Read Online The Twisting by Laurel Wanrow - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laurel Wanrow
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Annmar, brazenly seeking Miriam’s agreement that Annmar should change from her confining corset. When she left, Miriam rose as well. “I’ll ask a couple of helpers to place a cot in the library. It’ll be quieter in there for you.”
Most of the farmworkers milled about, returning their dishes to the tray in the corner. Daeryn was one of the few people sitting, still in a tight conversation with Famil. If only Daeryn would leave first, she could have a word with him. While she waited, the first bite of the food Mary Clare had brought her reminded her of how delicious Mrs. Betsy’s real cooking was. She’d finished when Daeryn dropped into the chair next to her. Her stomach flopped again, like a reaper gone mad.
“Hello,” he said. His voice quavered just as her fingers did. “I suppose you’ve heard about tonight.”
She nodded. “I’ll be staying in the library to help Miriam.”
“Excellent.” A big grin crossed his face. “Not only will you be on hand to help, you’ll also be in the safest location. Miz Gere won’t be sleeping tonight. I’ve just discussed a guard rotation with Famil. Rather than wear everyone thin, some folks are taking napping shifts.”
Oh, my. With every person she spoke to, this was sounding more like a battle. She probably shouldn’t ask this, but she had to know. “What if you can’t find where the pests are entering Wellspring?”
Daeryn raised one shoulder and dropped it. “You missed the announcement that Miz Gere has a man coming tomorrow to look at the damage and assess if his Eradicator machine will work here. He’s making incredible guarantees he can eliminate any pest problem, but every farmer Miz Gere has talked to is complaining over his outrageous pricing.”
That’s why Henry was offering up his wages. “What is the cost?”
Daeryn shrugged again. “Don’t know yet for a place this size, but we’ve got word from a fellow with the nocturnal team that they can’t afford it for his brother’s place across the valley.”
“Oh, dear,” Annmar murmured in sympathy. She’d watched Miss Rennet’s business dealings, as much as she could without drawing attention. A loss for her meant she’d had to let some of her dozen draftsmen and artists go, downsizing her business. A family farm didn’t have anyone to let go. She didn’t know anything about large farms, but she could guess the outcome.
Daeryn pushed back his chair and stood. “You finished? I’ll take your dishes.” She nodded, and he lifted them, but instead of leaving, he shifted from foot to foot. “So, tonight you won’t go outdoors alone?”
“Miriam would never allow it. I can tell already.”
He grinned. “No, she won’t. Be seeing you, then.”
“I hope not.”
The smile fell from his face.
Oh, no, that wasn’t what…“If we did, that would mean you had to come to the sickroom.” She raised both hands and pinched her fingers together like biting teeth.
He rolled his eyes. “Right. I better start petitioning the Great Creator that none of us sees you tonight.”
He carried her dishes to the tray, and she couldn’t help but watch him. That had sounded like good-bye. But he had to walk right by her again to leave. They had talked, but not about what needed to be said. Daeryn returned, giving just a little finger wave. He continued to the arched doorway while she worked on the wording. If he got injured, or worse…
She should— she would do this . She rose and hurried after him. “Daeryn?”
Yards ahead of her, he turned. Her heart raced. They were alone in the dim hall. She could ask. She could find out. She could tell him. If only she could breathe.
Five steps and she stood close enough that no one else would hear, and when she drew a breath to ask, the air between them was edged with a now-familiar masculine scent. “Why did you spend so much time with me while I was ill?” she whispered. “Everyone said the wards would hold on my room against…the ropen.
Most of the farmworkers milled about, returning their dishes to the tray in the corner. Daeryn was one of the few people sitting, still in a tight conversation with Famil. If only Daeryn would leave first, she could have a word with him. While she waited, the first bite of the food Mary Clare had brought her reminded her of how delicious Mrs. Betsy’s real cooking was. She’d finished when Daeryn dropped into the chair next to her. Her stomach flopped again, like a reaper gone mad.
“Hello,” he said. His voice quavered just as her fingers did. “I suppose you’ve heard about tonight.”
She nodded. “I’ll be staying in the library to help Miriam.”
“Excellent.” A big grin crossed his face. “Not only will you be on hand to help, you’ll also be in the safest location. Miz Gere won’t be sleeping tonight. I’ve just discussed a guard rotation with Famil. Rather than wear everyone thin, some folks are taking napping shifts.”
Oh, my. With every person she spoke to, this was sounding more like a battle. She probably shouldn’t ask this, but she had to know. “What if you can’t find where the pests are entering Wellspring?”
Daeryn raised one shoulder and dropped it. “You missed the announcement that Miz Gere has a man coming tomorrow to look at the damage and assess if his Eradicator machine will work here. He’s making incredible guarantees he can eliminate any pest problem, but every farmer Miz Gere has talked to is complaining over his outrageous pricing.”
That’s why Henry was offering up his wages. “What is the cost?”
Daeryn shrugged again. “Don’t know yet for a place this size, but we’ve got word from a fellow with the nocturnal team that they can’t afford it for his brother’s place across the valley.”
“Oh, dear,” Annmar murmured in sympathy. She’d watched Miss Rennet’s business dealings, as much as she could without drawing attention. A loss for her meant she’d had to let some of her dozen draftsmen and artists go, downsizing her business. A family farm didn’t have anyone to let go. She didn’t know anything about large farms, but she could guess the outcome.
Daeryn pushed back his chair and stood. “You finished? I’ll take your dishes.” She nodded, and he lifted them, but instead of leaving, he shifted from foot to foot. “So, tonight you won’t go outdoors alone?”
“Miriam would never allow it. I can tell already.”
He grinned. “No, she won’t. Be seeing you, then.”
“I hope not.”
The smile fell from his face.
Oh, no, that wasn’t what…“If we did, that would mean you had to come to the sickroom.” She raised both hands and pinched her fingers together like biting teeth.
He rolled his eyes. “Right. I better start petitioning the Great Creator that none of us sees you tonight.”
He carried her dishes to the tray, and she couldn’t help but watch him. That had sounded like good-bye. But he had to walk right by her again to leave. They had talked, but not about what needed to be said. Daeryn returned, giving just a little finger wave. He continued to the arched doorway while she worked on the wording. If he got injured, or worse…
She should— she would do this . She rose and hurried after him. “Daeryn?”
Yards ahead of her, he turned. Her heart raced. They were alone in the dim hall. She could ask. She could find out. She could tell him. If only she could breathe.
Five steps and she stood close enough that no one else would hear, and when she drew a breath to ask, the air between them was edged with a now-familiar masculine scent. “Why did you spend so much time with me while I was ill?” she whispered. “Everyone said the wards would hold on my room against…the ropen.
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