Page 71 of Ensnaring the Dove
It seemed unusually quiet inside the fort this morning—a subdued hush had settled over the nearby barracks in the aftermath.
Clenching her jaw, Colombia glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father. It was early; he didn’t usually depart the praetorium yet. However, the commander was nowhere to be seen. She’d eaten ientaculum alone this morning.
Colombia knotted her fingers together upon her lap, clenching hard.
I have to speak to him.
Her pulse started to race then.
What if he keeps avoiding me?He could organize her escort and send her packing, and she wouldn’t have the opportunity to change his mind.
Stubbornness formed a hard kernel within her, calming the erratic beat of her heart. “You won’t win this battle,pater,” she vowed aloud. “The more you tighten your grip, the harder I’ll fight.”
“Domina.”
Glancing up, she spied Moira walking toward her across the paved space. She hadn’t yet crossed paths with the slave this morning, as Claudia had served her in the triclinium.
The slave wore a woolen mantle around her shoulders and thick leggings under her tunic to ward off the cold. As always, Moira’s bright hair was tied back in a braid, although strands had come free, curling around her pale face. Steam rose from the surface of the cup she carried.
“Claudia has prepared you some hot, spiced wine.”
Moira halted before her and held out the cup, her expression veiled. Her reserved manner reminded Colombia of her first days here, when Moira had been wary of her. They’d developed a friendship of sorts over the past two moons, but after last night, would Moira be wary around her again?
Colombia reached out and took the cup. “Thank you.”
Moira nodded before backing away. Clearly, she was eager to retreat to the kitchens.
“You needn’t worry,” Colombia murmured. “I’m hardly in a position to judge you … am I?”
Moira halted, her face tensing.
“My father is strong-willed,” Colombia continued. “I just hope you go to his bed willingly. I’d hate to think you’d been forced into becoming his bed-slave.”
Moira swallowed. “I go willingly,” she admitted softly, pausing for a few moments before continuing, “When your father first bought me from a slave market at Eboracum, I resented him. Yet with the passing of the months, I discovered who he is beneath the hard façade … a good man, but a lonely one.” She paused then, glancing away. “And I was lonely too. He does still miss your mother,domina. He sometimes speaks to me about her.”
Colombia studied her face for a few moments before replying, “You care for him, don’t you?”
“I do.”
Silence fell between the two women, stretching out until Colombia cleared her throat. “You’ll have heard what happened yesterday evening?”
Moira nodded. “I heard you stood up to a mob of angry men … and prevented them from laying siege to the principia.” There was awe in Moira’s voice, and despite everything, Colombia’s spine straightened at the memory. Yes, she’d done that.
“I did,” she admitted. “Althoughpaterwasn’t impressed enough to give Aedan and me his blessing … you learned of what happened afterward?”
“I did,” Moira paused. “It didn’t come as a great surprise. I suspected there was something between you and Aedan. When I saw you together that day at the workshop … you couldn’t take your eyes off each other.”
Colombia winced. “Yes, well, I’ve never been good at hiding my feelings, or checking them … a trait that’s now landed me in trouble.”
Moira’s gaze shadowed. “Your father is a proud man,domina,” she said with a shake of her head. “His opinions are not easily swayed.”
Colombia’s mouth curved into a tight smile. “We’ll see about that.”
XXX. A HEAVY WEIGHT TO BEAR
TOWING A HANDCART behind him, Lucon limped through the gates of Onnum and into the vicus beyond. And as he did so, he resisted the urge to flash the guards, who stood above the trickle of farmers and merchants arriving at the fort in the grey dawn, a toothy smile.
They’d just let a wolf into the fowl coop.