail to understand how he’s wasting his life by marrying,” she said.
Thom set a hand on Evylin’s arm. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, Evie,” he advised, then turned back to Rafferty. “You’re sure you didn’t misunderstand?”
Rafferty set a hand to his chest in offense. “Inever misunderstand, Thommy. It’s my job to procure information.”
“Technically, that’s not your job,” Thom said. “It doesn’t make sense, though. Why would Deckard be included in a meeting like that?”
“Maybe he’s not,” Evylin offered. “Perhaps it’s a completely separate meeting.”
“Then where are Ethenn and the rest of the Calders?”
Evylin shrugged. “Either way, I don’t think we should discuss it until we have more information. You two are as bad as my aunt, Serene.”
