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knew nothing about him, and yet she felt safe and protected by
this stranger.
    “You wonder over the truth of my words.”
    “Nay,” she said softly. “I wonder why I
believe you.”
    “My charm?” He grinned.
    Her smile bordered on a laugh, but then a
laugh would have caused her pain. “I think it more your caring
soul.”
    He would not deny her the safety of her
thoughts. If she assumed him a caring soul, then so be it. The
truth would only upset her, and while he was not without a caring
soul, he was also a man who abandoned his soul when necessary.
    “Then it is set; I will care for you, and
you will do nothing until I determine you well enough.”
    She was quick to speak. “I think not. It is
necessary that I rely on you for my care, and for that I am
grateful, but I will determine what I can and cannot do.”
    “We shall see,” he said, sounding as though
he ignored her words, and gently slipped his arm beneath her
back.
    Before she could protest, he easily moved
her to rest more comfortably on the pillows he added behind her
back and neck. “Now for supper.”
    She thought to admonish him, but then
wondered over the wisdom of it. He would ignore her and do as he
felt. Her only course of action was to grow strong and independent,
and then she would have her way. She would see to that, most
certainly she would. She would not have another man dictate to her
and most certainly not a stranger.
    He stood and walked over to the hearth.
    Royce could see that she was annoyed, but
she refrained from objecting. Was her marriage one of strict
obedience? Was her husband’s every word a command meant to be
obeyed regardless of her own desires? He went about preparing the
meal with many questions haunting him.
    “You eat first,” she said to him when he sat
on the bed beside her ready to feed her the delicious-smelling
stew.
    He placed a clean cloth beneath her neck and
over her chest, guarding her and the blanket from spills. “I
thought we would share it, if you don’t mind?”
    It did not disturb her to eat from the same
spoon as he. “Nay, I have no objections. I just do not wish to see
you go hungry while feeding me.”
    “You barely eat a mouthful,” he teased. “It
is not I who will go hungry.”
    He offered her half a spoonful and she
eagerly took it.
    “It is delicious,” she said with a lick of
her lips after finishing the small portion.
    He had a mouthful, having helped himself to
a spoonful.
    “You cook well.”
    He prepared another small portion for her.
“I was young when I was forced to prepare my own meal. After
spitting out the awful concoction, I swore that I would not suffer
such a heinous fate again. I learned to cook for myself.”
    Brianna eagerly waited for another bite. ‘‘I
am glad that you did, for now I do not have to suffer such a
fate.”
    They talked of their younger days and the
freedom and joy only a child possesses. He discovered that she had
a brother she adored and who treated her well, and from this he
assumed her parents had passed on. She discovered that he guarded
his privacy well and sparingly gave her clues to his life.
    But through it all she watched his eyes and
deep within their dark green depths she realized there was a part
of him he kept hidden. And she wondered over it.
    “A little more,” he urged, feeling she had
not eaten enough, but she protested.
    “I grow tired from all I have eaten.” She
yawned to prove herself correct.
    “Then you will sleep well.”
    Her sleep had not been without
interruptions. Her pain seemed to increase at night while
nightmares haunted her. Royce had joined her in bed, comforting her
in his arms and assuring her that she was safe and that he would
allow no harm to come to her. She did not wish to think of the
night without him. She had come to rely on his presence beside her
and the safety of his arms. She did not worry about him being
intimate with her. He had assured her often enough that she was
safe with him and she