Lia crumpled and leaned against the kitchen wall, unable to stop tears from burning her eyes. She hated crying! She buried her face in her hands and wept, struggling to understand her feelings. For though she was embarrassed and humiliated and undone with tiredness and shock, yet Colvin had finally returned to Muirwood. He had come as he had promised. She was not prepared for how strong the relief would feel.

That he had not forgotten her after all.

CHAPTER FOUR:

Colvin

Lia wrung water from her crinkly damp hair, regretting that its color was not as fashionable as Sowe’s as her friend began coaxing tangles out of it with a comb. It was always a battle taming her hair. Bryn brought over a tray of bread, cheese, nuts, and a cup of cider. Lia’s body was still wet from bathing, still stung from the scrubbing of the lye soap, but the spare dress was warm and soft and she felt less constricted without her hunter leathers, which were in a basket waiting for her to purge them the next morning. With a thought, she caused the Leering by the ovens to flare hotter, helping fight the evening chill. The other two glanced at the sudden spurt of flames, but were used to her doing it.

Lia ate quickly for she was starving. She looked up at Bryn and said between mouthfuls, “How long are they staying?”

Bryn did a bouncy step and a twirl. “A year. Maybe more. What Pasqua said is that we are to feed the Aldermaston’s guests until they leave. They are not going to eat at the learner kitchen. Since they will be staying at the manor, we are to prepare the food ourselves and let no stranger into the kitchen. Ever.” She stopped amidst another twirl. “With the battle won and the old king dead, should we be so worried? Sowe told me that the sheriff stole in here once and hurt you, Lia. Do you think something like that might happen again?”

Lia gulped down some of the sweet cider before replying. “You should always fasten the doors at night, Bryn, even if I am not back. I can always sleep elsewhere, and I know how hard it is waking up Sowe. Besides, there are still survivors from the king’s army wandering the Bearden Muir, living off the land. Martin and I have seen their tracks, but they have stayed away from the Abbey so far. Still…it is best to be cautious.” She wiped her mouth. “So explain this to me. How did Colvin and Edmon…”

“The Earls of Forshee and Norris-York,” Sowe said, interrupting her. “They have titles, Lia. You are supposed to use them.”

Lia snorted before continuing. “They came yesterday, unannounced, and said they would be staying at the Abbey for a year? You said they brought two young ladies with them?”

Bryn nodded and twirled again. She was always practicing her dancing since it was her first year to attend the Whitsunday festival and she wanted to be sure she had it memorized. “One is the Earl of Forshee’s sister. She’s a second year learner from an Abbey in the north. Not only is she Colvin’s…I mean the Earl of Forshee’s sister, she is also the companion of the Aldermaston’s secret guest – the niece of Garen Demont. The two earls are her protectors. Or maybe more than just protectors.”

Lia chewed on a handful of nuts, trying to understand what was going on. Pain from the comb made her gasp. “Ouch, Sowe!”

“I am trying to be gentle,” Sowe said, tugging another tangle loose.

“More than protectors?” Lia asked. “What do you mean?”

Bryn twirled again and skirted around the edge of a flagstone. Honestly, the girl could hardly hold still! “At the laundry, they say the girls are each promised to the earls. That the Earl of Norris-York is to marry the Earl of Forshee’s sister. That is so complicated. I hate using all those titles. Besides, they said we did not need to address them as nobles. Edmon is supposed to marry Colvin’s sister Marciana. And Colvin is supposed to marry Ellowyn Demont.”

For a moment, Lia’s heart raged with disbelief, but she stamped it down. He had delayed coming to Muirwood because he was out wooing a girl?

Bryn clearly did not see her burning face, for she kept on talking. “Reome says that Colvin is too old not to be married or at least promised to someone. She thinks that he should have found a wife before becoming a maston. Do you think he is too old? He is only nineteen. My father and mother did not marry until they were twenty and five and twenty.” She stopped and turned to Lia. “Tell Lia about the girl, Sowe. About Ellowyn!”

Lia sat still while Sowe finished with the comb. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but only Colvin knew the answers she sought.

Sowe’s voice was soft. “She was a wretched, like us. The king kept her hidden in an Abbey since she was a baby and so she did not know who she was. The earls brought her out. Not many know her story. The Aldermaston said we should not tell anyone that she was raised a wretched. We should only say that she is the niece of Garen Demont and that she is to stay for a few seasons.”