That stung. ‘Perhaps you forget that I grew up in Llanelieu, in the heart of the region.’

‘I forget nothing. You are lucky we got you out before King Edward withdrew his troops. That is when things got truly bad. Your family was one of the lucky few. If it were not for our generosity, you would all be either dead or living in a camp by now.’

She stared straight ahead, resisting the urge to withdraw her arm. Doing that would only start something, and if she played her cards right, their time together would soon be over. ‘We are eternally grateful—as we have expressed many times.’

‘God had big plans for us, my beloved.’

She rolled her eyes—inwardly, of course. ‘So you will travel to the camps with the defenders? Show them around?’

‘The eastern camp only. The western camp is yet to open. They have been experiencing a few difficulties.’

‘What kind of difficulties?’

The muscles in Hodge’s face twitched. ‘Every time it is close to completion, rebels come along and burn it to the ground.’

That sent a strange spark of hope through Isabel that perhaps the spirit of Carmarthenshire was still alive. ‘The Emlyn group?’

‘That would be my guess.’

She let that piece of information settle. ‘It sounds like the people have spoken, and they are not in support of this new arrangement.’

Hodge’s mouth flattened into a thin line. ‘Fools. They are only delaying peace and civility with their criminal acts.’

Isabel did not think camps were the answer but kept her mouth closed. To King Edward’s credit, he had tried other methods first, sent armies in to restore order and bring much-needed supplies to families. But order could not be restored to a starving and desperate population, and the supplies brought in rarely made it to the intended families. The wagons fell into the hands of rebel groups known as wastelanders. Though Hodge preferred the term ‘ruffians’. Eventually, the king had focused his efforts elsewhere.

The daisy chain popped into Isabel’s mind. Moving closer to Hodge, she leaned her head on his shoulder. ‘I was thinking. May I come with you?’

‘Come with me where?’

‘To Carmarthenshire.’

Hodge drew back and gave her a confused look. ‘Whatever for?’

‘It was my home for fifteen years. I would quite like to see what has become of it.’

‘You already know. It is a disaster, and I am working very hard to fix it.’ His face creased with disapproval. ‘Besides, you may have been born in the wastelands, but it is not your home. Your home is here at Hampstead Keep—with me.’

She fought to keep her expression neutral. ‘That is very true. My home is wherever you are.’

He was visibly pleased by that response.

‘I would be quite safe at your side,’ she continued. ‘Between you, your experienced guards, and the defenders travelling with us, I would be untouchable.’

‘You want to travel with a bunch of men? Sleep in a tent?’