Page 69 of The Silent Songbird

“I suppose we should read a little while before we have to get back to our duties.”

Evangeline let go of his hand as she realized he wasn’t going to put his arms around her. If Westley loved her enough to marry her, she might be safe. King Richard might not be willing to break their marriage vows and force her to marry Shiveley.

Foolish hope. And yet, the more she knew of him, the more she wanted to be close to him, to spend time with him, and the harder it was to imagine herself married to anyone else.

Truly, she was setting herself up for pain.

They read together from the book of Romans until the sun started to set and spread the clouds and sky with bright pink and orange.

Evangeline handed the book back to Westley. “I need to get back inside to help the other servants.”

He was looking up at her with a worried crease in his forehead.

“What is it?”

“It does not seem right for you to work as a servant.”

“You know it is my disguise in case Lord Shiveley’s or the king’s men come around. They would not expect me to be working as a servant. Besides, if I lived in Glynval and did nothing, it would seem suspicious.”

“I know. But it feels wrong.”

She smiled. “Better to work as a servant than to marry someone I do not love.”

“Do not forget you promised to practice your singing with my family tonight. Come to the Great Hall immediately after dinner.”

“It will be my pleasure to sing for your family.” But the thought of singing at the festival gave her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Westley had said that only the people of the four nearby villages attended. She was being overly cautious, no doubt.

Chapter Twenty-One

Evangeline ate quickly. At every meal, she remainedquiet around the other servants, ever since they thought she was trying to poison them and dragged her to the pillory. Though now she ate in a smaller room, with the few house servants who worked only in the castle.

As soon as Evangeline had finished, she left the table and went to see if Westley and his family were ready for her. But when she peeked through the doorway to their family table in the Great Hall, her stomach fluttered. She pressed her back against the wall and closed her eyes to pray.

“Eva?”

Westley stood staring at her. “What are you doing? Are you coming in to sing?” He touched her elbow and tugged gently.

“But I don’t know what to sing.”

“Sing that song you were singing to Mildred.”

She nodded and let him lead her inside.

As she walked across the room with Westley, the others turned their heads.

Several children were seated at the table—six, since Westley had six brothers and sisters—and Lord and Lady le Wyse.

Lady le Wyse bestowed her with a welcoming smile. “We are so pleased you are willing to sing at the festival, my dear.”

“Thank you.” After feeling so incompetent at everything since she’d arrived in Glynval, she felt rather pleased at the thought of singing for the people who had welcomed her and allowed her to feel free for the first time in her life.

The children sat quietly watching her, as did Lord le Wyse. Westley sat on the bench, too, facing toward her.

“Do you need a stool? Would you like to sit?” Lady le Wyse asked.

“No, I thank you.” Evangeline closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Preparing to sing, she let herself dwell on joyful and pleasant thoughts. The moment she realized Westley was still alive after drawing him out of the river . . . the moment she first hit the target with her arrow . . . being held in Westley’s arms . . .

As Evangeline began to sing, pleasant memories of Glynval mingled with the pictures conjured up by the words of the song, a story about a shepherd boy and a goose girl falling in love and getting married in the springtime. Halfway through the song, she opened her eyes. The family was completely focused on Evangeline’s face, including Westley, his mouth slack.