Chapter 10 Unspoken Warnings Chapter 10 Unspoken Warnings 60 +10 Free Coins Naomi woke nearly half an hour later . Catching sight of Soren now riding beside them , she called out gleefully , " Soren ! Ms. Roxanne looks stunning in her riding clothes . Here , take these berries and bring them to her . " The berries were a pretext ; the meeting was the true intent . Soren glanced at the untouched basket . " Ms. Fiona has lost her taste for them ? " " Suddenly , I have no appetite , " Fiona said with a polite smile . " Perhaps you could take them to Ms. Roxanne and her companions . " Inwardly , however , she winced . She had just asked for them earlier , and now the fruit sat there , untouched . To anyone watching , it looked as though she had been lying . After that , Soren rode ahead and did not return . For Fiona , it was a relief . Had he remained , the rest of the journey would have been unbearable . " Soren always forgets me the moment Ms. Roxanne is near , " Naomi teased . Yet there was no trace of resentment in her voice . It was only then that Fiona pieced things together . Soren's absence had been deliberate . Her gaze dropped , and she said nothing . By the time their party reached the foot of Pinecrest Mountain , the horses were halted , and guards moved quickly to set up camp . " Ms. Fiona . " She turned at the call and saw Xavier dismounting with an easy grace , striding toward her . Though only eighteen , there was a maturity about him that marked him apart . His plain blue shirt did nothing to lessen the impression of strength and refinement . Fiona could not help but notice his steady composure and the quiet confidence in his bearing . A woman who had once been a wife judged men differently , Looks mattered , but so did steadiness , reliability , and how a man treated matters of intimacy - something marriage taught all too clearly . " Mr. Xavier , " Fiona greeted with a modest bow . " I've gathered some wild berries . Would you like some , Ms. Fiona ? " he said , holding out a cloth pouch . His gaze was earnest . " If you don't care for them , there's no need to force yourself . " 1/3 14:37 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 10 Unspoken Warnings $ 10 Free Coins Fiona truly didn't want more berries . Yet she could not bring herself to refuse him . A handsome man could easily draw out a woman's gentleness . Smiling softly , she said , " Thank you , Mr. Xavier . As it happens , I was just craving some . " She accepted the pouch , heavier than she expected . " Did you bring these for all the young ladies ? " she asked lightly . He shook his head . " The sandalwood parchment you gifted me the other day - I liked it very much . I came today especially to thank you ." His meaning was clear . The berries were for her alone . Mindful of propriety , Xavier did not linger . After a brief exchange , he departed . Fiona's thoughts spun . He had singled her out . Even if it wasn't a declaration of affection , there was no denying that the gesture carried a certain warmth . The Luthor family's circumstances were uncomplicated , Xavier himself was of solid character , and his appearance was striking . If he also proved faithful , he might well be an excellent choice for a husband . A woman who had already been married weighed such matters differently . Love could come later . What mattered first was family standing , a man's virtue , and his willingness to guard his home . If those were in place , affection would naturally follow . As these thoughts circled , her eyes drifted and landed on Soren not far away . He sat his horse with composed elegance , his gaze falling briefly on the pouch of berries in her hand . A faint , inscrutable smile touched his lips before he turned his horse and rode off . The circumstances made her intentions appear anything but innocent . Fiona's cheeks flamed , then drained pale . At last , she forced herself to look away . What he thought no longer mattered . In this life , she owed him nothing . With hours left until the evening banquet , the young women stayed within their tents , chatting idly to pass the time . " Just now I saw a young gentleman staring at Ms. Roxanne as though he'd forgotten how to breathe , remarked Mindy Ronson with a laugh . " Well , is there a man in all of Jexburgh who doesn't admire her ? " Naomi chimed in . " Half the city's young men have tried one way or another to speak with her ." " Do you suppose even your brother might be among them ? " someone asked playfully . 2/3 14:37 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 10 Unspoken Warnings 60 +10 Free Coins Naomi grinned and turned to Roxanne . " My mother once asked my elder brother what he thought of you . He said the Thankerton family's daughter is a woman of brilliance and learning , graceful and admirable . " The girls sighed with envy , though none were surprised . A woman like Roxanne , with her talent and unmatched family , was destined for the finest match . " Please , don't tease me , Naomi , " Roxanne murmured , her voice gentle but her ears tinged pink . " Lord Soren is a fine man . His marriage will surely be decided by his parents ." " And what of Mr. Callum ? What is he like ? " another girl asked Naomi . Naomi made a face . " That cousin of mine ? All he thinks about is swinging swords and wielding spears . The moment anyone so much as looks at me cross , he's ready to draw steel . Whoever marries him will have her hands full . " The tent erupted in laughter . Still , some among them secretly admired Callum . A man slow to catch on to romance had his own appeal . Fiona's thoughts drifted to her own brother . Vincent was kind and steadfast , yet because he had served so long at the borders , it was as though the world had forgotten him . A dull ache pressed into her chest . In her past life , the last time she saw him , he had already been a cold corpse . 3/3