Bound (A Faery Story 1)

unconcerned with his guilt in the matter. “I might have been hiding a

bit of coin from you. I bought Meggie a dress, and the village women

liked her so much they sewed her a few pieces. You couldn’t expect

her to wear the same thing every day. Where are you getting this

from? She meets with those same women every other day for sewing

lessons. They love her. Everyone loves her. She’s fitting in

beautifully. Even the bloody goblins like her. As for the stall she set

up in the market, those kids are taking a cut. Meg does the baking,

and the Shaw kids handle the selling. They take half the damn

profits.”

“What the hell is she doing selling stuff at market?” Beck asked.

He was confused by the whole thing.

“Making money,” Meg said quietly from the doorway.

Beck turned quickly, taking in her frown. She had straightened her

clothes and put on an apron. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a neat

bun. She looked every bit the proper Fae wife about to cook her

husbands’ dinner. He missed the naughty schoolgirl.

Bound

219

“I took care of it,” Beck explained. “We should have enough coin

to see us through the winter.”

Meg’s eyes dulled. She shrugged as though it didn’t mean

anything to her. “I’ll keep it for myself if you don’t want it.” She

moved toward the kitchen. “And I’ll make sure to pay the women for

their clothes. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

Beck ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Meg…”

She held up a hand to stop him. “Just leave me a list of what I’m

supposed to do, and I’ll get it done, Beck. I’ll shut down the bakery

stall, or I’ll work it myself from now on.”

“I didn’t say that, Meg,” Beck replied. Damn it. He didn’t want to argue with her. “You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”