Twin Curse(8)

She turned away, not wanting to embarrass him, but he just reached out  and squeezed her hand across the table, offering his silent company as  she struggled to get her sobs under control. Then, as her tears  lessened, he offered her a clean and neatly folded handkerchief.

She wiped her eyes and managed a rueful smile. "Sorry about that. I guess I hadn't realised how much I missed them …  uh, home."

If Lyall noticed her change of words, he didn't say anything. "The first  time away from home is always the hardest. I found it a little  difficult myself, all alone in the big city for the first time. Where  are you from?"

The question was casual enough, but Brianna hesitated over answering it.  Her whole village thought she was dead, someone walking into town and  mentioning seeing her could cause quite a furore.

"So far away it doesn't matter," she said evasively.

Lyall nodded. "How long have you been here in the city?"

Brianna shrugged. "A couple of months now."

"Have you had much of a chance to see the sights?"

"Not really," she admitted. "I spent my childhood dreaming of coming  here and seeing everything, but somehow, now that I'm here, I can't work  up the enthusiasm."

As though reading her mind, he said, "It can be a bit daunting, to be  all alone in such a large city. Especially when it's your first time  away from your family as well."

Brianna nodded, relieved not to have to explain. "I had thought to see  the sights, well, with someone. And now I can't." She had no idea why  she had offered that piece of information. She hadn't intended to talk  about Kylis, but somehow, it just came out.

"A husband perhaps?" Lyall asked, openly curious.

"I had hoped so," Brianna said softly. "Unfortunately he did not live to see our wedding day."

"I'm sorry," Lyall said gravely.

"It was a while ago." Brianna attempted to lighten the mood.

"Time can dull the pain, but it will never remove it," Lyall said softly.

"No, nothing can remove it," Brianna agreed.

Both were silent for a while, then Brianna gave herself a shake. "I'm  sorry. I didn't mean to talk about that." She looked up at him, and his  expression was so understanding that she felt she couldn't help  explaining further. "I've just felt so lonely since I arrived here. At  home, I knew everybody. Here, I know no-one. And I'm not really sure how  to get to know them. It's all so different and strange." She felt tears  prick at the back of her eyelids again and blinked furiously.

Lyall reached out across the table, his hand closing over hers. "Well, now you know me."

His words warmed her far more than the comfort should have. "You are  right. I do know you. But I get the feeling you're not from around here  either, are you?"

"No," Lyall admitted. "I'm just visiting. But I'll be here for a few  weeks, and I'd love to keep you company for that time at least?" His  words ended on a questioning note, as if asking her permission.

Brianna hesitated. She'd made it clear, she thought, that she was not  interested in that kind of friendship. But she didn't want him to  mistake her desire for company for something more. Especially not given  how she felt in his presence.         

     



 

"As friends," Lyall added as though realising her concerns.

She hesitated only a few moments more, but the desire for company  overrode her concerns. It had nothing to do with wanting more of the  strange thrills she felt whenever he touched her. Nothing at all.

"All right," she agreed. "I'd like that."





They met for lunch every day for the next week. Lyall knew he should be  home by now. His father would be wondering what was keeping him, and his  mother would be quietly worried.

But he couldn't make himself leave Brianna. The more he talked to her,  the more certain he was that she had no idea of her magical power. He  didn't see any hint of her using it, or detect any sniff of magical  power besides his own ever being used in the inn.

He told himself that he had to stay that long, to be sure before he  reported to his father. For he knew he would have to report this.

That was what he told himself. But it was more than that. She fascinated  him in a way no other woman he had ever met had. She was young and  fresh, and old and wise, all rolled into the one bundle.

But finally, he could delay no longer. His boat was ready and waiting at  the harbour, and he dreaded having to tell Brianna he was leaving.

He arranged with Syrid for Brianna to have the whole afternoon off. He  even sweet talked Elsian into packing a picnic lunch for him. The older  couple shook their heads, but participated in his surprise in good  humour.

While he waited for Brianna to finish her morning shift though, Syrid  pulled him aside. "What are you up to Lyall? She's just a young country  girl, not used to the way things work here in the city. I hope you don't  have any dishonourable intentions towards her."

Lyall sighed. "I have no idea what my intentions are. Only that I want to see her."

"You planning on sticking around then?" Syrid asked.

"I leave on the morning tide," Lyall admitted.

Syrid frowned. "Why do this to her then?"

"I'm going to tell her today that I have to go. She knows I wasn't  staying forever." Lyall tried to excuse himself, but it sounded lame,  even to his own ears.

"It's still going to hurt, Lyall," Syrid said gently.

"I know." It hurt already.

"Are you planning on coming back?"

"I don't know."

Syrid shook his head again, but said nothing more. Elsian handed him the packed picnic basket without a word.

Their lack of confidence wasn't helping Lyall any. He wanted to be able  to say he would be back, but the truth was, it wasn't up to him. He  would do his best to convince his father that he had to come back for  her, hopefully that he had to bring her to the Isla de Magi with him,  but ultimately, the decision rested with his father, not him.

It wasn't that he hadn't tossed up the idea of staying here and not  going back. He'd told himself that it was a stupid idea, that his father  would find him in no time, and his mother would be worried sick. And  all because of a girl who had insisted she wasn't interested in a  relationship.

But the idea persisted, even now.

He thanked Syrid and Elsian and went outside. He leaned against a post,  waiting for Brianna in their usual spot near the stables. For a moment,  anxiety gripped when he realised she was running late, but just as he  was wondering if Syrid and Elsian had decided to have a ‘chat' with her  too, she walked out of the inn.

He couldn't help but smile when he saw her and was even happier to  receive an involuntary smile back. He picked up the picnic basket and  walked towards her, taking her hand, soaking in the tingles that surged  through him at the touch. She glanced up at him in surprise. Usually he  kept his distance, respectful of her wishes, but not today. He was  taking a risk, but he couldn't help it.

She blushed, but smiled, and most importantly, didn't pull her hand out of his.

"Where are we going today?" she asked with unbridled enthusiasm.

"You'll see," Lyall said mysteriously.

Brianna laughed, but didn't ask again. She seemed to enjoy the surprises  he'd been planning for her each day. Hopefully, today would be the best  of them all.

He'd thought long and hard about where to take her today. He wanted it  to be somewhere special, but also somewhere he could be sure of complete  privacy. There had seemed only one logical choice.

They rounded the last corner and the harbour came into view. Busy and  bustling, it seemed like the last place one would find any privacy.  Workers were unloading cargo from the ships, and wagons took the goods  away to warehouses. To their left, a passenger ship gave its final  boarding call, bound for a slow cruise up the coastline.         

     



 

Brianna stared around her in wonder, and Lyall waited for a few moments  for her to take it all in. When she turned and smiled at him, he led her  gently to the small pier on the right, where his vessel was berthed.

She was much smaller than the cruise ship, only enough room below for a  small cabin with a bed. He rarely spent much time below deck anyway, and  he certainly didn't plan on it today.

Brianna's smile was wide. "We're going on a boat?"

Lyall smiled and jumped the small gap between the deck and the pier. He  set the picnic basket down and turned to hold out his hand to Brianna,  but she had already jumped the gap easily. "I take it this is a yes?"

"It's a yes," Lyall agreed. "You approve?"

"I most certainly do. You must know everyone in Bymere. Who's lending you their boat?"

"It's mine actually," Lyall admitted.

She raised an eyebrow. "You own it?"

"I do." He watched her carefully, trying to gauge her reaction. This was  only the beginning of his news this afternoon, and he wondered for a  moment if she was going to guess the rest.