Page 52 of The Silent Songbird

“You do not have to apologize for what they did. Their consciences are not your responsibility. Besides,” she said pertly, “I have already forgiven them.” She tugged her arm, trying to pull away from his hold.

“Then why will you not forgive me?” He kept hold of her wrist, drawing closer to her.

“Forgive you for what?” Her tone was still hard, but the breathiness betrayed the way he affected her when he was this near and she was staring into his blue eyes.

“For not believing immediately that you would never try to poison anyone. For not running up to that pillory and knocking those men to the ground and snatching you away from them.”

“And for not believing me when I said your friend tried to kill you?”

He hesitated, then said, “I was still upset that you had deceived us by pretending to be mute. And it is hard for me to accept such a terrible thing about my childhood friend.”

“Yes, I imagine it is.” She should not be staring at his lips. But they were just so perfect, so appealing.

But he did not care about her. And Sabina would do anything, obviously, to make sure he married her and no one else.

If he wanted someone as despicable as Sabina, then he was not worth desiring. Or mourning over. Even if he did make heart-swelling apologies and have a deep, gentle voice and an even gentler touch.

She spun around on her heel, forcing him to let go of her hand. “I forgive you. And I thank you for the bandages.” Over her shoulder she added, “Please tell your mother thank you.”

She limped to the door.

“I will walk you to the undercroft.” He caught up with her in two long strides. “Wait. You have not had your dinner.”

“It is all right.”

“No, no, we will go to the servants’ dining room. They should still be there.”

“I would rather not go in there.”

Understanding dawned on his face. “I will go get you some food. We can go together, to the kitchen.”

She sighed, deciding not to protest, and followed him out.

It was dark already as they walked across the yard to the kitchen. She waited outside while he went in. A few minutes later he came out with a large bundle.

“You must think I’m very hungry.”

“In case you get hungry again during the night.”

They continued on to the undercroft. At the door she took the warm bundle from his hand. “Thank you.”

Perhaps it was wrong for her to be angry with him for not trusting in her. After all, she was still hiding some rather big secrets. If only she could tell him who she was. But she could not risk it.

“Be careful of that ankle.”

“I will see you tomorrow, perhaps.”

“You will.” He gave her that smile again. She did not like the way it made her breathless, and she especially hated that Sabina was so in love with this man that she would try to get Evangeline beaten or even killed just to make sure Westley would not look favorably upon her. Surely no man was that exceptional.

Evangeline got out of bed before the break of day and hobbled toward the cow barn. She found Nicola already milking one of the cows.

“I thought you were resting today,” Nicola said.

Evangeline took her place under a cow. “I am well enough to help you milk the cows. I did not want you to have to do all the work by yourself.”

Nicola gave her a concerned look over her shoulder. “I heard what happened yesterday. Are you sure you are all right?”

“Yes, I only sprained my ankle.” Evangeline shuddered a little as she remembered her terror and the people’s determination to do her harm.