Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

"W hat is the matter with them?"

Cole was sitting at the dais of the smoky and crowded great hall, hearing the soft question come from his wife. He took a drink of his fine wine.

"I do not know," he said. "They were acting strangely in town today, as well. If I did not know better, I would say they were drunk."

Corisande de Bourne de Velt looked over at the women in question. The great hall was packed with people on this cold, wet night, so it was standing room only on the fringes of the room. But over in one corner, Lady Felkington and her sister were entertaining a group of soldiers with elaborate stories and loud songs. The louder they'd sing, the more the men would laugh and cheer. Copious amounts of wine were being poured into their cups, which they would drain quickly. It had been going on since their arrival.

Corisande wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Where is the third woman?" she asked. "Lady Felkington's daughter?"

Cole delved into the pork and beans in his trencher. "Apparently, she was soaking wet when she arrived, having given her mother her cloak," he said. "Addie is taking care of her."

"Is she a drunkard, too?"

Cole shook his head. "Nay," he said. "She seems bright and articulate. She nearly came to blows with Julian because one of the soldiers shoved her mother."

Corisande looked at him in surprise. "One of the soldiers shoved her mother?" she asked, bordering on outrage. "Was he sufficiently punished?"

Cole put up a hand to ease her, fighting off a grin. "Julian dealt with the man but not before Lady Felkington's daughter dealt with Julian," he said. "I assure you, it was simply a misunderstanding."

Corisande eyed him. "She had every right to be angry if her mother was pushed, Cole," she said. "Your mother was there, was she not? I will ask her what she knows."

That was usual in the de Velt household. Sometimes, it wasn't sufficient what Cole knew. Corisande often went to Kellington for advice and information, and the two of them occasionally colluded for the greater good of the family. Cole, like everyone, just went along with it. He didn't really mind, however. He loved his wife more than words could express, just as he loved his mother, and he trusted them both implicitly.

It wasn't as if he could put up a fight, anyway.

"Where is my mother?" he asked, mouth full.

"With the children," Corisande said. "She is giving me a few moments of respite from that gang of unruly animals you like to call your children."

Cole grinned. "Atlas and Ajax are not animals," he said, referring to his two oldest sons. "They are cunning and bright. Ophelia is an angel, but I suppose Silas is a bit like an animal. He has too much of my father in him, even at two years of age."

"And the baby?"

Cole leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Vivienne is as beautiful as you are," he said sweetly. "You have given me the most beautiful and brilliant children. I have no complaints."

Corisande fought off a smile. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

"It has gotten me five children."

Corisande started to laugh. "I suppose it has," she said, but then her smile suddenly faded and she began to look around the room. "Where did your mother's guests go?"

Cole looked over to the corner where he'd last see Lady Felkington and Lady d'Orbec. They were gone and the men who had been clustered around them had vanished.

He shook his head.

"I do not know," he said. "Mayhap to their chamber for the evening?"

Corisande continued to search the room for the missing guests. Unlike her husband, something told her they had not retired for the evening.

It was just a feeling she had.

*

"I found Lady Lista," Addington said. "She is in my chamber changing out of that damp dress she was wearing. It is starting to smell, so I have ordered a bath for her."

Julian was in the chamber he shared with Ashton. He hadn't gone into the great hall after his conversation with Lista, instead choosing to eat in his chamber and retire early. He saw no reason to go into the great hall at this point.

He just wanted this evening to be over with.

"So you convinced her to stay?" he said. "That is good of you."

"I want you to come to the hall, too."

Julian shook his head. "Nay."

"Why not?"

He was growing irritated. "Because I will not," he said. "Stop asking me. Go back and enjoy yourself."

Addington knew why he wouldn't go to the hall. He was afraid of seeing Lista, afraid of feeling humiliated all over again. Therefore, she had to be careful in what she said to him. Beneath that hard exterior, Julian was quite sensitive.

"You did not offend her, you know," she said quietly.

