Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

S he hated coming to the apothecary stalls.

There was a corner of Berwick where the strange and unusual gathered, with shops run by men who would forage on the Scottish Marches for the ingredients to their mystical potions and health incantations. Or, they would rush to meet the ragged cogs that would enter the mouth of the river and weigh anchor out in the cold, sandy waters. Ragged cogs that had been to London or Calais or Lisbon or Algiers. Cogs that endured the turbulent waters of the Mediterranean to bring both peculiar and mystifying items that demanding consumers would pay good money for.

Like her mother and aunt.

Lady Lista Rose de la Mere could hear them even now. They were just inside the door of a stall on Silver Street, one of the stalls on the very end of the avenue because it was the only place where the apothecaries were tolerated. In Berwick, they were bizarre men with bizarre habits that were considered just short of witchcraft, so they were not particularly welcome even if they were sought after.

Plenty of people wanted what they had.

Lista could hear her mother, Lady Meadow de la Mere and her loud-mouthed sister, Lady Flora d'Orbec, as they demanded a sample before purchasing. What they demanded was, in fact, a carefully cultivated product that the apothecary was unwilling to simply give away. But in the end, he handed over a small sample. He knew Lady Meadow and Lady Flora and he'd never won an argument yet. Besides… he'd made a good deal of money from them in the past so he was willing to go on a little faith. The house of de la Mere had money to spend and they did– often. Lista watched as her mother and aunt shoved the product into their mouths, chewing slowly.

"It tastes like dirt," Meadow said.

"It is dirt," Flora replied, her expression laced with dissatisfaction. "It is more than likely poisonous. The man is poisoning us."

This is where the situation could turn into a brawl because Flora was quite opinionated and she didn't care who she insulted. Her husband had been a wealthy French knight, dead these past nine years, but he had defended his brassy wife quite staunchly. He had also been a knight for King John and even if the man was dead, no one had the courage to stand up to Flora or one might get a dagger rammed into one's eyeball.

A little something her husband had taught her.

"I am sure no one is poisoning you, Flora," Lista said, stepping forward to calm the situation before it veered out of control. "Make your purchase and let us move along. There is much to see this day."

Flora looked at her niece. "I will not purchase anything until I know the results," she said. "We come here weekly. He knows what our expectations are for mousseron ."

Lista struggled not to roll her eyes. Flora was referring to a type of growth, an edible fungus that grew in the fields and the crags that she and her mother indulged in quite regularly. The type they liked produced a sense of calm and tranquility, but it also produced "visions", as both her mother and aunt declared, and they swore they had visions of the past, present, and future. Worse still, they had visions from far-off places where the land and the people were foreign. They sometimes claimed to speak the language. They even claimed to be in communication with an emperor known as The Wu. All sorts of odd claims from a pair of sisters everyone in Berwick knew to be simply…

Odd.

Lista was well aware. With her mother and aunt, sometimes it was like trying to herd cats. They went every which way and tended to become agitated easily. It was always an exercise in patience any time they traveled into town.

The trick was getting them out of town in one piece.

"Let us continue with our shopping and return when you are satisfied with your results," Lista said, indicating the street next to the river where there were rows upon rows of fish drying on racks. "We still have some provisions to purchase, so let us get about our business and return when we are finished."

While Flora seemed to be moderately agreeable to moving on, Meadow had other ideas. Just as she took her aunt by the arm and directed her towards the exit, Meadow was bent over a table, licking something from the tabletop. Releasing Flora, Lista rushed over to her mother and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Mama," she hissed. "What on earth are you doing?"

Meadow pointed to the table, now with a wet streak on it. "The mousseron was here," she said. "It should not go to waste."

Lista didn't argue with her. She simply pulled the woman out of the stall with her, out to the street where Flora had moved to stand with their escort. She had a rather dazed expression and Lista knew it was because she was waiting for the reaction from the hallucinogenic fungi she had partaken of. She hated that her mother and aunt insisted on visiting the apothecary first, but that was usual with the pair. Now, it would only be a matter of time before she had two intoxicated women on her hands so it was best to take care of the rest of their business quickly.

Lista motioned to the soldier in charge of the six-man escort and men moved to help Meadow and Flora mount their small palfreys, but the women didn't want to ride. They wanted to walk. Lista also ended up walking, leading the group as it plodded along behind her.

She could hear her mother and aunt bickering.

But that was normal. All of this, in her experience, was normal, at least over the past few years. She was a young woman born into a good family with an older brother, a father, and a mother, only her father had died of a heart ailment a little over two years ago and her brother had managed to get himself killed two years ago in a gambling establishment in London known as Gomorrah.

