Page 43 of Flames and Blood

“A long time.”

“And the others too? Who else lives in this house?”

“Staff. Hollis, the kitchen, two girls, the men outside.”

“And him.”

“And him.”

“Does he have family?”

“That’s not mine to talk about. Ask him. He’ll answer you or he won’t.”

“He won’t.”

“No. Probably not.”

“Has anyone else ever stayed in this room?”

She stops straightening the quilt and looks at me, and for the first time all night I can’t read her face at all.

“There are clean sheets on that bed and hot water in the pitcher,” she says. “If there’s anything you need, I’m down the hall.”

It’s clear that she’s not going to reveal anything else.

“Goodnight, Mrs. Nell.”

“Goodnight.”

She closes the door.

No lock turns. Just as he said, I’m not a prisoner in this house. Doesn’t mean I’m free though.

I check the window. Thick old glass. It opens. Cold air pours in over my bandaged hands, and below the window there’s a straight drop to the gravel, and past the gravel there’s open dark ground. I close it most of the way.

And through the gap, I hear voices.

They’re coming up from below, an open window on the floor beneath mine, or a door onto the yard. Two people. Calm. Working through something together, the way people go through a list at the end of a day.

I kneel by the gap and hold still.

“—wants the first one confirmed before the thaw.”

“That’s tight.”

“It’s what’s been asked. The second follows once she’s recovered. He was clear there’s to be proper time between them. He doesn’t want her worn down.”

“And the order? Is it settled?”

“It’s settled. The first is already agreed and placed. The second is still being negotiated. The mountain party raised their offer again last week.”

“They’ll want it born up there, then. Same as the western one wants theirs by the sea.”

“They’ll each take delivery when it’s weaned. That’s the arrangement. Nothing stays here.”

A pause. Paper turning.

“She’s stronger than the last one. That should count for something.”