He rolled his eyes. "Of course I did not," he said. "I've hardly spoken to her. How can I offend her?"

Addington eyed her brother. Julian, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, was the brother who still bore the burden of guilt about their father's death. Cole had Berwick and he was creating his own empire while Julian remained at Pelinom, ever the good son, serving Pelinom and his mother in his father's stead. Only it wasn't enough; it had never been enough nor would it ever be because Julian had yet to find peace within himself. Not only had he not prevented his father's death those years ago, but old insecurities had him firmly within their grasp. He was an unattractive freak, a man with nothing to offer any woman.

He'd learned that long ago.

Addington knew her brother was interested in women and possibly marriage because there had been at least two women that she knew of who had caught his eye. One had been a local girl who had flirted with him a little until another knight who had more of a stake in her had ridiculed and belittled Julian in front of her. That was the last time he'd ever seen her. Then, there had been a woman from Carlisle, a merchant's daughter, who had seemed interested enough until her father had married her off to a distant cousin. Perhaps she had never ridiculed Julian, but her father certainly had. He had ridiculed the man for being a de Velt, however, and not because of his unique appearance. Still, the end result had been the same.

After that, Julian threw his attention into Pelinom and his duties there.

That didn't leave room for anything else.

But now…

"Julian, I am going to tell you something very important," Addington said. "Are you listening to me?"

Julian lay back on his bed, hands folded over his head as he stared at the ceiling. "How can I help but hear you?" he said. "You are right next to me."

"I didn't say hear me. I said listen ."

"I'm listening. Say what you're going to say."

Addington could see that his defenses were up. Julian had the strongest sense of self-preservation of anyone she'd ever known. It was going to be difficult to get through to him that way but she was going to try.

"I spoke to Lady Lista," she said. "You did not offend her. Do you know why she left so quickly?"

"I suppose you are going to tell me."

"I am, but I swore that I would not, so I am breaking a promise."

"What promise?"

"I promised not to tell you that Lista thinks you are handsome."

He continued to stare at the ceiling. After a moment, he blinked slowly. "Get out of here," he grumbled. "You're not funny in the least."

Addington slapped him on the leg. "I am not trying to be funny," she said, rather angrily. "I am breaking a confidence to tell you this and all you can do is tell me to get out? Stop feeling sorry for yourself and listen to me or you will lose this opportunity."

He frowned. "What opportunity?" he said. Before she could answer, he went on. "Addie, I appreciate that you are trying to cheer me up, but you know as well as I do why she ran. It's why they all run. I do not need you telling me otherwise. It is no great loss, as she can go on with her life and I can go on with mine. No harm has been done."

"Even if I swear on Papa's grave that it is the truth?"

That had some weight with him. He looked at her; really looked at her. A heavy gaze that was trying to determine just how serious she was. He had been dismissing her until this moment but they both knew that Addington would not have referenced Jax lightly.

He sighed heavily.

"What are you talking about?" he finally hissed. "Addie, I do not want to hear this."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Why not?" she said. "How difficult is it for you to believe a woman finds you attractive? You are, you know, and I say that without guile because I am your sister and I do not need to resort to trickery or empty flattery. But if I see something– or someone– that might make you happy, I am going to tell you. What you do with that information is up to you."

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before finally putting his hands over his face. "Then tell me," he said, muffled. "Tell me and get it over with."

Addington watched him rub his hands over his face, wearily. "Do you know why Lista ran from you?" she asked.

"Why?"

"Because she thinks you are handsome and she further believes that she is far below your social station," Addington said. "It's pathetic, really. She's much like you, Julian– she doesn't believe she's worthy of happiness. In her case, it's because of her mother. She says no man would want her because of her mother."

His hands came away from his face. "That is ridiculous."

"Do you think so?"

"I do."

"Do you think she's pretty?"

"She's marvelous."

"She said the same thing about you."

His head popped up. "She said… she what ?"

Addington fought off a grin. "She said that she thought your eyes were marvelous, just like the rest of you."

