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“You’re a grump,” Auri said, washing Tarley’s back.
“Hey.” Tarley turned to glance at Auri over her shoulder. “Who covered for you?”
“One, that doesn’t make you less of a grump. And two, it didn’t help.”
“So tell us,” Brinna demanded.
“Tell you what?”
“About the man!”
Tarley sighed. She didn’t want to offer her sister hope where there wasn’t any. Ollie was leaving. They weren’t in love, and she knew that was exactly what her dreamy sister was hoping to hear. “I promise. There isn’t much to share. His name is Ollie. He fell in the river, and I saved him. He got separated from his party, so he came back to Sevens until he’s well enough to go after them.”
“Maybe he’ll stay,” Brinna said.
“I don’t think so.”
“Is he handsome?”
“You can decide that for yourself. He’s staying at the inn.”
“Oh!” A smile cracked Brinna’s pretty face—the fairest of them all—as she clapped her hands together. “Maybe I’ll invite him for a picnic.”
Tarley bristled at the thought, hating the idea of Ollie offering any other woman attention, but in the next thought it felt ridiculous of her to ponder it. “Do what you want.”
When she looked up at Brinna, her sister had a sly smile on her face.
Brinna laughed. “Right. That’s okay, Tarley. You have feelings–”
“I don’t have feelings!”
Brinna giggled and looked at Auri. “I think she protests a bit too much.”
“What did you want to tell me, Auri?” Tarley asked, needing to divert Brinna from her speculation.
“Mother’s lying.”
“Tell me what you really think.” Tarley laughed. “About what?”
“I suspect a buried treasure trove worth.”
“How do you know?”
The door opened, revealing the very subject of their discussion. “Auri? Brinna? What are you doing?”
“Just getting caught up,” Brinna said.
“Helping Tarley with her hair.” Auri poured more fresh water over Tarley’s head, and Tarley sputtered, not ready for it.
“Spinning tales?” Scarlett asked Auri, but it sounded more like an accusation.
“I did learn from the best,” Auri said, dumping more water over Tarley.
“Stop,” Tarley said through the hair over her face and the water.
“Auri!” Brinna admonished, glancing at their mother.
Tarley shoved her hair off her face, waiting on doomsday to break out between Auri and their mother.
