Ch 2

Tom lifted the mug to his lips. He raised his warm brown eyes to meet Lillys and asked, "So Lilly, have you given thought to any of the suiters that have been salavating at your door?" Lilly nearly spit out her ail. "Dear God Tom, could you find a way to be more blunt?." She examned him thoughtfully and said, "Why yes, yes I have, but you see Tom, there is only on man i love and im afraid that he is much too old and weak for me. Plus, he is more like a father to me and not a lover. To add on to those down falls, his heart was taken years ago by the loveliest woman in all of Scotland. No, i dont see how we could work out." Her eyes sparkled as she took a bite of hard bread. She knew Tom wished to see her married off to a man that would fufill her every want and desire and that he was afraid that she had given up all hopes of love years ago.
In truth, Lilly thought, I dont think that i shall ever find a man that thinks with his head. All men are after one thing, except for her Tom of corse, and that one thing was something she wasnt going to give up again, no matter how sweet a mans words sound to the ears.
"Lilly," Tom laughed, "I think that you could get anyman you wished if you put your strong head to it. Just so long as the man in question isnt married or crippled with children." Bloody hell, Tom thought, she should get a saint to casually toss aside his vows.
" But Tom, I could never get the perfect man, for he is sitting right accross from me at this very moment and i just can't see my life with out a man like you Tom. It would be a very sore marriage indeed." She sighed dramatically and grinned over at the man in question. "Ahh Lilly, I am hardly the esscence of perfect. Seems like yesterday Kate was clouting me over the head with a brass pan for gambling away her favorite necklace. I got the scar on this hand," He lifted his hand to show the offending, puckered scar and continued. " from getting the blasted necklace back. I fought with an English duke for that necklace and he about nearly had me. But for my Kate, I would have done anything in the world." He sighed again and drained his cup. "Lilly, you will find someone, and i pray to the heavens that he is a strong man at will, for if he is not, hes going to crumble at that gaze ive seen you give them suiters at the door. Those eyes could make a man weep with pleasure or pain, depending on how you use them." He laughed again and patted her hand. "Yes, i do believe you will do fine. I do have to get going, the hour grows late and my old bones need a soft feathered bed and a warm brick at my feet. Good night dear Lilly."
Lilly swiftly pecked her "loves" cheek and saw him out.
She observed Tom as he walked away into the rainy night. Age had not taken his gracefull walk. She had seen many aged men stoop to the floor at the age that Tom is now.
Perhaps it was time for her to warm a brick as well, she thought with a smile. It had been a long night and the ail was starting to slow her down.
Just as Lilly turned to head up the stairs to her apartment, there was yet another pounding. Lilly laughed and muttered to her self, "Tom, you seem to always be forgetting something."
"Lilly, Open up!" Tom shouted urgently. Lilly frowned, Tom seemed panicked. She ran to the door and threw it open. In Toms arms was an obviously broken man. Blood flowed from the gash above his eyes and his leg was bent at a serious angle. She shuttered to think at all of the other wounds the poor man may have attained. She ushered Tom and the man inside. Dear lord, it was lucky the man was unconsious, for he would be screaming in agony ifhe were.
Just then, the mans eyes opened.