"Thank you, miss," Briar said, for the compliment was a nice one, even if she cared little about being a good wife.

The touch to her cheek widened her eyes, if only for a moment. This woman who, reasonably, Briar knew she should have been afraid of, was instead turning out to be one of the kindest people she'd met in a while. In... forever, even.

"That is very kind of you," she said with a little dip of her head. "Is there anything you wish for me to do now?"