Chapter 2 Healing kiss

Sophia clasped her hands behind her back and stared at the group of women behind Arthur. There was a flash of colour to her left, and she glanced over at the woman standing next to the window. Her long red hair glowed in the late afternoon sun and Sophia edged closer, fascinated by the red strands.

The woman smiled at her in a friendly manner as Sophia stopped in front of her. "Hello, little one."

"Hello," Sophia whispered.

"Your name is Sophia?" At Sophia's nod, she smiled again. "That is a very pretty name. My name is Kristen."

"Kristen," Sophia repeated, and the woman nodded.

"That's right. This is my little sister Maya."

There was a petite blonde woman standing behind Kristen and she peeked around and smiled just like Kristen. "Hi, Sophia. I like your dress."

"Thank you." Sophia ran her hands over the stiff fabric, wincing when it rubbed painfully against the cut on her finger.

"Are you hurt?" Kristen crouched in front of her.

"I cut my finger." Sophia showed her the long cut on the pad of her index finger.

"Ouch." Kristen frowned. "That looks very sore."

"It's not healing very well," Sophia said. "Marshall says if I don't make a better effort to keep it clean, he'll have to cut it off."

"Well that won't do." Kristen smiled at her. "Shall I kiss it better for you? When Maya and I were little, our mother would always kiss our owies."

Sophia stared at her. "I like your hair."

A strange look crossed Kristen's face, one that Sophia didn't understand, before she smiled at her. "Thank you, honey." "Can I touch it?"

"Of course." She tipped her head forward so that her long hair fell over her shoulders, and Sophia rubbed it between her fingers.

"It's so soft, so pretty," she whispered. She ran her fingers down the strands and Kristen smiled again at her.

"I'm glad you like it, Sophia." She captured Sophia's hand in her own. "Shall I give your owie a kiss?"

Sophia hesitated and then nodded. Kristen bent her head and placed a gentle kiss on her finger, directly on the cut. Warmth surged down Sophia's finger and through her hand. She gasped and pulled her hand free, staring down at her finger.

* * *

Arthur looked down. "Sophia, do you..."

He frowned when he realized she was no longer at his side. He glanced around the room, his scowl deepening when he saw her standing in front of the Red. The Red was holding her hand and when she kissed Sophia's finger, he stomped over to them.

"Get away from her." He pushed the redheaded woman to the ground with a hard shove. A blonde woman put her arms around the Red as Arthur pulled Sophia away. He took the little girl by the shoulders and shook her gently.

"Sophia, you know better than to leave my side. Did she hurt you?"

Sophia shook her head, staring with wonderment at her index finger. Where once there had been a long, swollen cut, there was now only smooth unbroken skin.

Arthur's expression softened and he smoothed her hair back from her face. She was still looking at her finger and he took her hand and examined it.

"Look at that - your cut has finally healed. That's good news. Marshall was getting ready to cut it off," he teased.

Sophia didn't smile, just looked at Kristen with wide eyes.

Arthur took her hand and led her back to the three women. "Which of these women would you like as your nanny?"

Sophia stared up at them for a moment before looking back at Kristen and Maya. "I want her." She pointed at Kristen and Arthur sighed.

"No, Sophia. You must pick from these three women here."

"I want her."

Arthur glanced at the man who was idly swinging his ring of keys from one finger. He shook his head. "No, m'lord, you don't want that one. She is contentious and disagreeable. You know how the Reds are."

Arthur looked back at Sophia. She was still staring at the redheaded woman and he frowned.

"Stay here, Sophia."

He returned to the Red. She stared unblinkingly at him as he looked her up and down. She was wearing a dirty, grey dress that was too large. She practically floated in it. Her feet were bare, and her legs and arms were covered in grime and grass stains. Her hair hung halfway down her back, a cascade of fire-coloured locks with twigs and leaves stuck in it. Her light green eyes regarded him with a cool sort of haughtiness that belied her dirty and disheveled appearance. Her face was as dirty as her arms and legs, and he wrinkled his nose at her smell.

"Do you have any experience with children."

She shook her head. "No, m'lord. But she does." She dragged the small blonde woman out from behind her and pushed her toward Arthur.

