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My eyes widened. “I’m rubbing off on you, aren’t? I’m quite flattered to see you taking up my humor now, Watcher.”
She gave me a look and shook her head. “I’ll check on you in the morning, miss. Go back to sleep.” She blew out the candle and left me alone in the room.
When I closed my eyes on a contented sigh, I once again saw those obsidian eyes staring back at me.
Chapter 6
Sierra
By lunchtime, I was back to feeling myself again, as though last evening had never happened.
Mother, however, had forbidden me from taking part in any of the games the countrymen had set up for today, nor would she allow me to leave her side under the main courtyard’s canopy.
The day felt more like mid-summer than early autumn, as the sun shone relentlessly in a cloudless sky. Mother had plied me with mint ices, keeping me cool in the cover of the canopy, and kept asking every maid that passed for the time. She had scheduled in a nap for both of us in the afternoon.
So it was in my mother’s company that Servant Demos found me.
Father was at the games, along with most of the men of importance that usually hovered near their Constant. Several of the wives were lounging nearby, sipping fresh mint ices and lemonade while they gossiped and cooed over each other’s accessories. A few were husband-hunting for their daughters, pointing out which gentlemen earned the most income and which ones to be wary of.
“Ladies.” Demos bowed his head politely and gestured at the empty chair next to mine. “May I join you?” Demos’ deep voice warmed me but nothing like last night during my… episode.
“Of course, Servant Demos,” Mother said. “Would you like some refreshments?”
He smiled. “Not right now, thank you. I just wanted to check on Lady Sierra.” He looked me over, assessing me for any signs of sickness. “You look much better than when I left you in your mother’s care.”
I blushed, remembering my strange reaction to him last night. Luckily, Mother rescued me.
“She is much better. I told her not to over-do it, but yesterday was too much excitement. I want you to make sure she is well taken care of on her journey, Servant Demos.”
I heard the tell-tale tears in her voice and turned to look at her. Over the past few days, she had seemed resigned to the idea of me leaving, albeit still very sad. But my mother was a strong woman, and she accepted things in good stride.
“Your daughter is in good hands, Lady Linden. I will guard her with my life.”
I heard a note of something more in his words and glanced at him, but he wasn’t looking at me.
Those words he had said to me last night… apologizing or some such. What were they? Or maybe, in my sickness, I had imagined them?
Last night, I had been so attracted to him in those few moments, had homed onto him like a bee to a flower. Was that attraction still there now? He was everything that I didn’t want. He was an enigma, owned and spoken for by The Owl. Just like I was now, but by the Ongahri.
Sighing, I resigned to the fact that I still found him attractive but not manically so like I had last night, thank the gods. He was simply just the Servant of the Owl I knew. Nothing special, though still intimidating. Maybe the attraction was all an illusion my mind had built to distract me from what was to happen tonight: any moment now, the Ongahri envoy would be arriving, and this time tomorrow, I’d be married by law, regardless of a proxy or not.
“Sierra, did you hear a thing I just said? Are you feeling unwell again?” Mother asked, bringing me happily back to my surroundings.
Demos’ mouth quirked just enough for me to notice before he erased all trace of it.
I blinked. “I’m sorry, Mother. I was thinking about… Lucinda.” There, I thought. That sounded plausible.
She waved her hand in annoyance. “Oh, she’ll be fine once you’ve had a day or so on the road.”
“Yes, but it is a long journey.” I took a sip of my drink. My mouth was dry with nerves again.
“How long do you think it will be before my daughter is safely under a roof again, Servant?” Mother’s eyes narrowed, drilling into those of the robed man.
“I foresee it being three weeks at the most.” Demos sat relaxed in his seat, meeting her stare, not one bit intimidated by the Constant of Providence’s wife. Mother was never one to hide her steel, and when it came to me, she was the quintessential mama bear.
“How long will you be staying at Goth Mor?” She finally looked away from his enigmatic blue gaze, fidgeting in her seat.
At least it wasn’t just me that stare had an effect on.
