Liliana narrowed her eyes in response to that statement. "I dislike that you find it so easy to condemn me. Do you know so few good people, that it is hard to believe there is anyone pure of heart?"

"Honestly, no," he admitted. "I don't know many good people. And I don't know anyone completely pure of heart."

Liliana winced. She couldn't help but wonder how he'd become so cynical. Her curious nature sought to know more of his life. She decided she would pry more out of him in the next couple weeks, or however long she would spend acting as his caretaker.

"Well, I think it's a shame," she told him.

He only shrugged. "I believe people are inherently self-serving, including myself. Even I lack the moral virtues you seem to live by. Don't say I never warned you."

Liliana probably should take him seriously. And she believed that he believed he was not good. But Liliana knew people. She might not have any special abilities like some of her family members, but she could read people. It was a small and most likely an insignificant type of insight. Especially when she compared it to the many special insights she'd witnessed among her people. But it did help her to see that Gabriel wasn't a danger to her.

"Do you mean me any harm?" Liliana asked him, just to be sure.

"No."

"Well, then that's settled," she told him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should probably check on the others. And I'll need to find you a change of clothes."

She fled the room, quickly opening and closing the door behind her.

NINETEEN.

Taking care of Gabriel proved to be quite easy for Liliana. Granted, over the first few days there were a few arguments; mostly involving him trying to do everything for himself and not letting Liliana attend to him as she thought was necessary.

He'd kicked Liliana out of his room several times, even though she was only trying to help him. The first time he did, Liliana listened from her quarters, which were directly across the hall from his. She could hear the loud noises coming from his room as he b.u.mped into walls trying to find the chamber pot on his own. She couldn't help but giggle. He deserves it, she thought to herself, for being so wretchedly stubborn.

"What do you find so amusing?" Eryn asked her sullenly. She was lying lazily across the bed they had been sharing, reading a novel. "And what is all that noise?"

"I a.s.sume its Gabriel," Liliana replied.

"So shouldn't you go help him? Isn't that what we're staying in this horrid place for, so you can tend to him until he's better?"

"Sheesh, Eryn, you act like a princess. We are but wandering gypsies and have spent most of our lives looking through the flaps of a tent or the windows of a caravan. Why do act as if you hail from a splendid castle?"

"I may not live in a castle, but our tents are a thousand times nicer and roomier than this dreadful place."

Liliana merely turned away from her sister, rolling her eyes. Neither Eryn nor anyone else understood why she was aiding Gabriel. But Liliana didn't care. She was helping him because she wanted to. And truth be told, she really liked taking care of him. Mostly because she could tell he was the type of man who would never ask for help in the first place. At first, she thought it was due to pride. But now, she was beginning to believe bravery was the more likely cause. And bravery was a trait she admired.

Amusingly, though, Gabriel didn't enjoy letting Liliana do much for him. He'd even pushed her out of his chamber when she had tried to bathe him.

Camelia, one of the elderly maids who insisted upon chaperoning Liliana every waking moment, also had a fit on that occasion. She'd nearly had hysterics from the moment Liliana started bringing hot water up to Gabriel's room.

"This is highly improper, Lily. Your brother raised you to be different from the other gypsy girls. He raised you to be a lady; he spoiled you even, with your education. And is this what you think a lady does? Going around, giving strange men baths?"

Liliana groaned. "G.o.d's teeth, Camelia. The man has been blinded. What would you have me do?"

"Let one of the men attend to him. Or myself, even. I'm married and do not have the same innocent eyes you possess."

Liliana sighed, not wanting to argue with Camelia. She would never win, anyway. "Fine," she gave in. But by the time Liliana was finished bringing the bathing water to Gabriel's room, he quickly threw her out, locked the door and wouldn't let anyone inside.

"I can bathe myself, thank you very much," was his surly response.

Outraged, Liliana exclaimed to Camelia, "The man is an imbecile and I hope he drowns!"

Camelia didn't understand the French words Liliana had shouted. And besides, Camelia was no sympathizer today; she only seemed relieved.

After a few minutes had pa.s.sed, Liliana began feeling guilty about what she'd said in anger. Eventually, she found herself considering the possibility that Gabriel could drown. In a hurried panic, Liliana rushed to his door, pressing her ear against the keyhole. She nearly collapsed in relief as she heard the sound of water splashing from inside the room.