That caused him to sit up, looking at his sister quite incredulously. But there was also great suspicion there. "Addie, tell me that you did not say… anything about… me . Please."

She knew what he meant and she wasn't going to admit that she had indeed mentioned his eye color. That was something the entire family knew but never spoke of. For Julian's sake, they'd learned not to. Therefore, she didn't want to embarrass the man. In this case, her honesty only went so far.

"Why would I do that?" she said. "She did notice our eye color, however, and I told her that our father had the same eyes. I told her we all had similarly colored eyes. But that is all I said about it."

Julian studied her for a moment as if trying to determine just how much truth she was telling him. " And? "

"And she said that she had seen your eyes and they were marvelous, like the rest of you."

He didn't say anything right away. He just stared at her, almost suspiciously. "Did she really say that?"

"I swear to you on Papa's grave that she said it. I would not lie, Julian."

He thought about it. The suspicion in his expression died away, replaced by disbelief and then a hint of delight. The corners of his mouth twitched as he lay back down and covered his face with his hands.

"Surprising," he said.

Addington jumped to her feet and slapped him on the leg again.

"Is that all you have to say?" she demanded. "Julian, there is a woman who thinks you are marvelous within the walls of Berwick. What are you going to do about it?"

He didn't answer fast enough and she spanked him again, causing him to finally grab her hands so she couldn't hit him again.

"Whatever I do, I will not be pushed into it by you," he said. "Stop hitting me or I'll toss you into the wardrobe and lock the doors."

Addington tussled with him. "I'm hitting you because you are an idiot," she said. "You deserve to be hit if you do not do something about this. I am putting a woman in your hands and all you can say is ‘surprising'?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to say ‘marvelous'!"

"Marvelous!"

Addington yanked her hands from his grip. "Then get your shoes on and go to the hall," she said. "If you are not there when I arrive with Lista, I will tell Mother what I have told you and let the winds blow where they may."

Julian grunted. "They will blow right into this room and Mother along with them," he said. "Leave her out of it."

"I won't."

He knew she wouldn't. Sharply, he sighed. "Then I will agree to go to the hall under one condition."

"What?"

"That you not tell Lady Lista that you have told me all of this. Swear it to me, Addie."

"I swear."

He swept his hands at her. "Then go," he said. "Out of my sight, you little goat. Get out or I shall tell Ash that you are in love with someone else and then you can explain that to him."

Addington gasped. "You wouldn't!"

His eyes narrowed and he hissed at her. " Go. "

Addington complied, but not before she stuck her tongue out at him. He threw a shoe at her, but she was too fast. The door slammed and the shoe hit the wall and clattered to the ground. As Julian went to pick up the shoe, the grin he'd been trying so hard to fight off broke through.

Addington was a lot of things, but a liar wasn't among them. At least, not where it mattered. He knew his sister well enough to know that. What he did not believe, however, was her denial that she had perhaps prodded Lista into some sort of confession. Addington's heart was in the right place but she was relentless in her pursuit of her goals. Effington and Addington together had been merciless, like the most merciless warlords he'd ever faced, and with Effington on the Welsh Marches with her husband, Addington was going it alone as the tour de force of the House of de Velt.

Even to help her brother who couldn't seem to help himself.

Marvelous.

Somehow, that word had new meaning to him now.

*

"I do not see my mother and aunt anywhere," Lista said as she took a seat at the end of the dais as Addington had indicated. "Do you know where they have gone?"

Addington shook her head as she sat down next to Lista. "I do not know," she said. "I know they were here earlier. Would you like me to send someone to find them?"

Lista wasn't sure. She was looking around for Amaury, too, but he was nowhere to be found, either. Lista knew that Amaury was probably with them, as he was diligent about such things. She knew he wouldn't let them wander alone.

But she was still nervous when they were out of her sight.

"I suppose not," she said. "I am sure our knight is with them. If they do not return to the hall in a short while, then mayhap we can send someone out to find them."