"Kristen no," the girl whispered.

"Hush, Maya," Kristen said fiercely, and the girl quieted immediately.

"Have you nannied before, girl?" Arthur asked her. The blonde girl blushed and stared down at her bare feet, and Arthur rolled his eyes with barely-concealed impatience. "Well, have you?"

"No, m'lord," she whispered.

Before he could turn away, Kristen said, "She's had plenty of experience with our younger siblings, my lord. She practically raised both our younger brother and sister. She has a comforting touch with babies, and she can read and write. She taught our brother to read when he was only three."

Arthur stared at the trembling girl and then at her older sister. "Are you that eager to rid yourself of her?"

Kristen flushed. "I want nothing more than a better life for her, my lord."

"And what makes you so certain I will give her a better life?" He arched his eyebrow at her.

She looked around the room and, in a voice filled with desperation, said, "Anything is better than this. She is too bright and too beautiful to live her life in a cage. Please, take her with you.

She will serve you well. I swear this to you."

Arthur frowned. The woman's impassioned plea had moved him more than he cared to admit. "Very well then – we'll take the girl."

Kristen nodded with relief, but Maya let out a loud wail. "No, Kristen! I will not leave you!" She threw herself into the redhead's arms, sobbing brokenly. Rather than soothe her like Arthur expected, Kristen grabbed her upper arms and pushed her upright.

She shook the young girl harshly. "Maya, enough! Stop your crying right now."

The woman struggled to obey, sniffing and hiccupping as a stray sob escaped. "Kristen, please don't send me away."

He watched as Kristen cupped her face, wiping away her tears with dirty thumbs. "Maya, listen to me. I love you. I will always love you. I do this for you. Do you understand?"

Sobbing quietly, Maya nodded, and Kristen hugged her hard before kissing her on the mouth.

Dry-eyed, she pushed Maya toward Arthur who took her upper arm and led her toward Sophia. He stopped when Kristen dropped her hand onto his arm. He could feel the heat of her hand through his shirt. A shiver went down his back and he stared at her as she stepped closer.

"Keep her safe," Kristen demanded, her green eyes staring into his. His eyes dropped to her mouth and then to her breasts. They were well-hidden beneath the sack of a dress she wore, and he looked back up at her, flushing a little at the wry look on her face.

"Promise me you'll keep her safe." She frowned at him, and with a small jerk he yanked his arm free. He pulled Maya toward Sophia. Already the girl's relentless sobbing was beginning to grate on him, and he was regretting his impulsive decision.

"Come, Sophia. Let's go," he said brusquely. The little girl shook her head. "No. I want that one." She pointed again at Kristen.

"No, Sophia. I do not have time for your games."

The small, dirty man gave an ugly laugh. "Listen to yer father, girl. The Reds are all witches or whores. No one with half a mind brings a Red into their household. They bring nothing but death and destruction they do." He picked his nose, staring at the green smear on his finger with interest before wiping it on his pant leg.

Arthur stared at him with disgust, and then at Sophia as she took his hand in her small one. She was staring up at him, her dark eyes large and wet with unshed tears. "Please, Papa. I want her," she whispered.

Sophia never called him papa. She kept her distance and referred to him as "my lord" or "Arthur" when prompted to interact with him. Hearing her call him papa made it difficult to resist her.

As though sensing his weakness, Maya said, "Kristen is also very good with children, my lord. And she is excellent with plants. Your garden will thrive and provide plenty of food for your children's bellies."

Arthur scrubbed his hand across his face. "Fine. I'll take her as well."

Maya gasped with happiness, and Sophia grinned triumphantly as Kristen joined them. Maya hugged her and Kristen kissed her cheek before taking her hand. The four of them joined the others and as they filed out the door, the man grabbed Arthur's arm.

"Perhaps you would care for one more, m'lord." He looked down at Arthur's bare left hand.

"Perhaps a fine wench to warm your bed?" He pointed to a dark-haired woman who was wearing a dress that left little to the imagination. She smiled slowly and invitingly at him.

Arthur pulled his arm free. "I have no need for a bed warmer. Let us agree over the price so I can leave this wretched place."