Riley stared up at the residence, wondering again whether it would be terribly rude to show up unannounced on the doorstep at this time of day.
It was, at the very least, presumptuous, if not an imposition. He also felt mildly guilty that his motivation for coming was, at least partly, because of the food he'd had here the day before. Although, now that he thought about it, the sight of Ashley would feed his soul more than any little delicacies would feed his stomach.
The verbal spars they had were a delight to him, though if he were to be honest, he stood a better chance of coming out ahead when she was dressed in her baggy uniform. Her fully adorned beauty was a distraction he had trouble putting aside.
He sighed and turned away, back toward the barracks. He really shouldn't play with fire, and Ashley was definitely fiery. She was also far out of his league, despite her teasing to the contrary. He was raised as a farmer, and had no business or experience with the lifestyle she was accustomed to.
He needed to remember that, and leave her alone.
"Bear! Is that you?" A musical voice called from behind him.
He turned, and his eyes widened as Ashley came walking down the lane toward her home. She wore a slightly more plain gown than the day before, a rich blue fabric with embroidery around the neckline, sleeves, and hem. She had simple silver earrings which caught the fading light, reflecting it into her golden hair. Tonight it was partially up in a bun, and half cascaded down her back in waves like a tumultuous waterfall.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, smiling as if she were pleased to see him. That was likely just her being polite, he thought. Now that she was out of the military and free of her father, she really didn't need to see or talk to him.
"I just finished my duties for the day. I was heading back to the barracks." That was mostly true, even though he had only taken two steps in that direction when she had called for him.
"Won't you come in for a moment? You must be exhausted and hungry, I'm sure we can find something. I'm in need of refreshment myself after my walk," She took his arm without pausing for him to agree, pulling him inside with her. "It's so wonderful being free! I didn't have to ask for permission or orders, I just left and went where I wanted!"
Riley frowned. "You should stay close to home in the next several days. Rhone is coming and I don't know how safe you will be if you wander far." He tried to ignore the warmth spreading from where her hand rested in the crook of his elbow.
He was also mildly surprised by how casually she touched him, as if it didn't affect her at all. He was a little disappointed by that, though he couldn't quite figure out why.
"Come now, I'm a former soldier! I'll be perfectly safe," She batted her eyelashes up at him to show how she was teasing.
"I don't know that anyone is perfectly safe," His gaze drifted in the direction of the city's wall. Would the Rhone army breach it? How many would die? How many spies were yet to be discovered within Klain?
"Corporal Riley." Ashley huffed as she pulled him inside her house, and he turned his attention back to her. "I'm sure you've had very serious duties to take care of all day long, with very serious consequences if you mess up those duties,"
He sighed, and she continued, "However! Now you are in my company, and I am too pleased with my freedom to be serious just now. So, I will do my country a great service and improve military morale by making you more cheerful for a while."
She beamed at him, and he couldn't help but be caught up in her mood. She was, in fact, a stunning beauty and it was difficult not to be happy when she smiled at him as if his happiness was her sole mission in life.
"All right, do your worst," He raised his palms in surrender to her agenda.
"First, we need food. You're going to starve to death on those military rations, and a gaunt bear is one of the saddest things I can imagine," She pulled a braided rope that hung from the wall, and a serving girl appeared.
"Refreshments, please. We'll have them in the parlor," Ashley said, and the girl curtsied and disappeared.
"How is your mother doing?" Riley asked. He hadn't seen the woman since the Council meeting.
"She is relatively well. Resting for now, I believe. Since she found out that Father has been imprisoned for over a year, it took a toll on her, but she will recover." Ashley smiled. Though her mother was not completely well at the moment, already a spark of hope had brought her more alive than Ashley had seen her in a long time.
"I'm glad." Riley sat on the sofa that he had before, and Ashley took up her place perched on the edge of a chair. She arranged her skirt around her until she was satisfied, and then looked up to see him studying her.
"What is it?" She inquired curiously.
"You're like a completely different creature," Riley admitted. "As a soldier, you were..."
He paused, unable to find the right words, and her eyebrows rose elegantly.
"Approachable." He finally finished.
"Approachable?" The adjective seemed to amuse and perplex her in equal shares. "And now?"
"I probably wouldn't have dared ever talk to you," He shrugged.
"And why not? Now that I am not in uniform, am I no longer worthy of the conversation of the Supreme Officer Corporal Riley?" She teased.
"I think you know that's not the case." He said.
"Well, I'm pleased to have the conversation, whatever the case," She gracefully let him off the hook as a servant brought a tray of treats and a pot of tea with two cups, setting it on the low table. "Thank you," she said as the servant curtsied and left.
"I'm not precisely sure why you should be pleased, but I'm glad as well." Riley smiled.
As before, Ashley poured each of them a cup of tea and handed him a small plate for the little baked cakes and pastries on the tray. There were also tiny sandwiches and slices of fruit. He eagerly filled his plate, regretting that it was not larger, and Ashley laughed softly.
"These are excellent," Riley said, swallowing a mouthful of a pastry filled with some sort of jelly, and Ashley beamed at him in response.
"Thank you! It's a hobby of mine to bake." She brushed a crumb from her skirt as she looked down modestly.
"You made them?" Riley expected her to have servants to do everything for her.
"The kitchen was one place Father, or whoever he was, would rarely come looking for me. Since I was usually trapped in the house, I took up culinary pursuits as an excuse to avoid him while technically remaining compliant with the command to stay inside.
"Additionally, it bored my chaperone to tears, and allowed me a chance to slip out the back when she dozed off or left the room. The cook would never tell on me." She smirked, glad the days of her chaperone's presence were gone forever.
"Diabolical. Your scheming, I must say, is delicious," He took another bite and she chortled musically.
"My scheming days are behind me now." She raised her right hand in a mock vow, "Unless, of course, I have need again."
"What else would you need to scheme about?" He refilled his plate, having already devoured what was on it before.
"I hear there's a ravenous bear on the loose, eating everything in sight." Her eyes shined as she watched him enjoy the pastries she had made. It was a joy watching her culinary efforts be so thoroughly appreciated.
"Perhaps he's just starving from all the hard work he's done." Riley defended, enjoying the game.
"I wasn't condemning, merely contemplating scheming on how to make sure the poor thing is adequately fed in the future."
"How would you manage that? You can't be around the surly beast forever." He teased as he continued eating.
"I can't? What a shame." She shook her head sadly, and he stopped chewing and swallowed.
"Would you want to be?" He asked, a little too earnestly.
"It would be presumptuous to say so. A lady would never reveal such a thing unless invited." She said coyly.
"And if she were invited?" He pressed.
"Then she would respond to the invitation accordingly." She smiled, frustrating him further. "But the bear would have to ask the question outright, and in earnest. Silly repartees would not suffice to earn such a straightforward revelation of a lady's desires."