Addington smiled, pleased that Lista was choosing to remain in the great hall and not running after her errant mother and aunt. Now, if she could only get her stubborn, skittish brother into the hall as well, perhaps something could really happen. Servants came around with trenchers of pork, peas, beans, and bread that had been baked with honey and rosewater. Addington dug in with gusto, pointing as she chewed.

"That's my brother, Cole, sitting with his wife, Corisande," she said. "You met Cole earlier today, but I do not think you have met Cori. She's terribly sweet."

Lista took a bite of her food and quickly realized she was famished. She hadn't eaten all day. "Nay, I have not met her yet," she said. "Julian said he had a brother and three sisters."

"Correct."

"Where are your other sisters?"

Addington broke apart the bread. "My oldest sister, Allaston, is on the Welsh Marches with her husband," she said. "Effington is also on the Welsh Marches, only to the south, towards Gloucester. Her husband is a garrison commander for the de Llion family."

"Welsh?"

"Aye."

"Have you ever been to the Welsh Marches?"

Addington shook her head. "Regretfully, I have not," she said. "Have you?"

Lista shook her head. "Nay," she said. "But I would like to go someday."

"So would I."

"Mayhap we can go together? It would be a better trip with someone to enjoy it with."

Addington's features lit up. "I would like that," she said. Then, something caught her attention and she quickly smoothed at her hair before wiping at her mouth to make sure there were no crumbs. "One of my brother's knights is approaching. Have you met him?"

Lista looked up to see a handsome young knight bearing down on them. He was well-proportioned and muscular, and he smiled when he saw Addington.

She smiled back.

"Good eve, Lady Addington," the knight said. "I was hoping to see you tonight."

Addington beamed. "It is agreeable to see you also, my lord," she said. "Have you met my friend, Lady Lista de la Mere?"

The knight shifted his focus to Lista. With the same rather devilish smile, he took Lista's hand and kissed it sweetly.

"Anteaus de Bourne at your service, my lady," he said. "Welcome to Berwick."

He seemed rather suave and full of himself. Lista took back her hand. "Thank you, my lord," she said. "It is an honor to meet you."

Somehow, Anteaus took that as an invitation to sit down and he did, eagerly. He took a seat on Addington's left hand because Lista was on her right. More food was brought in as Anteaus told stories about his home, a castle known as The Keld. He had two older brothers who came out looking like terrible bullies in his stories, but they were quite humorous. Lista chuckled at the antics of the de Bourne brothers but it was clear during the course of the conversation that Anteaus was paying special attention to Addington. He wasn't being rude to Lista in the least, but it was clear that he was focused on her. There was romance in the air.

Smiling at the subtle flirting, Lista went back to her food.

"May I sit, my lady?"

Lista heard the words, having no idea they were meant for her until she caught sight of a big body on her right hand. Startled, she looked up to see Julian standing beside her, indicating the chair.

Cheeks flushing madly, she nodded.

"Please," she said.

Julian sat down as servants rushed forward to bring him food and drink, but he wasn't looking at his food.

He was looking at Lista.

"I see you are wearing the dark blue garment," he said. "It suits you."

Lista looked at herself, dressed in the dark blue dress with the silver embroidery. "Thank you," she said. "Your sister was very kind to lend it to me."

"And the food? Is the food to your liking?"

Lista nodded. "It is very good," she said. "Do you always eat so well at Berwick?"

Julian wriggled his eyebrows, or at least the one eyebrow Lista could see. "Cori sets a fine table," he said. "The finest in the north. There will be more courses after this, so do not eat too much. There is more to come."

"Ah," Lista said. "I will have to be careful that I do not break the seams of your sister's dress with all of my gluttony."

Julian's glittering gaze lingered on her a moment before returning to his food. "You would be in good company, I assure you," he said. Silence settled between them for a moment because he was staring at her so much, so he hastened to find something to talk about, fearful that it was about to become awkward. "Do you come to Berwick often, my lady? To the market, I mean."

Lista shrugged. "Often enough," she said. "My mother likes to visit the apothecaries every month or two. And will you do something for me?"

