Page 57 of The Mercenary

“May I?” she asked. When Roger nodded, she began to pick up the pieces arrayed before her. Some leather, some woven braid, and still others made from embroidered fabric and even metal. Sabine picked up a woven silk belt with two decorative metal mountings, one shaped like a rose and the other a woman’s head. “’Tis lovely,” she murmured.

Sabine hadn’t realized so much time had passed, but the next time she looked at Master Roger, he’d finished the belt he had been working on as they entered the shop. Thin leather capped with a belt chape, it looked much like the engraving on the sign.

“I would love to learn this technique,” she said, more to herself than the two men in the room.

“How long will you be in the village?” Master Roger asked.

She looked to Guy, but he said not a word.

“I am unsure how long I . . . we . . . plan to stay.”

“You are welcome to return on the morrow. I had an apprentice who left for London a sennight ago.” The girdler shrugged.

Sabine understood. It was well-known that the best girdlers resided in London, but it was also quite difficult to be accepted into the guild that would allow for trade in the city. Her father had promised they would visit one day, but that day had never come.

“I am honored, but ’tis unlikely I shall be able to do so,” she said sincerely, knowing Guy would not approve of the plan. It would bring too much attention to her, to them.

“Nay.”

She and Roger both turned to Guy in surprise. The single word reverberated throughout the small room.

“If it pleases you to come here, do so.”

“You are not opposed to it?”

“I am not.”

It seemed to please the girdler that she sought permission from her husband. In truth, she wanted only to ensure the arrangement would be safe.

Smiling at Roger, she agreed to visit the next day. “Many thanks for the offer.”

“Until tomorrow, my lady.”

On the way out of the shop, Sabine found herself questioning Guy’s decision. Being out in public, taking part in the village—it would expose them. Which meant he very much wanted her to apprentice with Master Roger.

Of course he did.

When de Chabannes returned to France, they would part ways. But Sabine knew Guy felt increasingly responsible for her safety. He would feel better about leaving if he knew she had the means to earn coin and practice her art. Then he could gather men for the company he’d dreamed of starting. Travel as he loved to do.

Without the burden of a family.

Neither spoke on the ride back to the inn. Perhaps there was naught left to say.

Unless . . .

Unless she had misread the situation.

“Guy?” she asked, aware of the import of what she was about to say. But Sabine had to know. They’d just dismounted outside of the inn and handed their horses’ reins to the stable boy. “Do you wish for me to apprentice with Master Roger so I might remain here? After you leave?”

Sabine’s heart thudded so hard in her chest she could hear the sound in her ears. But she wasn’t done; she knew she had to be direct. She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t at least ask.

Voice quivering, she continued, “Do you still wish to part ways when this is over?”

Chapter 28

He’d given her no explanation. Nothing other than a terse “aye,” followed by silence.

That night was the first they’d not made love since coming to the inn. Yesterday, the first they’d spent apart. Sabine had gone to Master Roger both days, and she’d found him a kind and patient teacher, and an even more skillful girdler. His tutelage had allowed her to forget, for brief moments, the horrors of the past few months.