Discovering what, exactly, had happened had been difficult because Gomorrah was one of those establishments that ran just outside of the legalities of both the church and proper society. It was secretive– they hadn't even been able to discover where it was located– and all they knew was that Simon de la Mere had been murdered because he'd cheated in a game. His body had been dragged out and dumped on the door of the nearest church.

Lista's mother had been somewhat strange before that, but not nearly as out of control as she was these days. The death of her husband was difficult to bear but the death of her son was impossible. Lista tried to be tolerant, but her mother found comfort in anything that could change her mental status– alcohol would do, but mostly she found diversion with any number of strange potions, herbs, and toadstools that the apothecaries in Berwick and elsewhere could supply. She burned strange-smelling weeds, ate fungus, and ingested potions. Anything to take away the pain.

But it had only turned her into a caricature of her former self.

"Mama?" Lista said, turning her head slightly to address Meadow. "Should we stop at the fish stall? You know, the man who brines the fish in wine and garlic? We could take a barrel of that back home with us."

"Home to Fuckington, you mean?"

Flora had spouted off, now giggling at her vulgar comment. Lista cast a withering look at her uncouth aunt.

"It's Felkington, as if you did not know that," she said with limited patience. "Felkington Castle."

"Fuckington Castle. Fuck, fuck, fuck."

Flora was off on a giggling jag and even the soldiers were starting to grin. But Lista didn't find anything amusing in the boorish reference to her beloved home.

"Call it what you will," she said. "But whatever you call it, you live there on our good graces, so I would not speak so rudely of it."

Flora stopped giggling and glared at her. "Do you let your daughter speak so terribly to me, Meadow?" she demanded. "Tell her that she must respect me."

Lista answered for her mother. "I'll respect you when you behave in a manner that warrants it," she said, ignoring Flora when the woman snarled at her. Instead, she was looking at her mother. "Well, Mama? Should we stop at the fish man?"

Meadow was a bit dull, a bit dazed. Whatever the apothecary had given her was beginning to take effect. She looked at her daughter as if startled by the fact that the woman was addressing her.

"Fish man?" she repeated as if she'd never heard it before. Then, she quickly nodded her head. "Aye, the fish man. I want the fish that he brines in the wine."

"I know, Mama."

"Let's get a hogshead of the stuff."

"I agree. Let's."

Flora, forgetting about Lista's lack of respect, eyed her sister. "We can eat the fish and drink the wine," she said, snorting. "Is garlic fish-wine any good?"

The fungus they'd chewed up at the apothecary's shop was finally having an impact on Flora, as well. Meadow threw up her hands.

"Who cares?" she said. "I'll drink the smelly fish-brine or fish-wine and be quite happy with it. Wait! We must return to the apothecary!"

Abruptly, she turned on her heel and began to race back down the small avenue with Flora shuffling after her. Meadow was short and rather round, while Flora was tall and slender, with trembling hands because of too much drink and the other things she ingested all day long. She moved faster than Meadow, but she didn't move in a straight line. She traversed a crooked path all the way back to the apothecary as Lista simply stood there and watched.

She didn't even try to go with them.

An armored body moved up beside her.

"Shall I go with them, my lady?"

Lista turned to see the captain of Felkington's guard, Sir Amaury de Varreville. He was a little younger than Lista's father would have been had he still been alive, a handsome and seasoned man who had lived in Northumberland his entire life and he'd served Felkington for over half of those years. He'd seen the de la Mere family go from a relatively normal, if not a little eccentric family, to the talk of the county because of the behavior of Lista's mother and aunt.

But it was so much more complicated than that.

"Nay," Lista said after a moment. "They know where they are going and they know where to return if they want an escort home. Let us go to the fish man and purchase the barrel of brined fish. Mayhap that will be our only food store purchase for the day because I have a feeling my mother will spend the rest of the money on her… comfort."

Amaury glanced at Lista, sympathy and resignation in his expression. Using the word "comfort" when it came to Lady Meadow's addictions was putting it kindly. But Amaury didn't say a word. He didn't need to. As he turned for the escort, he caught sight of a rather large group coming down Silver Street, heading in their direction.

"The garrison must be out on this day," he muttered.

Lista heard him. Distracted from her mother and aunt for the moment, she turned to see what had his attention. "What garrison?" she said.

Amaury pointed down the avenue. "See the standards?"

"Aye."

