In her chamber, she set up her makeshift table and unrolled a parchment. It would be nice to use a sheet to write to Genith. She wondered if she would ever hear from her sister, or if they were dead to each other.

Thinking about Genith only made her sad, so she turned her thoughts to the next few days. If Marcus was rethinking this marriage, he might rethink everything, and allow her to leave. Of course, whether he permitted it or not, she would have to find a way to do so. The ring nestled between her breasts would not let her forget how essential that was.

A deep melancholy pierced her right below the ring’s weight. She bit her lower lip and picked up her brush, and told herself it was sorrow about Genith that caused the pain.

Marcus did not rejoin the household until dinner the next day. He appeared rested and very calm, as if his retreat had soothed his body as much as his soul.

At the end of the meal, he called the steward over. “David is leaving in two days. I have decided to make a small feast for him tonight, since his travels will keep him eating tavern food for months. Help me plan it with the steward, Nesta. Such things can use a woman’s touch.”

Nesta thought of the wily merchant whose face never revealed his thoughts. The way she saw it, he had all but lured her to damnation in the wainwright’s shed. She thought he deserved a fist, not a feast, but she offered some suggestions on the meal just the same. She would have to hide her resentment about the role David had played that day. He was willing to pay too much for her designs, and she had one to sell him.

That night they enjoyed a wonderful feast. It was noisy and crowded and raucous. Nesta sat beside Marcus. He was in such good cheer that the animosity between them disappeared with the flowing wine.

Unfortunately, that meant that the other emotion that bound them had its way, and a nostalgic intimacy settled over her as the evening progressed.

Marcus must have felt it too, because he grew less careful in his behavior with her. When they spoke the affectionate warmth in his dark eyes acknowledged what they had known together. He took to feeding her wine and bits of food with a charming, teasing delight.

“I am glad to see that your religious retreat has returned your good humor,” she said after swallowing one tidbit. “I trust it has also returned your good judgment.”

“My judgment has never been so sound, Nesta. Completely so.”

“Not completely so. You should not be so obvious with me in front of all these people.”

“You look so lovely tonight that I could not help myself.”

She laughed. “It is the wine. All women look lovely after a man has drunk several cups.”