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Dear Lord, only one bed graced this sparse room. Well, they’d deal with that later. For now, the issue was food. She was suddenly famished. The basket of sandwiches had been left in the coach. Her mind fuzzy, she hadn’t thought of it when they’d started walking. Evidently, Evan hadn’t either.
Certainly someone would come along soon and find them. In the meantime, at least they had plenty of water. The downpour continued, the pounding on the roof drumming in her head. If only she had a headache powder. She ached all over from the accident, and bruises were emerging on her arms and legs. Thankfully, they’d been spared serious injuries. The poor coachman could not say the same.
Ally pulled what hairpins remained from her wet hair and finger combed the long tresses as best she could. What a mess.
“You may turn around now,” Evan said.
Ally did…and gasped. The man resembled a Greek statue come to life. So large was his frame that he’d wrapped the linen only around his waist. His golden chest was bared to her view. Light brown hairs grew around his copper-coin nipples. His tresses, still matted with moisture, adhered to his neck and shoulders. The white linen covered what she knew must be a fine looking derriere and thighs. And in between those thighs…
She mustn’t think of it! He was her stepbrother, and she had no use for him at all, other than a fine bauble to look at. And he was fine indeed…
She cleared her throat softly. “Evan, do you think there might be something around here to eat?”
“I don’t know, though I’m rather hungry myself.”
Ally walked to the small cupboards surrounding the wood stove and peeked in. Nothing. “Drat. Anything sounds good to me. Even blood pudding.”
Evan let out a little laugh. “Not your favorite, I take it?”
“I can’t abide it. Perhaps it’s the dark color. Or that it’s made from pig’s blood. I don’t know. All I know is it’s all we had some days during my childhood, and I’ve truly learned to abhor it.”
“I don’t mind it myself. A bit tangy, I think.”
She shook her head. “Try eating nothing but that black sausage plus oatmeal porridge for days on end. Trust me, you’d learn to despise it. I choked it down. It was either that or go hungry.”
Evan walked closer to her. “It was that bad for you?”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“I only know what my father has told me.” He helped her to a chair and sat down opposite her at the table. “I’d like to know more, if you’re willing to share.”
“Why would you want to know? I’m not interested in your pity.” And she wasn’t. She had her pride, which was why she’d never go without again, even if it meant marrying a man she might not be in love with.
“For God’s sake, Alexandra, I’m not offering you pity. I’d like to get to know my new stepmother better is all.”
“Then speak to her about it,” Ally said dryly. “It’s nothing I wish to relive.” She rose, and then sat back down. “Why the sudden interest in my mother? You certainly weren’t in favor of the wedding.”
“I just thought they were rushing.”
“Is that truly the only reason you were against it?”
He shook his head and sighed. “I was very close to my own mother, so it’s difficult to see someone take her place.”
“Yes, I understand. Well, I can try to understand. I wasn’t close to my own father at all. In fact, I’m glad the bastard is dead.”
Evan widened his eyes.
“Don’t look so shocked. He was a tyrant.”
“I thought you didn’t want to discuss your past.”
“I don’t. What we’re discussing is why you were so against the marriage, and why you want to know about my mother now.”
“I’m interested. She’s my father’s wife.”
“Yes, she is. And I do believe the problem you first had when they announced their impending nuptials had to do with your estate, come to think of it. You think my mother is after your father’s money.”
“I never said that.”