"That's de Velt," he said. "The red and black standards with the boar's head. De Velt holds Berwick Castle, so the garrison is moving into town. More than likely the garrison commander with that kind of escort. See the wagon?"

Lista strained to catch a glimpse of what he was talking about. She could see the party down the avenue, soldiers with their black and red tunics. She could also see mounted knights, warriors of the highest order, and there were at least three that she could count, possibly more. Felkington's small army and single knight didn't have nearly the clout or presence that de Velt's army had as they entered the bustling city center. It was crowded and people naturally moved out of their way, something they'd not done for de la Mere's paltry escort.

De Velt was on a whole different level.

"I do not think we've seen the garrison come into town for quite some time," she said. "Simon used to know the garrison commander, I think. What's his name?"

"Cole de Velt," Amaury said. "The eldest son of Ajax de Velt, the most feared warlord in England in his youth. I remember being terrified of that name when I was young."

"He died a few years ago, didn't he?"

"In battle against John," Amaury said. "Some say that John sealed his death warrant by killing de Velt. After that, the king did not survive the year. We are told he died of dysentery, but there are rumors that it was poison in revenge for de Velt."

"De Velt was well-liked, then?"

"Well-connected, as they say. Connected enough for his allies to kill a king."

"And you believe it?"

"With William Marshal and Christopher de Lohr involved? I do."

That was a rather impressive and intimidating thought. Lista lifted her hand, shielding the sun from her eyes as the de Velt escort drew closer. "My father did not speak much of him," she said. "I know the name, of course, but not much else. Papa was not in de Velt's social circle."

She grinned, thinking of her father, who hadn't been a warrior at all. Felkington was a smaller castle in a somewhat bucolic corner of Northumberland. Any raiding Scots seemed to avoid them, as they weren't strategic, and any battles or political intrigue never seemed to bother them. They lived in a safe little haven which, in Northumberland, was rare. Lista had never experienced a battle in her life and they only kept soldiers on because of the conventional need for protection. God only knew why Amaury remained because before he'd come to Felkington, he'd been a man of experience with the Earl of Northumberland's army. Lista's father had paid him well, and he had remained after her father's death.

"Your father may have not been in de Velt's social circle, but that doesn't mean he didn't know the happenings or the political players of Northumberland," Amaury said, cutting into her thoughts. "Your father was much more astute than you give him credit for."

Lista looked at him, smiling. "I give him all the credit in the world," she said. "But I wish, very much, that he were still here. He would have been able to help Mama cope with her grief from Simon's death, but now…"

She trailed off and averted her gaze. There was no use in verbalizing what they both knew and in wishing for something that would never happen. Lista had often wondered how her mother would have been had her father not perished before Simon had. Certainly, no one could have predicted the spiral Meadow was experiencing, leaving a daughter to manage a prosperous castle that she'd fortunately handled well.

"Your mother will find her balance someday," Amaury said quietly. "But you must get her away from your aunt. That woman only seeks to drive her to ruin."

Lista knew that. Even now, she could see her aunt and mother emerging from the apothecary with small canvas bags. She knew what that meant– more herbs and weeds and fungi to chew on, to cause them both to float away on a haze of confusion. She was in for another week or two of wild behavior and not looking forward to it. Feeling despair, and disgust, she was about to turn away from the sight when the de Velt party, which had been far down the road only moments before, was now at the intersection of two avenues.

And her mother and aunt were walking right into them.

Lista could hear her mother screeching at the soldiers who had pushed her aside to allow the de Velt escort to pass. Since she knew her mother wasn't beyond unleashing a slap or two when aroused, she began to quickly walk in that direction with Amaury on her heels. About the time she reached the group, they had come to a halt because Meadow and Flora were in a full- blown brawl with two of the soldiers. As Lista watched in horror, one of the soldiers shoved her mother, hard, and the woman went skidding onto her backside. As Flora took a swing at the man, she was pushed roughly as well.

"Keep your hands off them!" Lista snarled as she put herself between the soldiers and her mother and aunt. "How dare you touch a noblewoman? Who are you? What is your name?"

The soldier wasn't inclined to answer, but a nearby knight did. "I assure you, my lady, that he did not start the fight," he said calmly. "These two women charged him, quite unprovoked."

Lista was furious as she turned to the knight. He was emerging from midway down the escort, astride the biggest horse she'd ever seen. In fact, the knight himself was the largest man she'd ever seen. At least, from what she could see. He was covered in well-used and expensive armor, a great helm upon his head and big weapons strapped to his body. Weapons he was undoubtedly skilled in using.

But Lista didn't back away.