"Anything, my lady."

"Will you please call me Lista? Addressing me as ‘my lady' sounds so formal and we are friends now, aren't we?"

He looked at her, surprised. "Are we?"

"I hope so," Lista said. "Unless my insults to you earlier have ruined any chance we have of a friendship and we are now mortal enemies."

His lips twitched with a grin. "We are not enemies," he said. "And your insults were hardly anything at all."

"I think you are being kind again, but thank you. Then we are friends?"

"I would be honored."

"Excellent," Lista said. "Then you will do something else for me, please."

"What is that?"

"If I insult you, or you are concerned with my behavior, will you come to speak to me directly and not send your sister as an emissary?"

Julian nearly choked on the food in his mouth in the face of her blunt and honest request. He knew exactly what she meant and, for a moment, thought to deny it. He was so unpracticed with women that his awkwardness was apparent, but looking at Lista, he realized he didn't want to deny it.

He didn't want to lie to her, not even for something as benign as this.

"I did not send her, I swear this to you," he said after a moment. "Addie took matters into her own hands when I told her that I feared I had somehow offended you. You ran away from me so quickly earlier… I did not know what I had done."

He was looking at her with the hair hanging over his right eye as he always did. Lista found herself looking into the man's beautiful face, for truly, he was a specimen to behold. She saw absolutely no reason why he needed to hide his eyes from her and after what Addington had told her, somehow, she didn't like that he was. She'd seen his full face and it was exquisite. Boldly, she reached up and gently moved the hair away from the right side of his face, exposing both eyes.

He didn't move.

For a moment, Lista simply looked at both eyes, smiling as she did so. Julian sat like stone, watching her like a hawk. Her smile grew as she tucked the hair back a little.

"You look like a young squire with your hair the way it is," she said. "You have a handsome face, Sir Julian. You should not cover it up."

Julian was starting to tremble. He had no idea why, but something in Lista's touch was like a hot knife against butter– and he was the butter. Her touch had been so light, so gentle, but perhaps one of the more impacting things that had ever happened to him in his adult life and he had no idea why.

But her words…

He couldn't decide if he was terribly embarrassed or terribly encouraged. Sweet words that he hadn't expected, unsolicited and sympathetic. The way she had said it told him that Addington had indeed told her about his self-consciousness when it came to his eye color, but he didn't care.

Her kind words meant a great deal to him.

"If I am to call you Lista, then surely you should call me Julian," he managed to say, feeling giddy and awkward. "You do not think we are being too… forward?"

Lista dropped her hand from his hair. "Probably," she said. "But you and I have had quite a day so it seems to me that if we have not killed each other by the end of it, then we should be fast and friendly companions. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Tell me where you fostered, Julian."

He did. Julian had never spoken so much about himself in his entire life. He drank, he ate, and he spoke of his younger years at Carlisle Castle before going to Northwood Castle for a time. His training had been difficult and strenuous and he'd spent his entire life in the north. He'd fought off countless Scots raids and he'd even fought against King John when the man was rousting warlords in the north towards the end of his reign. In all, he projected the image of a competent, highly trained knight who didn't have the time or inclination for anything other than his vocation.

At least, that was the impression Lista got.

But she wasn't going to feel bad this time. She wasn't going to run from him. She was going to enjoy the evening with a handsome young knight she would probably never see again, but it was worth it to her. It was incredibly rare for her to have any conversational companion other than her mother and aunt, so this was a rare treat and she was grateful for it.

In her world, she had to accept the pleasant moments and not yearn for more.

"My lady?"

Torn from Julian's tale of a particular Scotsman he'd had trouble with in one of the numerous battles he'd been part of, Lista found herself looking up at a very pretty woman with blonde hair, pinned to the nape of her neck. She had seen the woman sitting with Cole and Addington had indicated she was Cole's wife, so Lista immediately rose to her feet to greet her hostess. The woman, however, put out her hands.

