Page 28 of Silverbow
Enya held the fence rail, balancing it on her forearm to avoid the still bandaged hand as Liam drove nails into the post. They’d been mending fences all morning after another storm dropped what seemed like half of Greenridge Forest onto the paddocks outside the gates.
Despite the lifting of the Testing order and return of the stable boys, a tautness lingered between the inhabitants of Ryerson House. Marwar doubled their time spent drilling with wooden swords and bows, and even as Liam complained, Enya retreated into herself, saying little and less. Lord Ryerson had seemingly cloistered himself in his study, and Mistress Ashill rarely emerged from the kitchen, baking up what looked to be a mountain of flat bread for his journey north.
He hadn’t yet brought himself to tell her about it. He hadn’t told her of the offer for the apprenticeship in the Lord of Valbelle’s stable either. Every time he tried, he found a reason he shouldn’t.
Ryerson House was his home, but her suitors were a stark reminder that it might not always be. To work for Lord Norvallen would be an honor, his da said, and ensure he had a place even if the new Lord of Ryerson House cast him out. His da all but told him he had to accept it, but if he left, Enya would be married bythe time he returned. Liam couldn’t quite decide if watching from afar was better or worse.
He raked a hand through his hair as they moved to the next broken rail. “My da is sending me north with the hands,” he said before he could lose his nerve. “Seems now that I have my papers, I can see some of the world.”
Enya blinked at him, her face unreadable. “Valbelle is a long way off.”
He nodded and plunged ahead. “Seems Lord Norvallen is looking for an apprentice to his stablemaster. I…I might stay a while.”
Liam couldn’t read what it was that flashed across her face.
“Is that what you want? To leave?” She asked softly.
“No, but…” He trailed off and drove the last nail into the post. Perhaps now was his chance. “Enya, I…will it even be Ryerson House anymore?”
She squinted up at him. “Because of my gift?”
“Oh, light. No. I’m not afraid of your gift, En. It’s…it’s your suitors.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What about them?”
“You’ll have to marry one of them.”
She snorted. “Perhaps the best thing about being gifted is I doubt my father will be in such a hurry to find me a husband.”
He hadn’t considered that. If the betrothals were on hold for a year, he would have more time. More time with her. But not if he went to Valbelle. Could he really leave without telling her how he felt?
“Enya, I…”
She gave him a wicked grin and dropped cross legged into the empty cart. She clucked to him like a horse. “Walk on.”
Liam heaved a sigh. He was beginning to think she was intentionally avoiding this conversation. How could she be, when she didn’t know what he meant to say?Light.He rocked on his feet as he took in her smile. It was the first he’d seen in days, so if this is what it took to keep it there, he decided what he had to say could wait.
“Who do you think you are, the bloody queen?”
“Of course not,” she sniffed. “But I am the Lady of Ryerson House.” She clucked again for emphasis.
He huffed a laugh and tossed the tool bag into her lap. She let out a whoosh of air as it crashed into her middle with athud. He took up the cart handles and groaned dramatically. “Light, you havegotto lay off the pie.”
“Perhaps you ought to be stronger, Liam Marsh, or I might have to find another man to push me around in a cart when I feel so inclined.”
“Tell me, which of your little lordlings do you think would put up with your horse shit?” He teased as he started pushing her back toward the house.
She stuck her tongue out at him over her shoulder. “All of them.”
“Whatever you say, your ladyship.” He steered the cart just to the side where the wheels would roll over the path marked and pocked with hoofprints. The handles rattled against his palms as he strode forward, gaining speed.
“Are you intentionally hitting every bump?” She asked, her teeth chattering.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
But the next instant, she was squealing as he tipped the cart on its side, unceremoniously dumping her into the dirt at the foot of the gate. Mud squelched as she pushed herself up, and Liam covered his laugh with a hand.
“Your ladyship!” He gasped in mock surprise.