"My mother would not have charged anyone unless she was rightfully baited," she said. "If this is your way of defending your undisciplined men, then you should be ashamed of yourself. A well-trained man would not have shoved a woman."

"You throw around accusations too easily without knowing the facts, my lady."

"And you hide your failure as a commander of men by blaming innocent women."

Suddenly, a brief encounter was becoming far more serious than it should have. The knight didn't say anything but another knight, one with rather elaborate armor, slid off his horse and put himself between the great-helmed knight and the woman before a brawl of epic proportions developed.

The insults were flying.

"My lady, no offense was intended," he said calmly. "I am Cole de Velt, the commander of Berwick Castle, and I can assure you that our men are well-trained and disciplined. What happened was an unfortunate mistake and our man will be punished for it. Please do not think us all ill-bred over one small incident."

Lista was placated somewhat, but she was still glaring daggers at the other knight. However, the commander's apology was fair and reasonable.

She backed down a little.

"I do not think you ill-bred, my lord," she said. "But I do not think there is any excuse for a man becoming rough with a woman, no matter what has been said."

"You are correct, my lady."

"And I'll not be told that an unarmed woman was a threat to a man with weapons."

"Again, you are correct, my lady."

"Then someone should tell your knight not to blame women for the failure of men under his command."

The enormous knight didn't say anything for a moment, perhaps sizing her up behind that face plate. Lista couldn't see his eyes, but she could only imagine what he was thinking. She thought perhaps she might have said too much but, on the other hand, the sight of her mother being pushed around had inflamed her.

The big knight cleared his throat quietly.

"I have introduced myself," he said. "It would be polite for you to tell me your name, also."

He was right, which meant she couldn't be so self-righteous any longer. She'd had a failure in manners, too.

"I am Lady Lista de la Mere of Felkington Castle," she said. "This is my mother, Lady Felkington, and my aunt, Lady d'Orbec. If… if they got in your man's way, then I apologize, but it was unintentional."

That was as much of an apology as they were going to get from her. Her gaze moved to the soldier who had shoved her mother and then to the knight who had defended him. His helm was turned in her direction so she was positive he was looking at her. One wrong word from him and she could quite possibly take a stick to him. The commander of Berwick must have sensed that, so he tried to distract her.

"Felkington?" he repeated. "That is to the south, is it not?"

Not wanting to be rude to the man who had tried to ease the situation, Lista returned her focus to him.

"Aye, my lord," she said. "To the southwest."

"And your father? His name?"

"Edmund de la Mere, Lord Felkington. The castle was named for the title," Lista said. "I also had a brother, Simon, who perished two years ago. I believe you knew him."

That brought pause from the knight. "I did," he said, surprised. "Dead, you say? What happened?"

"He was murdered in London."

The knight's head bobbed up and down in understanding. "You have my sympathies," he said. "I did not know your brother well, but I met him on a few occasions."

"He thought well of you, my lord."

"Then I am pleased," the knight said. "And your father is dead also?"

"He is, my lord."

The knight nodded as if satisfied by the answers but before he could continue, the door to the carriage lurched open and a woman in a tight wimple stepped forth. She was an older woman, though quite lovely, and after her came a younger woman with long, dark hair, stylishly arranged.

"We may as well get out," the older woman said, pushing between the soldiers until she came to the knights and Lista in a strange sort of standoff. Her gaze fixed on Lista curiously. "Ah. I see why we have stopped. A social visit, is it?"

Lista had no idea who the woman was, though she seemed pleasant enough. Reaching up, the big knight removed his helm, revealing a handsome man with shoulder-length, dark blond hair and striking eyes that were two different colors.

"Nay, this is not a social visit," he said. "This is Lady Lista de la Mere. We've had a bit of a… misunderstanding, but I have made our apologies."

The woman in the wimple approached Lista, focusing on her intently. She was a beautiful woman for her age, fair-skinned, with brown eyes.

"De la Mere," she repeated. "Edmund de la Mere?"

Lista nodded. "He was my father, my lady."

That brought a smile to the woman's lips. "Your mother is Meadow?"

Lista was surprised. "Aye, my lady," she said. "Meadow is indeed my mother. Do you know her?"

The woman nodded. "I did, long ago," she said, looking around. "Is your mother here?"

Lista thought she was. She thought her mother and Flora were right behind her, but a quick perusal of the area failed to turn them up. She was about to shout her mother's name until she heard some bickering going on in the apothecary shop behind them.

That told her everything she needed to know.

"God's Bones," she hissed. "Please excuse me, my lady."