"Please sit," she said. "I did not mean to disturb you, but Julian has been taking all of your time so I thought I should introduce myself. I am Lady de Velt, Cole's wife."

Lista regained her seat. "It is a great honor to know you, Lady de Velt," she said. "The meal has been delicious. Thank you for your hospitality to my mother and my aunt and me. We are very grateful."

Corisande smiled. She was a very lovely woman. "It is our pleasure," she said. "My husband's mother is with our children right now, but I was going to relieve her of the duty so she could come down here and speak with your mother, only your mother and aunt seemed to have disappeared."

It was difficult for Lista to keep the smile on her face. "I realize that," she said. "If you are going to send Lady de Velt down to the hall, then I shall locate my mother immediately and bring her back."

Corisande nodded. "I am sure my husband's mother would like that very much," she said. Then, she paused before continuing hesitantly. "Your mother and aunt… when I saw them earlier, they were quite lively."

Lista tried to keep a brave front. "They are lively anywhere they go," she said. "I am sorry if they were disruptive."

Corisande shook her head, sitting down when Julian stood up and brought her a chair. "They were not disruptive at all," she said. "You must have a happy home."

Lista cocked her head curiously because she wasn't sure what she meant. "My lady?"

"Because they seem so happy."

Lista wasn't going to ruin the woman's opinion of her mother if that was what she truly thought, but there was absolutely no truth to what she said. "I am glad they seem happy to you, my lady," she said. "At home, it is much different."

"Oh?"

Lista nodded. "My mother is still grieving the loss of my father and my brother," she said. "But I thank you for saying she seems happy. Certainly, she has been happy to visit Berwick."

Corisande smiled. "You must return and visit again sometime."

"How long have you lived at Berwick?"

Corisande's brow furrowed thoughtfully. "Since I married my husband several years ago," she said. "I have always lived in Northumberland, however. My childhood home is not too terribly far from here. My older brothers visit often, as does my father. They have several children to play with here, which does my father good. He dotes on my children."

She was trying to make Lista feel more comfortable and it worked. Lista smiled at the idea of a loving grandfather. "That is wonderful," she said. "It is lovely for your children to know their grandfather so well."

"I think so."

Lista was prevented from replying when she caught sight of Amaury entering the great hall and he was quite alone. The mood of the warm conversation vanished as Lista stood up, her concerned focus on Amaury.

"My apologies, my lady," she said. "I see our knight and my mother does not seem to be with him. Will you please excuse me?"

Corisande waved her on as Julian stood up, watching Lista all but run to Amaury. He was still standing, watching, as she exchanged several words with the knight. Several frantic-looking words, it seemed to him, because Lista was growing animated. Suddenly, she was ducking out of the hall with Amaury on her heels.

"Julian?" Addington said. "Why don't you go and help her? She does not know Berwick if she is to search for her mother. You might be of assistance."

Julian didn't say a word, but he was leaving the dais before Addington was even finished speaking. Anteaus, who was still sitting next to Addington, stood up as well and followed Julian purely out of duty because Berwick was his post. He knew it better than Julian did. Corisande and Addington watched them head for the hall exit together.

"She seems like a nice woman," Corisande said. "She seems very concerned for her mother, however."

Addington nodded. "She is," she said. "And she thinks Julian is handsome."

Corisande looked at her in surprise. "She does?" she said. "Does he know?"

"He does."

Corisande cast Addington a long look. "Are you playing matchmaker, Addie?"

Addington grinned. "I do hope so."

Corisande caught on and she, too, was grinning. But she also knew her mother-in-law was waiting for her, so she excused herself just as Ashton made his way to the dais. He'd been on the other side of the hall, watching Anteaus and not wanting to get near the dais because Julian had told him not to be confrontational with Anteaus. That had frustrated him to no end, but Julian had been serious and he knew it. However, with Anteaus following Julian somewhere, Ashton could make his move.

And he did.

