“I’m not an interpreter, madam, I’m charged with your safety,” he returned and I looked back at him to see he looked peeved.
“Sorry,” I said quietly. “I just don’t speak any Fleuridian and it seems I’m going to be here a while so I was kind of hoping you or one of your guys could help out.”
The peeved look faded and he replied, “One of the…guys can help. In fact, three of them can.”
Finally, good news.
I smiled.
His eyes dropped to my mouth and pain chased its way through them before he shuttered it from me.
Yes, he knew Ilsa.
“You know who I am,” I whispered.
“I do,” he agreed and his eyes may have been shuttered, but he couldn’t quite mask the vein of grief in his voice.
“Does it hurt you to look at me?” I asked. “If so, I can—” I started to offer, beginning to take a step back but he lifted a hand, palm up toward me.
“I cared for her. She meant much to me. Her loss is still felt by all who knew her. But you are not her. Apollo told all the men who you are and where you’re from. He warned us how this would feel. We’re prepared.”
I took this as indication the other Ilsa was beloved by his men and thus, obviously, had been around to meet them.
More questions flooded my brain but now was not the time to ask them.
Then again, I was thinking there would never be a time. Not with this lot.
“Prepared or not, I’ll try to keep myself to myself,” I told him.
“That’s not nec—”
“Please,” I said softly. “I can imagine how this feels for you. If you’d do me the kindness of trying to imagine how it feels for me, simply standing here talking and breathing causing people to re-experience grief. It doesn’t feel nice and, not to be rude or anything, I’d rather not be around it.”
He took in a short breath and nodded.
“Can you tell me one thing before I leave you be?” I asked.
“Of course,” he answered.
“The staff in this house,”—I swept a hand out— “did they know her?”
“Apollo acquired this house after she left us, madam,” he shared.
I nodded.
That I also decided to take as good, not to mention indication that the clothes I was wearing were most likely not hers.
Then, feeling awkward, I stammered, “I’ll, uh…I don’t know how long what needs to happen will take or what I need to…well, acquire, but I’m assuming someone will be able to communicate to you when I’m ready for us to leave.”
“Yes, they’ll tell us and I’ll share it with you so you have plenty of time to prepare.”
I nodded.
He took a step back, indicating the door behind him with his hand. “The men are outside. Would you give them the honor of meeting them?”
I shook my head. “Not now. Please?”
“Of course,” he replied, his voice gentle.