With that, she dashed inside the entry just as the apothecary was shoving Meadow and Flora out the door.

"And keep them out!" the man shouted at her. "They are trying to lick the corks of my phials. And they are stealing my hemp!"

Lista was mortified. She had hold of her mother and aunt, preparing to pull them out of the apothecary's shop when Meadow's face suddenly lit up.

"Kelli!" she gasped. "Kellington Coleby!"

She yanked from Lista's grasp and ran to the wimpled woman, throwing her arms around her and nearly knocking her over. Both knights, standing close by, had to reach out to steady the women so they wouldn't go over into the mud. Even when she was righted, Meadow continued to hug the well-dressed woman.

"Kelli, I've not seen you in years!" Meadow said happily, finally loosening her embrace to get a good look at her. "So many years have gone by, but I still recognized you. I would know your lovely brown eyes anywhere!"

Lady Kellington Coleby de Velt smiled at her old friend. "I am so happy to see you, too," she said. "It has been too long."

"Much too long."

"Whatever are you doing in Berwick?"

Meadow turned to gesture to her daughter and sister. "We have come into town to purchase a few things," she said. "We were just going to the man who sells the brined fish down by the river. What are you doing in Berwick?"

"The same thing you are."

"Shall we go together, then?"

Kellington wasn't too certain about that. She had a lot of people with her and didn't want to drag them along while she went off with a childhood friend, pleased as she was to see her.

"I am sure you have many other things to attend to, just as we do," she said. "But introduce me to your daughter. I've not met her. I do not think I remember your sister, either."

Meadow turned to the pair behind her, proudly. "My daughter, Lista," she said. "Isn't she beautiful?"

Kellington grinned at the young woman who was now starting to flush. "Quite," she said. "She looks like your mother a little."

Meadow nodded in agreement. "She is much prettier than my mother ever was," she said. "And she's very smart, as well. She can read and do sums in her head. She can do anything you ask of her, for she is perfect."

Lista was hoping the ground would swallow her up right about then. But unfortunately, she was left exposed as her mother praised her. "My mother has far too much faith in me, my lady," she said, trying to shut her mother up because the woman was being too chatty due to the fungi she had ingested. "May I introduce my aunt, Lady Flora d'Orbec."

Flora was slightly more inebriated than Meadow, but she concealed it well when she wanted to.

She'd had practice.

"My lady," she greeted. "I recognize your name. I do not think we met as children, though I suspect it was because I went to foster before my sister did and there was never the opportunity. Where did you know her?"

Kellington smiled politely at the slender woman with the long face and hair piled neatly on top of her head. It made her head, in general, look extremely long.

"St. Helen's," she said. "I was born at Pelinom Castle and my father would take me for lessons with the priests at St. Helen's, where Meadow also received lessons."

"What sort of lessons?"

"Mostly biblical education, but we learned to read and also to write."

Flora smiled thinly. "Pity," she said. "My parents were never so gracious to me. They sent me away as soon as I became of age, though I cannot fathom why. They seemed to like to keep Meadow close to them."

If Kellington thought it was a strange comment, she didn't let on. "Where did you foster?" she asked politely.

"Alnwick," Flora said. "I met my husband there. He was a retainer for the earl and, for a time, for John when he was king, though it is unpopular to say so. I rather enjoyed court."

Kellington kept her polite smile but it was clear she thought Flora was perhaps a little strange and a little much to take in all at once. She returned her attention to Meadow.

"I do not wish to keep you, but I hope you will accept an invitation to visit Pelinom," she said. "I would love to hear about your life since I last saw you."

Meadow was flying increasingly high with the fungi she had ingested, so it was a little difficult for her to maintain a coherent thought. She wasn't as adept as Flora was in concealing it so she clung to Kellington's hands, smiling dreamily at the woman.

"It has been tragic and eventful," she said. "But certainly, I have not done as well as you have. I heard you married a great warlord, long ago."

Kellington nodded. "I did," she said. "I married Ajax de Velt and these are two of our sons, Cole and Julian. Have you met them?"

Meadow shook her head, looking to Lista. "My daughter has," she said. "My dearest, sweetest girl was prepared to go fisty against them because their soldiers offended us."

She had used the slang for a fistfight. Fisty. That's what the lower class called such a brawl and Kellington looked at Cole with concern. "What is this?" she demanded. "We have offended my friend?"

Cole cleared his throat softly, throwing a glance in Julian's direction. "A misunderstanding, as I said," he replied. "I have made our apologies, I assure you."

"He has," Lista said before her mother could start something. "It was only a misunderstanding and Sir Cole has been very polite."