She sank down to the floor outside his room, resting her back against the door frame, just in case something was to happen. Closing her eyes, Liliana listened to some tune Gabriel whistled, grateful he was making noise.

Aside from the few obstacles Gabriel's pride stood in the way of, Liliana found that it was a breeze taking care of him. Although, all he really let her do was apply the salve to his eyes and change his bandages each day. But he was pleasant company. She liked spending time talking to him. There was something about him she found very interesting. It was odd, but Liliana suspected she might have even begun to care for Gabriel. In all her lives, she'd never found herself so fascinated by a man before. She wondered what that would mean when they eventually parted ways.

Gabriel was in a restless mood when Liliana knocked on his door in the morning to check on him.

"How do you feel today?" she asked cheerfully.

"Irritated," was Gabriel's gruff reply. "I want, no, I need to get out of this room and this bed."

It had been six days they'd spent at the inn thus far and Gabriel had spent six days in the same room, in the same bed. He had a feeling he would go stark raving mad if he couldn't get up soon and walk around.

"But the doctor. . .he said you were to remain in bed for a fortnight."

"I don't give a d.a.m.n what the doctor said!" Gabriel shouted.

He heard the girl step backwards and he imagined her flinching from the sound of his booming voice.

After a few moments, he belabored a long sigh. "I apologize." His voice softened. "But I need some physical exertion. I'm not used to all this." He stretched out his arms, gesturing to his surroundings.

Liliana stayed quiet as he attempted to stand up. He managed it, though shakily. She moved towards him and took his arm, linking it through hers. She was so close he could smell the magnolia-scented soaps in her hair. It was intoxicating, causing Gabriel to falter his step a little.

"This way," Liliana guided him. "We'll go for a walk."

He grunted with relief. "Thank you." His grat.i.tude was wholly evident. She smiled. She couldn't help thinking that Gabriel seemed to share the restlessness of a gypsy. It was something she could relate to.

As they left, Gabriel noticed that they pa.s.sed the sound of the old woman, Camelia, snoring from her usual chair in the corner of the room.

"We'll just leave her there," Liliana whispered. "I don't think she would approve of this, anyway. She's better off not knowing."

As soon as they made it downstairs and out into the open air, Gabriel took a deep breath.

"Ah," he said. "It smells nice out here. I've missed this."

Liliana enjoyed watching his pleasure. She couldn't have denied him this simple happiness. She too, would likely go insane if she were trapped inside a small room all day and night.

They walked along an open path, saying nothing for a while. He kept a quicker pace than she would have liked, but she didn't comment on it. She didn't want to ruin his delight at being outside again.

After a while, they stopped to rest at a wooden bench nestled under a tall oak tree. The breeze wafted softly in the quiet afternoon, stirring the leaves above them.

"It's amazing," Gabriel said, finally breaking the silence. "All the things you can hear, when you're unable to see them."

"What can you hear?" Liliana asked him.

"I can hear the wind," he told her. "I can almost picture the height and size of the trees just by the sounds alone."

Liliana contemplated on what he'd said, closing her eyes and listening to the sounds of the surrounding nature. She listened to the soft stirring of the leaves behind her, trying to imagine how she would picture a nearby tree if she were blind to it.

"What do you look like, Lily?" Gabriel suddenly asked her. He'd finally come to say her nickname with ease.

The question had caught her off guard and she wasn't sure how to answer him.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I merely wanted to form a mental picture of you."

"Well," she began. "I'm afraid to say that I'm very ugly, as misfortunate as that may be. I have crooked teeth, two warts on my right cheek, a cleft chin--"

Gabriel chuckled.

"I'm serious!" she exclaimed. "I'm as skinny as a beanpole; I have five moles across my forehead, a head full of frizzy hair, the same shade as dull wood. And I even have a lazy eye!"

Delighted by the sound of his laughter, Liliana began to laugh now, too. "I should be thankful to my brother for marrying me off to some old codger," she said between giggles. "Because I would never be able to fetch a man on my own!"

Abruptly, Gabriel stopped laughing.

"What is it?" Liliana asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," Gabriel explained. "I feel I owe you my life, Lily. I realize you're only teasing, but I also know that you're upset with your brother's intentions for your future. I'm not usually boastful, but I want to tell you something."

"What is it?" she asked, cautiously.

