Chapter 13: Every Day

Joss took one look at the two of us and went to stand in the passage, with the study door pulled almost shut.

Caleb stayed on his feet, with his wrapped hand flat on the open ledger.

"I want all of it," he said. "Not one sentence this time."

"Sit down first."

"Kestrel."

"On the other side of the desk," I said. "Where I can see your hands."

He sat.

I told him plainly, because I had no other way to tell it.

"The milk came every morning on a tray, and from the third day after the binding you carried it up yourself."

I kept my eyes on the desk.

"I thought it was devotion. I drank it standing at the window while you watched me, and I thought you were happy."

"By midwinter my legs were slow and my gums had gone blue, and the cough started."

"Ida gave me a tonic and it helped, so you had her put in the stocks at the Standing Stone for a week and took her cottage."

Caleb's face did not move, but the cord went hot against my ribs.

"Lenora died in the spring," I said. "The pack said I did it, and you didn't say a word for me."

"No."

"You'd fastened the wolf-tooth necklace on me on my birthday, nine days after the cup, and I wore it every day of that year."

His jaw worked.

"Go on."

"I was coming to the kitchen to thank you for it. The door was shut. Maud was inside with you."

I made myself say the next part in his voice, flat and pleased.

"She asked if I was taking it. You said, 'Every day. I slip a little into her milk every day.'"

I looked up.

"And you laughed. I stood in the passage and listened to you laugh."

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