Page 34 of Ensnaring the Dove
The establishment’s name,Diana’s Tavern,was painted above the door, and Aedan and Colombia ducked under the lintel into a dimly lit space.
One glance inside and Colombia’s gaze narrowed. This looked like a popina. Frequented by the lower-classes and slaves, such placesoften doubled as brothels. Indeed, half-clad local women perched on the laps of soldiers.
Curious gazes flicked in their direction as Aedan made his way to the squat, balding man behind the stone counter. He was pouring wine from one of the clay amphoras that lined the space. A brazier burned behind him, the aroma of roasting blood sausage mingling with the less pleasant smell of stale sweat.
Unlike the reclining couches that the better taverns boasted, this one only had a scattering of stools around circular stone tables, and most of them were occupied. The soldiers who weren’t fondling the women on their laps were dicing. Raucous laughter rang through the popina. Ignoring the rowdy patrons, Aedan and Colombia perched on stools at the bar.
“What will it be?” the proprietor greeted them tersely. He had a pugnacious face and deep-set eyes that narrowed when they settled upon Aedan, taking in the tribal tattoos that marked his upper arms.
Colombia wagered they didn’t see many Britons in here.
“Supper and a room for the night, for me and my wife,” Aedan replied in fluent Latin, placing his two sestertii on the bar.
The man’s piggy eyes widened. However, his expression didn’t warm.
Taking the coins, he nodded before moving away to fetch their wine and food.
“Apologies for bringing you here,” Aedan whispered to her when the proprietor was out of earshot. He then flashed her a sheepish smile. “As soon as we’ve eaten, we’ll retire to our room.”
Colombia nodded, swallowing her response. She had to remember they’d agreed she wouldn’t speak.
The tavern owner returned then with two cups of wine, which he slammed down in front of them. Two dishes of bread, cheese, and dried plums arrived moments later.
Colombia fell upon her supper, as did Aedan. It was simple fare, and she’d likely tasted better—but the bread was fresh with a salty crust, the cheese tangy, and the dried fruit pleasantly tart.
The wine was rough, yet she enjoyed that too.
They cleared their plates quickly and then left the common room behind, ignoring the leering comments from two drunken legionaries sitting at the bar, down from them.
Colombia was relieved that Aedan wasn’t the sort of man to raise his fists at the slightest provocation. The soldiers’ comments were rude, yet they washed off her companion. Aedan’s experiences over the years had given him a tough hide, indeed.
Diana’s Tavernhad an annex out back that housed a handful of tiny chambers.
As expected, their room wasn’t luxurious. The chamber was cramped, with stained lime-washed walls. The linen on the narrow bed, which was fashioned out of wood and shaped like a reclining couch, was clean enough, yet worn. There was nowindow, or brazier to warm the air if the temperature dropped overnight. But at least they were able to bar the room from the inside, which made Colombia feel a little more secure.
Outdoors, the sun had now set, and the sounds of drunken revelry from the tavern itself and the wine bars that flanked it had grown louder.
Nonetheless, they were safely locked away until dawn.
Aedan divested himself of his weapons, placing his quiver, bow, and sword in a corner before settling himself down onto a low stool by the door with a sigh. Meanwhile, Colombia hovered, throwing him a questioning look.
Now that they were alone together again, she felt awkward. Before that kiss, she’d been at ease with him. Yet now they stood in a cubiculum together, it was difficult to meet his eye.
“Take the bed,” he murmured. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Colombia’s gaze shifted to the dusty strip of tiles between the bed and the door. They didn’t look comfortable at all. She could give him her shawl as a blanket, yet he had nothing soft to lie on. “You’ll never be able to sleep there,” she replied.
He snorted a laugh. “I can sleepanywhere.” His mouth quirked then. “I’m so tired right now, I could drop off even stretched out on a bed of nails.”
“Are you sure? I can shift over to the edge of the bed … and make space for you.”
Their gazes did meet then. “After what happened this morning, it’s best I don’t,” he said quietly.
Colombia stared back at him, heat washing over her. Her mouth went dry. Did he regret that kiss? Minerva forgive her, she was drawn to this man. Every time his gaze fastened on her, her pulse went wild, need sharpening her senses. She knew it was wrong, yet her body didn’t care. She hadn’t seen Linus in five years—and she didn’t recall him ever affecting her like the man seated a couple of feet away did.
Holding Aedan’s gaze, she shrugged off her shawl and handed it to him. “Take this, at least.”
He nodded, although their fingers brushed as he took the garment, and a shiver of pleasure went up her arm at the contact.