"And Julian?" Kellington wanted to know, looking to the second helmed knight. "Has he been polite, also? Surely you have met my Julian."

All eyes turned to the impossibly broad knight whom Lista had briefly sparred with. After a brief pause, perhaps one of resignation, the knight removed his helm, revealing close-cropped, dark blond hair on the sides of his skull and a square jaw. When he turned to look at Lista and the others head-on, the longer top of his hair hung down over his right eye, covering part of his face, but it didn't detract from his stunning good looks.

At least, Lista thought so.

The man was quite comely.

"We have not formally met your son, my lady," she said, feeling her cheeks growing pink to be in the presence of the handsome man she'd been so willing to fight. "Sir Julian, it is an honor."

Julian simply looked at her. The one eye that she could see was intense, riveted to her, but she was coming to feel uncomfortable that he'd not replied until Cole shot him a look that seemed to prompt him. He dipped his head politely.

"My lady," he said.

He had a deep voice that sounded as if it were being dragged over gravel. There was a hoarseness to it, but it was also bottomless in its tone. Deep, commanding, and controlled as she'd noticed from the first. She nodded her head in response, feeling rather shaken from that piercing eye and raspy voice. Her attention returned to Kellington.

"If Pelinom is too far for you to travel tonight, mayhap you will stop at Felkington and dine with my mother and me," she said. "We would be deeply honored by your visit."

Kellington had a warm smile for you. "You are very kind, my lady," she said. "But we will be staying at Berwick tonight with my eldest son and his wife. May… may I extend the invitation for you to dine with us at Berwick Castle tonight? I am certain that Cole and his wife will not mind and there is a great deal of room to accommodate you. Please say you will."

Lista was absolutely mortified by the invitation. By tonight, her mother and aunt would be flying with the night birds on all of the potions and weeds they'd purchased. That was certainly not what Lista wished to show Lady de Velt and her family. In fact, it would be an incredible embarrassment. But before she could politely decline, Meadow went to Kellington and took the woman's hand.

"You are very gracious, Kelli," she said, smiling. "May I call you Kelli? I used to, once. A little girl with long, blonde hair and skinny arms. What a terror you were!"

Kellington burst into giggles. "Of course you may call me Kelli," she said. "And I hope I will always be a terror."

Meadow threw her arms up as if to cheer. "Well said," she declared. "I hope I always am, as well. We shall accept your invitation to dine this evening. You are very kind."

Kellington laughed softly. "I am looking forward to it," she said. "Hurry, now– finish your shopping and come to the castle when you are finished. I will see you there."

Thrilled, Meadow kissed her loudly on the cheek and flitted off, rushing over to the de la Mere escort where Amaury was standing. He'd heard everything and he, too, was troubled by the fact that Lady de Velt, one of the most respected women in Northumberland, had just invited a pair of squirrels to dine with her in Meadow and Flora. The pair sauntered away, leaving Lista still standing with the de Velt escort.

Truly, she was torn. She wanted to decline the invitation in private because she could just tell that tonight would be a terrible night for her mother and aunt to be in a social situation where they would be expected to behave. She turned to look at Kellington, now standing with the young woman who had been in the carriage with her. They were speaking quietly as Lista summoned her courage and made her way over to them.

"Lady de Velt?" she said to catch the woman's attention. "My lady?"

Kellington and the young woman turned to her, expressions of kindness and interest on their faces.

"May I be of service, my lady?" Kellington asked. Then, she suddenly indicated the young woman next to her as if she had been most forgetful. "I did not introduce you to my daughter, Addington. Addie, this is the daughter of my old friend, Lady Lista."

Lista looked at the young woman who had the same two-color eyes that her eldest brother had, only hers were a different pattern. She had pale green around the pupils with a big, outer ring of muddy brown. But the green wasn't any green– it had gold and yellow in it, quite dynamic. Lista found herself looking into the face of a most beautiful and unusual looking young woman.

"I am honored to meet you, Lady Addington," she said. "I must say… you have such beautiful eyes. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Addington grinned. "My parents have told me often enough," she said. "But it is so much nicer coming from someone I have just met. Thank you very kindly, my lady. I am flattered."

Lista smiled timidly, already sensing something kind from Addington de Velt. "It is true," she said. "Your brother has similar eyes. Is it a family trait?"

Addington nodded. "We all have it in different ways," she said. "My father had two-colored eyes, so we inherited it from him."

"I see," Lista said. "You are very fortunate. It makes your beauty most memorable."

"That is very kind of you, thank you."

