"Yes, I can't think what would have happened to you out in that storm." She poured out the two beverages and took the hand closest to her to show him where they were.
He drank the water eagerly and asked if she would fill his glass again. He only took a sip of the wine.
Not a toper then, she commented inwardly, relieved.
Caleb brought in the heaped plates of food, set them down, and withdrew. She helped the blind stranger to bread and vegetables, and took his hand once more. She pressed the fork into his hand to use as a pointer as she worked her way around the plate.
"Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, boiled ones, cabbage, peas."
"Thank you, you're too kind." He stroked the back of her hand lightly with his thumb, wondering at his nerve as he did so. He wondered even more when she did not recoil from the intimate contact.
How old was she? Maiden or wife, or mistress? Why was she not more shy and reserved? Or at least reluctant to have a complete stranger in her home?
But he was too tired to try to probe, and too hungry. For once, he didn't want to have to think, plan, worry about what on earth he was going to do next. He was safe for the moment, and was going to enjoy the peace for as long as it lasted.
After the first mouthful, he sighed. "I'm in heaven. This is delicious."
"Eat and enjoy it. You don't have to talk to me. You must be so weary."
"Thank you. It's very understanding of you. I'm sure there's much you'd like to ask me, but I'm in no fit state to discuss serious matters. I've been on the road for days, and am just about all in."
She nodded, then patted his elbow. "I can well believe it judging from the state of your clothes. Do please enjoy your food. Here's more water, and bread."
"Thank you. You're too kind, Miss."
Sarah let him eat in peace for the most part, making only an occasional comment about the teeming storm, or inquiring as to whether he wanted more of anything.
She watched the stranger carefully, intervening if he was about to knock something over or dump gravy on his lap instead of the meal.
Sarah smiled to herself. She was behaving like a broody mother hen watching over a particularly large and unfortunate chick. She only hoped he did not prove to be a cuckoo in the nest.
She observed that he had a deft economy of movement and a surprising grace for someone who was adjusting to blindness, rather than having had to cope with it from birth. And for such a huge man, she commented to herself, taking in his broad shoulders, massive chest and enormous hands the size of dinner plates, yet still elegant and refined, with long, tapering fingers.
She did not want to seem too bossy, nor patronizing. She knew that as much as she wanted to help, he was going to have to adjust to his condition. Mollycoddling him would not be doing him any favors in the long run. On the other hand, there was no need to allow him to feel embarrassed, or fling everything around the table.
They ate in relative silence, she continuing to ply him with more of everything, though his appetite was nowhere near as enormous as her brother's despite the fact that the stranger was a slightly larger man.
Finally he put his knife and fork down and shook his head. "I'm sorry I can't do this meal the justice it deserves. I'm not accustomed to such fine food, and my stomach has shrunk quite a bit."
"I do see you're very thin. Don't apologize. It's not your fault you were ill. Or wounded," she added, looking at his scar, which oddly enhanced rather than detracted from his otherwise perfect visage.
"Yes, both."
"I see. More wine?"
He shook his head. "No, that's fine, thank you. One glass is more than enough. Just more water, thank you."
She poured for him, and he drank thirstily once more.
"Would you like dessert? It's apple crumble."
"I would, and a bit more of that superb cheese, if you don't mind."
"Certainly."
Caleb came to clear the plates away, and returned shortly with the items the stranger had requested.
He chewed slowly, and at length he sat back with a sigh. "That was wonderful. Please compliment Cook for me, and tell her it was the best meal I can ever remember. And made even better by the company."
Sarah laughed. "There's no need to try so hard to flatter us. You're very welcome. And my helpers are Jenny and Caleb."
"'Tis not flattery. It was wonderful. You've been very good to a man you don't even know."
"Yes, about that-"
He pressed his hand to his head, and stifled a groan. She put her hand on his forearm whilst he suffered the paroxysm, unsure what to do, but willing to show that she was there if he needed her.