Page 63 of Dishonor Among Thieves
I nodded. “I believe so, but Neo and I haven’t discussed the specifics yet. Antonia, I know this will mean so much more work for all of us. Disruption of your routine, more cleaning, more food…”
She leapt from her chair and grabbed my hands, holding them to her lips. “You brought this, this…blessing,” she said quietly. “There is no need to apologize to me. Don’t you think again about it. A house full of little ones? You’ve been sent by the gods to heal us. I’ve never been more certain of anything.” She cried quietly a moment, while, speechless, I let her. Then she released my hand and wiped her face. “Now that that’s finished, I have five hungry mouths to feed. And I could not be happier to take on the task.”
I bit my lower lip before breaking the news to her. “Flynn and Syndrian are still here,” I said. “That means even more mouths.”
She clasped her hands in front of her chest and bustled toward the door. “I’d best get every morsel I can find ready for lunch.” She stopped and turned back to me. “Lady Oderisi, I’m so very happy you’re home,” she said. Then she dashed off for the kitchen.
Alone in Odile’s room with Elgit, I breathed deeply the air scented lightly with the tonics and ointments, dried herbs and fresh plants that Odile kept in a workspace at the far side of her bedroom. The scents were comforting, and I wondered about the love tonic she’d anointed me with on my wedding night. Maybe she had a tonic that could help me forgive myself. Love myself a bit more. I poured a cup of fresh water and was looking for the special sipping spoon Odile had left for Elgit when there was a soft knock on the door.
Gia peeked inside. “May I?” she asked.
I waved her in. She looked over the small patient and nodded. “He looks good.”
“Your sister is indeed a gifted healer,” I agreed. “Am I a fool to still hold out hope he will survive?”
“You’re far from a fool,” she said, “unlike that Trond.” She rolled her eyes. “Harmless, but tiresome.” She motioned toward the door with her head. “Are you all right with this?” she asked. “With everything that’s happened? I know we’re hardly sisters yet, but I feel as though we already have been through so very much together. You can talk to me, if you need a friend.”
I smiled at her. “I would still like those sewing lessons,” I reminded her. “With five more in the house, I expect I’ll be making a lot of clothes.”
She laughed but covered her mouth to soften the sound. “What a difference a few days makes.”
I sighed. “I can only imagine. You must feel as though I’ve come in and completely upended your life.”
“Yes, but I mean that in the best possible sense,” she assured me. “I admit I’m concerned about having a house full of foundlings with the work Rain and I do, but…the change in the rest of us…” She looked down at Elgit and smoothed a hand over the end of the blanket, tucking his feet in a bit more snugly. “My sister and I have known so much loss, so much pain. We dealt with it in different ways. Odile hid away in our cottage, afraid to leave. She cared for patients but lived only to serve, to work. It helps that she loves what she does, but she’s far past the age when she should have started her own family.”
“Does she have a heart for foundlings?” I asked, a half smile on my lips. “Because we have family in abundance at the moment.”
Gia shook her head, muffling another laugh. “You’re not like my sister and me,” she said. “I admire you for that.”
“Admire me?” I asked. “I cannot see how you’d feel that way, though I’m sincerely flattered by your opinion.”
“You’re a fighter. And despite everything you’ve been through, you have a capacity for compassion that rivals any I’ve seen. I’m not the only one who feels that way,” she said with a grin. “Neo is completely smitten with you. It doesn’t hurt that you’re beautiful, but you’re also just simply good for him. I dared not hope for as much when I witnessed your marriage contract, but I do believe he’s falling in love with you.”
After just a few days, that seemed impossible. Or would have seemed impossible if I wasn’t curious about the same type of stirrings deep within my own heart. And what those feelings might mean for my relationship with my husband.
“I like him,” I admitted. “Like. But he can be a real pain in the—”
“Excuse me.” A soft knock at the door had Gia and me laughing behind our hands. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all, brother.” Gia winked at me and gave Elgit’s foot a loving pat before she got up. “I’ll leave you now.”
“You might want to help Flynn,” Neo said, a concerned look on his face. “He has children climbing all over him. He’s now more tree than boy.”
Gia nodded and closed the door behind her, leaving Neo and me alone. He walked up to the settee and peered down at Elgit.
“How is he?” he asked, his deep whisper sending sensual heat sliding down my spine.
“He seems better,” I said. “He squeezed my hand just a bit when I held his fingers.”
“Good. Very good.” Neo avoided my eyes as he spoke. “Brexia, about Trond…”
I huffed a sigh. “Will he be staying long?” I asked, trying to manage a bit of polite interest in my husband’s unsavory “friend.”
“No,” he said, “he won’t be staying. I’m taking him to Haeloc’s manor.”
My head snapped up so quickly my teeth banged together. “What do you mean, Haeloc’s manor?”
Neo lifted his chin but still refused to look at me. “He’ll be staying there. He’s come for the job, Brex. He’s accepted the offer I made in Fish Head End.”
