The banter with Celia made him feel lighthearted. It reminded him of a life when his only responsibility was getting food into him. No one relied on him for anything.
"I was simply resourceful," he said. "Even when I found food, you would never eat it."
"You didn't find it," she corrected. "You stole it. I still can't believe you did that. And when you got caught…"
The memory caused her to put a hand over her cheek and sit up straighter.
"I thought we would never see you again," she said. "You tried to resist the guards even though you were a child."
The bowl between them was empty and soon taken by a maid. She walked slower and Callum noticed but didn't acknowledge it. They were probably having a heyday at him talking to a woman late at night. He would face it in the morning.
"It didn't matter anyway," he said, trying to keep the coldness from his voice. "You were gone not long after. It wouldn't have made a difference whether or not I returned."
