COMMAND THE TIDES - Wren Handman Page 0,13
pretend she did.
David and Ryan had refolded the blankets they had used for their own beds, stacking them neatly beside the kitchen door. Another sign, then, that they knew what they were about. Revolutionaries, to be sure, and knowing how to get out unseen, careful to leave no signs of their presence behind them. If someone came in and saw the folded blankets, it would be a simple matter to say they had just come in from the clothesline. Faint sounds from the kitchen said they were making themselves at home.
Taya poked her head in the doorway, and they looked over at her, both of them tensing instinctively. David smiled at her, inclining his head, while Ryan calmly returned to soaking his shirt in a basin of water. It was, of course, David who spoke up.
“We thought that we would be most out of your way if we stayed in here.” And out of sight, Taya thought, but said nothing. “I hope that you don’t mind. We haven’t touched a morsel.”
She laughed at that, remembering her harsh words from the night before, and leaned casually against the doorjamb. “Well then, I will make you both a deal. If you make some soup while I freshen up, and bring a bowl up to Darren, you can both break your fast. I’m sure you’re as famished as I, after the long night.”
David readily agreed, and Taya left them in charge of her kitchen as she collected a fresh shirt and pair of trousers and went outside.
It was late summer, and the day was just starting to warm, a touch of dawn nip still in the air. She held her clothes awkwardly under one arm while she washed at the pump, and then slipped into the outhouse to change into her new clothes. She dumped the dirty laundry into a large bin waiting to be dealt with, reminded herself with a sigh that the wash was long overdue. The wooden bin had been intended to hold the clothing only long enough to put them in the water and wash them, but she had gotten into a bad habit of leaving off the wash until she had nothing clean left to wear—and she was getting near that point. Wondering when she would have the time, she bound her thick black hair at the nape of her neck and went back inside. She pulled open the blinds, the sign which announced that her shop was open for business, and opened the shutters on the windows. As she was finishing, David came into the room, nodding politely and offering her a bowl of soup, which she gratefully accepted.
“My thanks, David. Forgive me for not being a better hostess. I fear, however, if I had tried to make the soup we would all be eating raw carrots and cold water.”
David grinned easily at her jest, at first glance seeming casual and relaxed. Despite the long night, the amount of sleep he had gotten appeared to be enough for him. At a closer look, however, his eyes belied his appearance. He was watching the streets, the windows, eyes glancing quickly from one spot to another and then back to her face even as he spoke, as if searching for hidden threats. Which is probably, she reflected, exactly what he is doing.
“There’s no need for thanks, ma’am. It was the least we could do, in return for your help. I’ll leave you to your work, now, and we’ll be up to see Darren.” As if called by the words, Ryan appeared in the doorway carrying a tray of food and drink, which he handed to David to carry. The two proceeded upstairs side-by-side. Quite silently.
Chapter Three
THE DAY TURNED OUT TO BE a slow one, for which Taya was infinitely grateful. As, she was sure, were both her bankbooks and customers. She was so desperately tired she found herself nodding off still standing, and she didn’t even touch the nearly finished skirt—she knew if she did she would end up sewing the trim to her own pants instead of the silk it was meant for, and probably stick more needles than could be good for her into her hands and legs. She had said it wouldn’t be completed for another two days, anyway, so there was no worry of irate customers pounding on her door.
A few hours before midday, she had her first serious customer. A liveried man, dressed all in blue from nape to neck, opened the door and