Oblivious to what was transpiring in the hall, Lista was on the hunt for her mother and aunt. Amaury had lost them, somewhere, and had searched for almost a half-hour before seeking help. The misty night was now so dense that it was difficult to see a few feet in front of her, so locating her mother and aunt wasn't going to be a simple thing. She didn't know Berwick Castle and had no idea where to start looking, but every second those two were on their own, her anxiety was building.

"Where did you last see them?" she asked.

Amaury was trying to get his bearings. "Over near the apartment where your chamber is located," he said. "They went into the chamber, I fear, for some of the things they bought at the apothecary's stall. I think they were burning hemp because I could smell it from the window. Then, they came out and I lost them in the mist."

Lista sighed heavily. "Damnation," she grumbled. "I am going to find everything they bought at the apothecary's and throw it in the fire. They have been nothing but trouble since we arrived."

"If you give the stuff to me, I'll do it."

Lista nodded firmly, disgusted by her mother and aunt's behavior. "They are going to embarrass themselves and me in front of these kind people," she said. "I like them. Lady Addington and Sir Julian have been very kind and I could throttle my mother for behaving so poorly."

"My lady?"

A voice came from the mist and Lista whirled around to see Julian and another knight emerging from the fog. When their gazes met, Julian smiled timidly.

"Do you require assistance?" he continued. "We saw you abruptly leave, so we came to see if there is something we can do to help."

Lista didn't want to drag Julian into her mother's folly, but she did indeed need help at the unfamiliar castle. She had no idea where to even start looking and her anxiety was on the rise.

"I am sorry to trouble you," she said. "It seems that my mother and aunt have disappeared. If you could…"

They were interrupted by a howling sound. It was more like a baying, like animals crying at the moon, and there were two of them. Two decidedly female voices that then started laughing.

Lista clapped her hand to her forehead.

"God's Bones," she said. "Where are they?"

Everyone started looking around. "Is that your mother, my lady?" Julian asked.

Lista nodded, exasperated. "It must be unless you know of anyone else who would bay like a wolf and then laugh," she said. "It has to be them. It sounds as if they are in that direction."

She was pointing off to her right as more howling sounds filled the mist. The knights turned in that direction, listening carefully.

"The gatehouse," Julian said. "It sounds as if they are on the wall."

He started to move, with Anteaus and Amaury and Lista following close behind. Having no idea where she was going, all Lista could do was stay close to Julian as Berwick's great gatehouse came into view. There were stairs on the outside of the structure, slick with the wet but also well-lit with torches, and Julian headed up the stairs with the knights right behind him. Lista took the stairs more slowly because they were slippery and she didn't want to fall. She was about midway up when a body was suddenly in front of her and she looked up to see Julian standing there, extending his hand to her.

For a moment, their eyes met and Lista realized his hair wasn't hanging in front of his right eye like it usually was. She'd tucked it back and he'd left it there. Gratefully, she took it and he steadied her up the rest of the way. Even when they reached the wall walk, he didn't let go of her hand.

He held it tightly.

Lista would have been giddy with delight had more howling not caught their attention. More howling, more laughing.

Lista's anxiety had turned to anger.

"There," she said, pointing off to the right. "It sounds as if it is coming from that direction."

They were all looking to the west, towards the river, and Anteaus led the way with Amaury, Julian, and Lista following. Julian was still holding on to Lista because the wall walk didn't have any railings on this side because they were being repaired. The wooden railings had rotted away and Cole was in the process of having everything replaced with stone, so there were only partial stone barriers as high as a man's ankle. Not being able to see the fifteen-foot drop from the wall because of the mist, Lista was very glad for Julian's steadying hand.

Truth be told, she was almost glad for her mother getting lost.

Almost.

More howling. They were nearing a tower when Amaury suddenly spoke up.

"Lady Felkington?" he said sharply. "Lady d'Orbec? Cease this foolishness. You've caused enough trouble this night."

Lista could see her mother and aunt come into view. They were sitting on the edge of the wall, their legs hanging over the side. She gasped because of the dangerous position and she felt Julian squeeze her hand reassuringly. She was so startled by the squeeze that she was caught off guard when he released her and went towards her mother, slowly and carefully.

