3

Chapter 2

Meg swallowed, feeling suddenly nervous. I should have known, she thought with bitterness. Nothing good ever comes this easily.

Still, Marcus' green eyes glinted with kindness. He laughed. "Don't look so worried, my dear. Eat. You look like you haven't had a decent meal in—"

"Ever." The word came out much harsher than Meg had intended. She felt her face grow hot. Guilt tugged at her. Marcus had saved her from the guards and an uncertain fate. No one had asked him to do this. He didn't deserve her rudeness. "I'm sorry. I didn't—"

"Then what are you waiting for?" he chuckled with mock impatience. "The food will get cold. Go ahead."

Meg at first studied the food on the low table, not sure where to start. There was fish, partridge, mutton, goat cheese, bread, soup and olives. She ate hesitantly at first, savoring the varying flavors, then with ravenous greed. But she filled up quickly. This was more than she had ever eaten in a month, for as far back as she could remember.

"Do you have a family, Meg?"

She shook her head. "I remember an orphanage but I ran away from there when I was five. I've been on my own ever since." A brief flicker of anger passed through her when a look of pity crossed Marcus' face. "But I'm a big girl now and certainly can take care of myself."

Marcus grinned sadly. "So I see." Grief clouded his face. "I had been married several years ago but my beautiful wife died only a few months after the ceremony. You remind me of her somewhat. We had both wanted children but I suppose that wasn't meant to be. If we'd had a daughter, she'd be about your age by now."

Meg stiffened, not sure if she was hearing this right. "Are you asking me to be you…your…" She couldn't finish.

Marcus' ruddy cheeks deepened in color. "Only if you wish. I don't want to rush you in this decision. Stay here for a few days and see how you like it. I will have the servants set up a room for you."

Meg blinked, uncertain of what to say. She had never been at a loss for words when scrabbling with the other street urchins for scraps of food or loose coins but she couldn't think of anything to say to Marcus. Perhaps this was a dream and she'd awaken, huddled on the hard ground in some alley. But she had never felt so comfortably full during a dream.

"Sleep on it, then," Marcus said, reaching out for her hand. She instinctively pulled it back. She wasn't used to trusting others.

Meg found it difficult to sleep that night. She had been given her own room, a spacious one with a thick rug spread out across the floor, a window looking out into the gardens and a bed. The bed was soft, too soft. Meg, who was used to sleeping on the hard ground, tossed about, struggling to find a comfortable spot. And the blankets were thick, too heavy for this warm night in early summer. She kicked them off. The bright light from the full moon poured through the window and seemed to press against her eyes. The bombilation of the cicadas in the trees outside was loud, overpowering.

Meg found herself nearly laughing in frustration as she sat up. Here I am, staying in a place that is what I have only dreamed about in the past, a place owned by a wealthy physician who would like me to be his daughter and I can't sleep! I suppose I'll never get used to lying in a bed. The hard ground will always be more comfortable for me. It is all I've ever known.

She curled up onto the floor and fell asleep instantly.

When Meg awoke in the morning, the sun had replaced the moon and was gleaming warmly on her face. She was back in the bed. Someone must have picked her up off the floor early in the morning and returned her to it. I slept so deeply, she thought, that I didn't even notice. Perhaps I could get used to this.

She lay still for several moments, listening to the birdsong and smelling the summer fragrance that drifted in through the window. She felt oddly happy. This surprised her since it was an emotion that she had experienced so seldom during her short life.

When Meg finally slipped from the bed, she noticed that someone had left a porcelain basin for her to wash in and laid out a fresh tunic.

"I have made up my mind about your offer," Meg said a little later as she joined Marcus for breakfast.