There Your Heart Will Be Also by Felicia Rogers Read Free Book Online Page B

stopping at her face.
    The rest of the meal was completed in silence. When they were finished Cedric gathered the food and placed it back in the basket . S ide by side they headed b ack to the keep. They walked through the gate and Cedric handed her the large container . Their fingers brushed across each other in an innocent gesture, but Cedric’s pulse raged. H e jerk ed his hand away quickly , not wishing her to see the reaction she’d caused .
    Turning his face away, he said, “Thank ye for the fine meal.”
    â€œ You’re welcome.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll see ye around the keep again sometime , ” Cedric added with hope in his voice.
    â€œPerhaps.”
    â€œTell the mistress of the Greenbriar I appreciate the food.”
    â€œWhat?” asked Sarra.
    â€œ Y e are headed to the keep’s kitchen , ” stated Cedric.
    â€œAye. I was.”
    â€œA re ye the mistress ’ maid?” he asked, noticing how the lass seemed thrown off guard.
    â€œThe m istress ’ maid?”
    â€œAye. Tell her thanks for the food and the welcome. If all ye r strangers receive the same type of treatment , I can see wh y no one would want to leave.”
    â€œOh, aye . Of course. I’ll be sure to tell her.”
    Cedric bowed in Sarra’s direction , turned on his heel and left. T he heat of her lingering stare was felt all the way across the yard.

Chapter Eight

    In the afternoon, Sarra changed clothes and headed for the main hall. The dinner table was full upon her arrival. She took her seat at the head , and gazed around at the others in attendance. T he two housemaids , Ella and Shelly, sat along one side of the table. Opposite them were Sir Henry and the keep knights . Charism took the seat next to her .
    Cook walked around the large table making sure the food was all in place. Sarra couldn’t help but smile. She felt blessed just to share her bounty with others.
    When he finished , Cook took his own seat . Sarra said, “Cook, would you mind saying grace tonight ? ”
    Cook nodded and began. Once he’d finished, S arra watched as the others served themselves from the heaping platters of food . This brought back memories of the lunch consumed earl ier in the day. Cedric had made sure she was served first , e ven waiting until her first bite was taken before he touched his own food.
    Looking at the crowd of people sitting around her, all of them from a different station of life , she was struck with loneliness . How was it possible to be surrounded by people yet feel completely alone?
    Her mind wandered back to the way she felt earlier. Even in their silence she had felt at peace. Cedric was an unusual person. Huge in appearance yet soft spoken, thoughtful, gentle. When asked why he was visiting Greenbriar, h is answer was startl ing . The more the conversation came to mind the more she realized h e’d never explained what land he was after.
    As she took a bite of the fresh bread, a thought crossed her mind . C ould he be after Greenbriar? Why Cedric might be inside to scout out the keep and its weaknesses ? Could a group of men be waiting in the wings to attack ? How stupid she ’ d been ! She had walked right into his trap ! The perpetrator of this plan knew exactly how to affect her. Send in a handsome man and have him pay her the least bit of attention and she would fall right into his arms.
    As soon as the afternoon meal was complete , she would need to speak with Sir Henry. The countryside needed to be combed to make sure no one was set to attack. They would need to be more observant. S he wouldn’t sleep easy until Cedric MacNeil was gone from her keep and her life .
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    Sarra picked up her skirts and headed for the garden. The afternoon air was cool and goose bumps soon dotted her flesh. Picking up her pace , she found shelter from the wind under a nearby tree. Sir Henry followed along more slowly, barely seeming to notice the