"My lady," he said in that steady, raspy voice. "I am going to help you to your feet, but you must be very careful not to slip. It is a long drop to the ground and I do not want you to injure yourself."

Meadow looked up at the knight, having no idea of the danger she was in. "It is a lovely night," she said. "We were just commenting on how lovely the night is. So dark and close. This is a time when witches walk the earth. Did you know that?"

Julian shook his head. "I did not, my lady."

Meadow smiled at him before catching sight of her daughter a few feet behind him. "Ah," she said, extending her hand to Lista. "My daughter has come. Have you met my daughter, Knight? She is a good and obedient lass."

Clearly, she didn't recognize Julian from earlier in the day and he didn't remind her. He simply held out his hand to her.

"Let me help you rise, my lady," he said, ignoring her question. "Take my hand."

Meadow looked at the hand but made no move to take it. "I think not," she said. "We are enjoying the night. I think we will remain here a little longer."

Listening to her mother, Lista knew she was drunk, but she was probably also under the influence of any number of weeds or potions that she'd bought at the apothecary. She managed to get around Julian and came up between her mother and aunt.

"Stop it, both of you," she hissed. "You are shaming yourselves and worst of all, you are shaming me. You are making a mockery of Lady de Velt's invitation to sup, so get up and behave yourselves."

Meadow and Flora looked at Lista, shocked by the tone she took. "You cannot speak to me that way," Flora said. "I will do as I please."

"Shut up," Lista snapped, her patience gone. "You are a foolish, ridiculous woman and you have lured my mother into your foolish and ridiculous world. I'll see no more of this, do you hear me? My mother is going with me but I do not care if you fall off this wall and break your stupid neck. Do whatever you wish but leave my mother out of it."

With that, she grasped her mother under both arms and pulled her away from the ledge. Then, she helped her mother to her feet as Flora hurled insults at her.

"Ungrateful child!" she said. "Ungrateful and unruly child. Leave your mother alone. You cannot command her!"

Lista ignored her. She had her mother on her feet and that was all she cared about. Julian was there, once again offering his help. Lista had her hands on her mother, helping the woman walk, but when she looked up at Julian, all she could see was that handsome face in the weak torchlight. When their gazes met, she smiled.

He smiled back.

Meadow grabbed his outstretched hand and Julian led her and Lista back down the wall walk towards the tower. That left Flora sitting on the edge, grumbling and insulting her niece, as Amaury went to the woman and held his hand out to her. Flora turned her nose up at him, but he did what he'd done a hundred times before. He grabbed her by the arm to pull her to her feet but instead of being compliant, as she usually was when it came to Amaury, she violently pulled away from him. That momentum caused Amaury to lose his balance and with the slick stone, he wasn't able to recover. He pitched right over the side, disappearing in the mist as Flora screamed.

Startled, Lista and Meadow came to a halt just in time to hear Amaury hit the ground below. It was a sickening, loud noise. Flora was still screaming and men down below were shouting, and Lista broke away from her mother, running for the tower with the stairs that led below. She could hear Julian calling after her, telling her to slow down, but she didn't listen. She took the tower stairs too fast and ended up slipping at the bottom, falling to her knees in the mud of the bailey. But she was on her feet in an instant, running over to the area where Amaury had gone down.

Men were gathered around a crumpled form on the ground and Lista pushed through, only to be confronted by a man who had fallen on his face into the mud. At least, that's what it looked like. Amaury's neck was bent at a sharp angle and she fell to her knees beside him.

"My God," she gasped in horror, putting her hands on the man to turn him over. "Amaury, can you hear me?"

Julian and Anteaus were beside her, helping her roll Amaury over, but it was abundantly clear that the man was dead. His neck was broken and when he rolled onto his back, one eye was shut and mashed with mud while the other eye was open, staring into nothingness.

One look and Lista knew he was beyond help.