Chapter 10 The Price in a Cup of Tea

Scarlett’s POV (Now)

The carriage Thomas sent arrived a little after noon and waited at the inner gate, its horses turned for the return journey. It was painted grey, with plain doors and his own driver on the box. There were no black banners and none of Edward's men riding behind it.

I looked it over from the top of the steps, then went down and got in. Naomi followed me.

His house stood outside the inner wall, low and old. He was at the gate when we arrived and came forward as I climbed out.

"Does the cold make your knee worse?"

"A little."

"I noticed you had trouble getting up after dinner the other night."

He held the door while we went inside. The room where he served tea was small and warm, with a brazier in the corner. Naomi sat on a stool by the wall. Thomas asked whether the chest of Father's things had arrived undamaged and whether my rooms stayed warm.

I said yes to both. I hadn't expected him to ask about either, and I settled farther back in the chair as he poured the tea.

He knew more about Redcliff than I'd expected, too.

"The snow reaches the east side of the pass first," he said. "By the second month of winter, the older people have moved into the winter houses. They stay until the thaw."

"Someone has to check that everyone's arrived," I said. "And that they get home afterward."

"Yes. You should be able to see how they're managing yourself."

I leaned forward. He spoke as though arranging it would be straightforward. He could have me travel as a guest of the crown, with permission to visit the camps. We could discuss how many people should accompany me.

"The clerk responsible for the settlements keeps the lists," he said. "Write to him. He can bring them to you."

I repeated the title to myself so I wouldn't forget it. All afternoon he'd called me Lady Scarlett. I hadn't once been referred to as his brother's betrothed.

Then he set down his cup.

"At the next session, I'll propose that the royal household take responsibility for the settlements instead of the army. My brother would no longer oversee them. I'd like you there, on my side of the hall. You wouldn't need to speak."

I looked at him. "And afterward? Who would Redcliff answer to?"

"A governor would be appointed."

That told me very little about whose orders we'd be living under. I wanted to ask more, but I was still trying to work out how much he'd offered and how much depended on my sitting beside him.

"I'll need time to think," I said. "When could I visit?"

"The camps should be ready first. A badly arranged visit could do more harm than good."

He'd made it sound so easy a moment ago. I waited for a date, but he didn't give me one.

"A man from my village has a sister in the other camp," I said. "She was taken there six weeks ago. He hasn't heard anything. Can you find her?"

"Of course."

"And the visit? Are you waiting for something, or is your brother refusing to let me go?"

Thomas smiled and called for more tea. "Do you take honey?"

"No."

I did want honey. I also wanted him to answer me. When the fresh tea came, I lifted the cup, then put it down without drinking.

I thanked him when I stood to leave. He remained in the room, but as I reached the doorway he called after me, loudly enough for the attendants outside to hear.

"I'll keep a seat for you that day, Lady Scarlett."

The two attendants exchanged a look. I stopped and glanced back. I'd told him I needed time, and he'd just spoken as though I were coming. I didn't want to argue from the corridor in front of his servants. I went down the steps, where Naomi took my arm and held it tightly as we walked to the carriage.

The light was fading when we returned to the inner gate. Edward stood beside his own carriage. I hadn't known he'd be there, and I glanced at Naomi before the door opened.

Thomas's attendant climbed down first and bowed.

"His Highness is keeping a seat for the lady at the session."

Edward acknowledged him, then turned to me. He offered his hand as I got down and steadied me at the elbow when I stepped onto my sore leg.

"You've been to my brother's house."

"His Highness was very kind."

I kept my voice polite while the attendant stood nearby. Naomi climbed up beside Edward's driver, and I got into his carriage for the rest of the way to our rooms. He followed and closed the door.

In the enclosed space, his scent was stronger. I began to relax despite the look on his face, then sat straighter when he spoke.

"What did you promise him?"

"That's between your brother and me."

"Why am I hearing about it from his attendant?"

I'd promised Thomas nothing. I hadn't even finished his tea. I could have said so, but Edward had asked as though I'd already done something wrong.

"Perhaps I did promise him something."

His expression hardened. I knew I was making it worse, and I went on anyway.

"Does it bother you that he made me welcome?"

"Have you thought about what people will assume if you sit on his side of the hall? What that could mean for Redcliff?"

I had thought about it, too late, when Thomas called after me. Hearing it from Edward made me feel foolish all over again.

"I'm not something you keep here," I said. "I don't have to explain every conversation I have."

"I don't think of you that way."

"Then why ask me like that the moment his attendant says something?"

The wheels jolted over the gate stones. He waited until we were on smoother ground before answering.

"If I tell you not to trust him, will you listen?"

I wanted to say he hadn't given me much reason to take his word for anything. But I was looking at the same face I'd tried to read in the small room, remembering how quickly he'd gone once I'd asked whether he wanted me as his mate.

"You left," I said. "Last time we talked. You answered me and then went straight out."

He looked at me without speaking. I wished I hadn't said it. We'd been talking about Thomas, and now he'd know how much I'd thought about that meeting. I turned toward the window before I could add anything else.

Neither of us spoke for the rest of the journey. When we stopped, he got down and offered his hand. I took it, then let go as soon as my feet were on the stone.

After dark, footsteps stopped outside my room and someone set down a tray. They weren't Edward's footsteps. Naomi brought it in and lifted the lid. Steam rose from venison in the same sauce we'd had at dinner. She didn't say who'd sent it, and I didn't ask.

"Leave it there."

She covered the dish and picked up her sewing without suggesting I go and speak to him. I went to the clothes cupboard and took out Father's sweater. The list and my unsent draft were still folded inside it.

I opened the draft. Beneath the four requests, there was still space for the question I hadn't written. I carried it to the door between our rooms and rested my other hand on the bolt. I could go through and tell him I hadn't agreed to anything. Then he'd ask why I hadn't said so in the carriage. I didn't want to begin again while I was still angry.

After a while I took my hand off the bolt. I stood there a little longer before returning to the table. At the bottom of the sheet, well below the requests, I wrote: Ask the settlements clerk myself. Tell neither of them.