Page 64 (2/2)

Duerden had not tried to find her after she had rebuffed hi his ti, Lia found herself trudging towards the Abbey kitchen to break her fast before sleeping There had been no disturbances to Ellowyn or Marciana since the kishion attack, and she found herself dozing in the stillness As she entered the kitchen, she recognized the fa over for days She bustled back and forth, pinching loaves, ladling syrupy treacle, and hollering for the girls ere up in the loft, staring out the

"It is the sarunt of disgust,It is still the same maypole, still the sae and so"

Lia senerous dollop of treacle to sweeten it It was delicious and warue "Thank you, Pasqua"

"It was by and by that you lived here," Pasqua said, patting a loaf and shaping it Flour dusted her hands "A year that has gone by so quickly Do youin the kitchen?"

Lia did not have to lie and nodded with enthusiasm "There is a smell to this kitchen, especially this time of year A hundred little sarlic and onions and sage and pumpkins This is my home, Pasqua I will always cherish it"

That earned her a s that nearly took her breath away Then she looked at Lia closely, her eyes filled with concern "So he did not want you?" Pasqua asked softly so the other girls wouldn’t hear it

Lia raised her eyebrows and tilted her head curiously

"You knoho Iher a look full of tenderness with a wince of regret "It is not that cheeky little Duerden I a of He is a cute boy, but Colvin is a man I would have sworn on the stars of Idumea that he cared for you"

Lia wanted to wince, but she kept her expression cal"

Pasqua rolled her eyes "How freely he talks, it is no wonder then The lad has only half his brains with hiirl He would be a fool to pass her by"