He shows her their room

"Come, lass." The Verderer climbed to his feet and pointed to the back of the barn. "I'll show you where you and Franklin will be sleeping." For just a second, Christine felt a flutter of disappointment that he wasn't taking her back to the privacy of the tack room where he could kiss her again, but she suppressed the memory as best she could. "You and the boy can spend the night, Evelyn, and I'll take you to Gold Street first thing on the morrow." The two were standing at the landing of a steep staircase leading upwards into the dark hayloft above, and away from the happy laughter of the boys Christine tried couldn't help comparing the joyful atmosphere here in the barn with the grim silence of the house.

"Thank-you again, Master Werner, for all you've done." Christine hesitated for a second hoping that she wasn't chaffing at a raw sore but continued tentatively. "Your wife will be glad to see us leave."

"Aye, that she will." As she followed him up the narrow steps the Verderer opened up a little. "Marielle is a fine woman - more than likely too good for the likes of me, Evelyn, and she's the mother of my boys and the mistress of the house." Christine found it hard to believe that any woman might think she was too good for a man like this. She was the daughter of a Baron, and she would be happy if she were wed to knight as honourable and handsome as this. Once again, the ridiculous fantasy of living here as Werner's wife, bringing joy and beauty back to this grim townhouse and raising a family with him slipped unbidden into Christine's mind and she had to **** the stupid fantasy away.

At the top of the steps was a small wooden door on the left that opened with a soft creak of protest. Inside was a single bed and a small table that held an empty bowl and pitcher, everything was covered in a thin layer of dust and the ceiling was so low that the Verderer had to stand with his head between the ceiling beams, but it was far better than spending the night out on the streets. Once again Christine was reminded of just how big the man was, especially when standing next to her petite body.

The small dark room reminded her of a little of a cell. Did that make this broad-shouldered man her goaler? Like all young women her age she had heard stories of maidens sent away and placed at the mercy of those men who controlled every aspect of their lives. This idea was a preposterous as the idea of living with the Verderer as his wife, the man was no evil villain, any more than this small room was a dungeon cell. **** for a way to reclaim control of her wildly spiraling imagination she looked up at the Verderer. "I can't pay you; I'll have no money until I meet with Mer-."

"Girl," the Verderer cut her off angrily, "I don't want your money." Even in the dim light filtering in from the rafters Christine could see the angry scowl on the man's face. What had she done?

"I'm sorry, Master Werner." Her voice was timid and soft, "please, what can I do to thank you?"