With a final smile at Addington, Lista turned to Kellington. "My lady, I hope it will not be too much trouble, but I fear my mother was not thinking clearly when she accepted your invitation to sup," she said quickly and quietly. "You see, we came to Berwick today for… medicines. My mother has not been feeling well and I fear these medicines will make her say or do something to embarrass herself. Mayhap we should visit another time when she is feeling better."

Kellington looked over Lista's shoulder where Meadow and Flora were dancing with each other next to the escort. It appeared quite strange, as it had from the beginning. The moment she'd encountered Meadow and her odd sister, something just seemed… off. As she watched, they suddenly scurried off down the street as a big knight began to walk after them.

"I'm sorry to hear that she is ill," she said after a moment. "What is her ailment, if I may ask?"

Lista wanted to crawl into that hole she had once hoped would open up and swallow her. She didn't want to spill too much of the family secret, but with her mother and aunt clearly under the influence of something, she didn't see that she had too much choice.

But, God… it was embarrassing.

"My father died a few years ago and my brother was murdered shortly thereafter," she said. "The grief of my brother's demise has been too much for my mother to bear and she does… things to make her forget. Sometimes it is ale or wine, sometimes it is ingredients she purchases from the apothecary. She muddles her senses in such ways. Anything to forget her pain, so I am afraid today might not be a good day for her. I would hate to have her shame herself in front of you, or worse, make you angry."

Kellington's expression changed slightly. Her smile faded, but the warmth in her dark eyes was still there. Reaching out, she grasped Lista's hand gently.

"I lost my husband a few years ago and my youngest son shortly thereafter," she said softly. "Therefore, I understand your mother's grief. I know it all too well. Please come tonight. I would very much like to see her and mayhap… mayhap I can help her."

Lista wasn't at all sure she should. Her gaze moved to Addington, who smiled encouragingly, before returning her focus to Kellington.

"If you are certain," she murmured.

Kellington nodded firmly. "I am," she said. "Bring her. Come and visit with us. And mayhap you and Addie can become friends in the process."

Lista looked at Addington, who readily agreed. "I would like that," she said. "Won't you please come, Lady Lista? If you don't, I shall be forced to converse with Julian and he is terrible at conversation."

She only said it because Julian was closer to her than anyone else. She giggled, which made Lista giggle as she looked over at the enormous knight who had just put his helm back on.

"I am to save you from boredom, am I?" she asked.

If Julian heard them, he didn't acknowledge it. He simply went about his business. But Addington nodded as she continued to giggle, suggesting to Lista that the situation wasn't all that dire. It was clear that she was only jesting with her brother and Lista liked her spirit. She thought she might like to spend the evening conversing with a woman who didn't eat dirt and burn herbs.

Throwing caution to the wind, Lista sighed heavily.

"Very well," she said. "You have convinced me. But if my mother and aunt act strangely… thank you for making allowances."

Kellington's eyes were glimmering warmly. "We are quite understanding in such things," she said. But then she glanced over to where the de la Mere escort had been, noticing that they had all gone in pursuit of Meadow and Flora. "But it seems as if you are all alone, my lady. Julian will escort you to find your mother."

Before Lista could lodge a protest, Kellington was already turning to Julian and instructing him to escort her friend's daughter to find her mother. Lista watched as the helmed head turned in the direction of his mother, his impossibly broad shoulders slumped in resignation, and he gathered his horse's reins. No question, no protest.

Simply duty.

"But… truly, my lady," Lista said, stammering slightly. "I am sure they are just around the corner. I can find them easily."

Kellington wouldn't hear of it. "Nonsense," she said. "A young woman must have an escort. Julian will be happy to lend assistance."

Lista had to bite her tongue because any further protest might make her sound ungrateful. She didn't want to get into an argument with Lady de Velt when she was doing something kind and proper. Moreover, the way Julian had immediately complied with his mother told her that any refusal would be futile.

Like it or not, she had an escort.

Therefore, Lista managed a smile, but it was more like a grimace. As Kellington and Addington moved away, they also removed the only barrier between her and the big knight she'd almost fought with. The one she'd insulted. For a moment, they simply looked at each other until Lista finally turned away, heading back towards the spot where she'd last seen the de la Mere escort.

Julian followed.

Lista had been hoping that the escort was only out of her line of sight, but when she reached the spot where she had last seen them, they were nowhere to be found. There was a crowd in Berwick on this day, as was usual during market days, so there were people everywhere, blocking her view in all directions.

