yah

h of pink had returned to his cheeks. He was even strong enough to sit up and play with a small wooden bird Faye ha

, however, wa

coins in front of her. She counted them for

aying for the room for the week, this is all we h

medicine had taken a huge bite out of our funds. The real

didn't feel. "We'll be frugal. Bread an

, so fragile. He needed more than bread and water-he needed hot soup, milk

how to afford a simple bowl of so

ioned for her to stay put and went to the do

inn's uniform, standing be

oor a crack. "

. There was also a tureen of creamy mushroom soup, a fresh salad, and a pitcher of warm milk. The aroma was heavenly, and it made my empty stomach ache with longing. My breath caught in my throat. Rosemary

sped be

with suspicion. "You must have the w

er wavering. "A special complimentary dinner, with the complimen

e cart into our room, given a polite bow, and retreated down

ands together. "First the suite, now this! This inn is wonderful!

Coincidence was one thing, but this was something else entirely. Somebody had orchestrated this. Somebody who knew things about me that no innkeeper should know. The thought was de

ut into the hallway. But then Ellum's small voice pipe

hungry eyes w

r's things, I took out a slender silver needle-a tool she had used to test for certain

bright and untarnish

was poisoned, that the intentions behind it were clearly malevolent and I could simply throw it

id, my voice qu

on the edge of his bed and fed him spoonful by spoonful. The look of

ver arranged this must be a very kind gentleman," she declared between bites of

of safety, of a childhood long gone. Why was someone doing this

ishes, she was still singing the pr

uld not be a pawn in anyone's game. I would not l

follow-up, and then I would find work. I would sta

ld be