Rexanne Becnel by Thief of My Heart Page A

to eat.”
    “ Ja , that is very likely so. But Lacie, it is not the chickens that have you trembling. And your hair! No shoes either!” The cook gave her a mock frown and shook her head in feigned disapproval. “I’ve not seen you look so since you were one of the students here.”
    At her kindly scolding, all of Lacie’s reserve broke down. “Oh, Mrs. Gunter, I don’t know what to do!” she cried. She rose and nervously began to pace the floor.
    That the normally composed Lacie appeared so agitated made Mrs. Gunter frown in earnest.
    “Now, now, Liebchen , don’t get yourself all in a state. There’s nothing can be so bad that we can’t find a solution. Why, look at how well you’ve handled everything since poor Mr. Frederick—I mean, since your husband—died.”
    Lacie looked up swiftly at Mrs. Gunter’s odd inflection. “What do you mean?” she asked warily.
    Mrs. Gunter smiled broadly. “I mean that you’ve proven yourself to be a very—what is the word?— ach , a very enterprising young lady.” She cocked her head knowingly. “I think Mr. Frederick would have been very pleased.”
    Once more Lacie sat down, staring at Mrs. Gunter in agitation. Did she know? Did everyone know? Oh, how stupid she’d been! she thought when Mrs. Gunter nodded reassuringly. Why had she thought she could ever pull off such a deception?
    “Have I been so obvious then? Is that why that man is plaguing me so?” she asked defeatedly.
    “ Ach , now I see the problem. It is Mr. Frederick’s brother. Such a handsome man. Doesn’t he believe you are a grieving widow?”
    Lacie shook her head forlornly. “Not one word of it. But then, why should he? I’ve been a fool. He’s determined to prove me a liar and get back the school for himself. But I know he’s going to close it, and I can’t let him do that. I must find a way to save Sparrow Hill!”
    Mrs. Gunter did not reply right away. Instead, she filled a pot from the water keg and placed it on the iron stove. Then she began to build a fire from the embers that were banked from the night before.
    “He does not believe you,” she mused aloud. Then she looked over at Lacie. “I never see you without your hair up and neatly bound.” She chuckled as Lacie tried futilely to twist her disheveled locks into an orderly bun.
    “Tell me, Liebchen , was this brother of Frederick’s also about this morning? Did you see him?”
    “Yes.”
    At that grudging admission Mrs. Gunter laughed out loud. “So. You do not like him, but perhaps—perhaps he likes you?”
    Lacie straightened up and stared in surprise at the now-beaming older woman. “I would hardly say he likes me except…”
    “ Ja? Tell me the rest of it.”
    “He doesn’t like me ,” Lacie protested as her cheeks turned a bright pink. She wanted to be sure Mrs. Gunter understood things correctly. “He just wants to…” she faltered, not sure herself precisely what he wanted of her. “He just wants to convince me to trust him. But as soon as I do, I know he’ll use whatever he finds out to prove his claim to Sparrow Hill. So you see, he is really quite a cruel-hearted cad.”
    “Did he try to kiss you?”
    At Lacie’s look of horror mingled nonetheless with guilt, the stout cook chuckled. “So, he kissed you. Well, that may solve all of your woes.” The woman sat down across the table from Lacie and placed both of her hands flat on the smooth worn surface. “I tell you, Liebchen , listen to an old woman’s advice. Marry him and everything will be fine.”

6
    M ARRY HIM!
    Lacie grimaced in disgust every time she thought of Mrs. Gunter’s ridiculous solution. As if that would help anything!
    As if she would even consider marrying such a bounder!
    As if anything as honorable as marriage were what he had in mind!
    With a yank she tugged her wooden hairbrush through the tangled length of her sable-brown hair. He was a complete oaf, with the manners of a barbarian. A heathen, with no sense of decency