The silent, brooding Captain Gamponetti with his storm cloud eyes and catlike grace settled Jacqueline and Julian in the back of the cart, then handed Eva up to the bench. She tried not to flinch at his touch. Instead, she propped her sack of herbs and salves between her feet while he sat in and gathered the reins, giving them a flick of his wrist to spur the old mule into motion.
She’d roused Sister Beatrice long enough to inform her of their planned trip to the caves. Eva shot a sideways glance at the man next to her, a mountain of muscle and bone. At least if she didn’t return, the sisters would know where to search for her body. While she had no true outward cause to be so wary (other than his presence and Kalia’s premonition) remaining cautious was more for self-preservation than any