"I have plenty of money put away that I never really had any plans for. I could never truly repay you for what you have done for me, but I can provide you with enough money to get by. Your brother will have no need to marry you off."

Liliana smiled ruefully. "That is very kind of you, Gabriel. But it wouldn't make a difference. Though I love him dearly, my brother is a greedy swindler. I can only imagine he would figure out a way to take your money and still marry me off for the extra monies he would receive."

Gabriel's brow furrowed. "It isn't right," he proclaimed.

Liliana took his hand, patting it. "I do appreciate the sentiment."

Her small touch ignited a spark within Gabriel he'd never felt before. Suddenly, he really wanted to know what the girl actually looked like. He took her face in his hands, cupping her cheeks beneath his fingers. She flinched at his touch at first. Her breathing also wavered, but she didn't move.

"I wonder what you really look like. I doubt there is any truth to your description."

Liliana decided she was completely uncomfortable with his touching her, yet she still didn't move away. Something inside her stomach seemed to flutter. "b.u.t.terflies," she'd heard it been called before. She wondered if she were feeling these so-called b.u.t.terflies at this exact moment.

He traced her face with his fingertips, smoothing her skin from her forehead down to her chin. He traced the almond shape of her eyes, along to the arch of her brows and across the bridge of her nose. He traced the outline of her lips, pausing in the center of her mouth where her lips puckered. Then, he ran his fingers through her hair, caressing the silky strands with adoration.

"My G.o.d," he finally spoke in a whisper. "You are beautiful."

"No," she said, pulling away. "I'm very plain, I a.s.sure you. Just a plain Jane."

"I think you're lying."

Liliana shifted uncomfortably. "We should probably get going," she announced.

"Hold on a moment." Gabriel grabbed Liliana's arm, pulling her closer towards him. "There is something I want to see."

"Sir," Liliana said, gulping. "You can't see anything. And I should mention that you're frightening me a little with your close proximity."

"You're right. I can't see," he told her softly. "That's why I need to feel."

Before she could protest, Gabriel's lips pressed down across hers and he locked her into a tight embrace. Her eyes widened at first and she tried to push him away. But then Liliana felt something she never felt before. The warmth of his lips and tongue forced hers to open and he kissed her pa.s.sionately. She couldn't explain her reaction, but she began to close her eyes. And instead of pushing him away, she moved closer until she clung to him tightly. She had never felt so ignited or so alive. Every inch of her skin seemed to tingle and melt beneath Gabriel's touch.

Eventually, he was the one pushing her away. He slid away from her along the bench. She stared at him strangely as they both tried to steady their heavy breathing. Still shocked, Liliana lifted her fingers to touch her swollen lips. She couldn't manage to grasp what just happened. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to.

"I wish I could see your expression right now," Gabriel finally said aloud.

Liliana didn't say anything. She couldn't quite get the words out. Not that she had any clue what to say.

"I'm sorry," Gabriel said again. "I shouldn't have done that. I simply couldn't help myself."

Liliana found herself wishing she could look into his eyes. She wanted to know if he were feeling the same pa.s.sion she had just felt.

"It's all right," she told him tentatively. "It's just that. . .I've never experienced anything like that before."

Gabriel nodded. "I forgot how innocent you must be. I promise it won't happen again."

Oddly enough, his promise didn't appease her as it should have. She was beginning to believe she must have developed some feelings for Gabriel. Liliana didn't know if she never wanted him to kiss her again. She didn't feel at all guilty for enjoying Gabriel's kiss. She was still a woman after all, though she may be young. And Gabriel was very handsome. She was no harlot. She would never be made to take a tumble with the gaje for a coin, which many of the women resorted to amongst gypsy tribes. But would it be so wrong if she wanted to kiss him again?

TWENTY.

With each pa.s.sing day, Gabriel's strength grew. He was impatient to remove the bandages from his eyes. Strange as it was, his predicament seemed to cause him to start seeing things in his mind. It was almost like he could see people moving about in his head. He could picture the entire inn, the surrounding fields and gardens. He could envision faceless people walking around, working, sleeping, eating or whatever they happened to be doing.

"Were you in the garden just now?" Gabriel asked when Liliana returned from her afternoon walk.

"Yes," she answered, surprised. "I figured I would freshen up your room with a cheerful bouquet. How did you know I was there?"