"I am certain that I can find my escort from here, Sir Julian," Lista said. "You do not need to be troubled with me, truly. I can take care of myself."

He acted as if he hadn't heard her. "I saw them head east," he said. "Mayhap if we go that way, we shall locate them."

Lista eyed him. "I can find them on my own," she said, more firmly. "I have already troubled you too much today. You may return to your group. I insist."

He just started walking towards the east, leading his massive warhorse behind him. Lista watched him go and, frustrated that he had ignored her, she went in the opposite direction. In fact, she moved very quickly because she wanted to lose him. She was almost to the street that ran along the river when she suddenly heard the thunder of hooves come up behind her and a big horse abruptly blocked her path. Startled, she looked up to see Julian astride his big war beast.

He extended his hand to her.

"Come, my lady," he said. "Let me take you to your mother."

He was meaning to pull her onto his horse, but Lista didn't take his hand. Unfortunately, she had a stubborn streak in her and she didn't like the way he was ignoring her wishes.

"You do not seem to understand," she said. "I do not want your assistance. I did not ask for it. You may return to your party because I do not want your help. Is that clear?"

He didn't move his hand. "My mother has asked me to assist you and as far as I am concerned, that is as good as a command from God himself," he said. "We can do this the easy way or the difficult way, but either path you choose, I shall escort you back to your mother, so choose wisely."

So he was as stubborn as she was. She was digging in, he was digging in, but he was only succeeding in making her angry.

"Sir Julian," she said, her tone heavy with hazard. "If you truly saw what happened today between my mother and your soldier, then you know what I must deal with when it comes to my mother and my aunt. They are as skittish as colts, as unruly as foxes, and as difficult as wild boars. I do battle with them nearly every day and the truth is that I am sure they did provoke your soldier. I apologize for insulting you about it, but you understand that I must defend my mother. However, given what I have just told you, every moment they are out of my sight is a moment they could possibly be doing something outrageous and shameful, so I do not need to stand here and argue with the likes of you. I understand that you are an elite knight and I respect that greatly, but when I tell you that I do not need your help, I would appreciate the courtesy of having my wishes respected. You are the last person I need to do battle with."

She was nearly in tears by the time she finished although she had no idea why. It had something to do with embarrassing herself in front of a de Velt knight. A handsome knight who had probably never known a day of embarrassment or shame in his life. Quickly, she turned away and headed in the opposite direction, trying to get away from him and hoping he would simply leave her alone. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a voice behind her.

"I do not wish to do battle with you, my lady, I swear it," Julian said. He was off his horse again, walking about ten paces behind her. "I promise you that I am not being stubborn. But I would be a callous man indeed if I did not make sure you were safe. There are all sorts of men in this town who would be happy to see you come to harm and if I can prevent that, I will. Besides… if I return to my mother and have not completed my task, she will be very unhappy with me and I do not wish to incur her wrath."

His response was far less stiff than he had been with her since their introduction. She had to admit that she was rather surprised by it. That deep, raspy voice that could be so hard could also be somewhat… pleasant.

She came to a halt and faced him.

"I appreciate your noble intention," she said. "And I do understand about your mother, truly. But I do believe it is customary to obey a lady's wish. My wish."

"Not if that wish will see her come to harm."

"Are you so certain it will?"

"Are you so certain it will not?"

He had her with that logic. Lista cocked an eyebrow. "I see that I will not be able to discourage you," she said with regret. "Tell me the truth. Are you really concerned for my safety more than you are afraid to return to your mother and tell her that I told you to leave me alone?"

"If I must choose, the latter, my lady."

Her lips twitched with a smile. "At least you are as honest as you are stubborn," she said. "Then I suppose if you are so grimly determined to be of service, I should let you."

"That would be wise, my lady."

Her smile broke through, as much as she tried to stop it. "Very well," she said. "And I meant what I said. I am sorry I was sharp with you, but it was my mother, after all."

"Understandable, my lady."

"Mayhap when we see each other tonight at the feast you will not view me so unfavorably."

"I would not view you unfavorably in any case, my lady."

He didn't seem much of a conversationalist so Lista didn't continue. She simply nodded her head as if to acknowledge that things were settled between them and there were no hard feelings before turning around and heading off towards the east. Julian trailed after her, following her for the next twenty minutes until she finally found her mother and aunt in a merchant stall.

Once Julian saw the de la Mere escort, he backed off and returned to the de Velt group, but not before casting a lingering glance at Lista as she tried to convince her mother and aunt that they didn't need whatever the vellum merchant was trying to sell them.

Julian never saw the lingering glance she cast him in return.