A Midwinter Fantasy - Leanna Renee Hieber [76]
I see, Lily replied. She’d judge that for herself.
They arrived a few minutes later, Mace letting the group in through the front door. Lily rose to her feet but stayed by her warm fire, letting them get organized rather than going out and risking a cold draft. She truly felt them more than ever. Given her breathlessness from just standing, she suspected that Mace might have found a new master just in time, though she had serious misgivings about the woman’s claim.
Then the group was in the kitchen, and Lily frowned down at a contrite Jayden before turning her attention on the newcomers. The young man looked as though he hadn’t had a bath in years—a condition she’d see remedied before she’d let him sit in any of her chairs—and the woman . . . She was beautiful, though battlers didn’t care about beauty, and she was old enough for Mace’s story to be true, though that would mean she’d been very young indeed when she was with him. He’d been a suit of armour at that point, Lily reminded herself with a hint of amusement. A bit catty of her, she supposed, but this woman was proposing to replace her in Mace’s bed, even if it was a place she didn’t want to be anymore.
She nodded to the woman. “Welcome to my home,” she said.
“Thank y-you,” Sally stammered, looking nervous.
Lily turned to her battle sylph then, putting her hand to his cheek and gazing up at him. He was in pain, but there was patience in his need. He could wait, as he always did—and there were other things going on here that Lily felt couldn’t.
“Dear one,” she said, “please take these two boys to the barn and scrub them clean.”
“It’s very cold,” he pointed out.
“Then you should hurry.”
He ushered them out. Travish looked uncertain, and Jayden was already whining. The dog Mace had taken as an anchor followed, pressing up against Jayden and wagging her tail happily. The boy had his hand shoved deep in her ruff, and she looked as devoted as any dog had ever been to a boy who would play with her.
Lily watched them go and turned to Sally.
“I think I need a bath too,” the woman admitted.
“In a bit, dear. When the boys are done.” Lily eyed her sternly. “I wanted to ask why you lied to Mace. I will not hand my battler over to a woman willing to lie to him, let me be clear about that.”
She stiffened. “I never lied to him!”
Lily sniffed and turned to the stove to get two mugs of tea. “Battle sylphs can’t get human women with child, dear.” She gathered the mugs and turned, seeing Sally at the table with tears in her eyes.
“I never went to another man,” she said.
Lily set the mug down in front of her, realizing what wasn’t being said. “What does that have to do with it, when the man forces the issue?”
Sally looked away, weeping. “I . . . The night after Mace . . . I went to the barn to remember. I’d never gone out at night before, but I missed him. There was a man there, a drover from a passing merchant train and . . . he . . .” The tears fell, a secret Lily knew she’d been carrying a long time now coming out so that she could stay with the being she loved. “He was drunk. He held me down and . . .” She couldn’t finish.
After a moment, she said, “After he passed out . . . I took one of the lanterns . . . The straw was so dry, it burned so fast. They all thought it was an accident, and I never . . . I never said . . .”
Lily leaned down and hugged the younger woman. “It’s all right, dear. You don’t have to say any more.” This was a dangerous woman indeed, she thought. How perfect for Mace.
“Mace is Travish’s father,” Sally said fiercely, hugging her back.
“The best families are always found, dear,” Lily allowed.
Mace appeared in the doorway, having sensed their strong emotions. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Lily straightened. “Nothing, dear. I was just telling Sally that I think she would make a wonderful master for you.”
Mace glanced between them, not sure he entirely believed that, based on what he’d just felt, but both women were staring at him, Lily impassively and Sally wiping her face. Was it really worth knowing? he wondered,