her, she said, "Welcome home, Kat. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family."
By the time Katerin had climbed from the wagon, most of the others had, as well, and a loud commotion was heard as people greeted one another. Ilia, who had opted to remain with the princess when Gemma and Lucinda had parted company, stepped from the back of Ros' wagon, standing as awkward witness. Wrapping a companionable arm around her handmaiden's waist, Katerin joined her.
Boasting four new faces, the small crowd was exuberantly hugging each other in welcome. Cristof had an older version of himself in a headlock, the pair rough housing in excitement. An elder man listened intently to young Wills as he prattled on about the season's adventures, Willem and Sati making the occasional comment in translation. Katerin found herself flushing when she noticed the dwarf, Sameer, heatedly kissing a young redhead who had knelt down before him. Looking prudently away, she saw Ros walking toward her, an old woman on her arm.
"Here now, scamp," the woman exclaimed as they neared. "These old ears are far beyond hearing language like that!"
A surprised grin lit the brunette's face at Ros' blush. I never thought I'd see the day...
Despite her reddening complexion, Ros responded, "Only when that old tongue starts saying the same things. Where do you think I learned it?"
With a scoff, aged eyes twinkling, the woman harmlessly slapped Ros' forearm. Catching sight of Katerin and Ilia, she said, "You've been picking up strays again, young lady."
Ros burst into a laugh. "Aye, that I have! It's my favorite hobby!" Stopping at the end of her wagon, the blonde bowed slightly. "Katerin, Ilia, may I introduce you to Emerita."
The pair curtseyed, Ilia's voice barely above a murmur as she said hello.
Emerita eyed them. "Well, at least these have manners," she said.
Ignoring her, Ros continued smoothly, "Emerita has been with the circus for as long as I can remember. She and her husband, Phizo, are the greatest contortionists known to man."
This got a laugh from the old woman. Leaning forward, she whispered in a conspiratorial fashion, "Young Ros still has not realized we're getting old and decrepit. Why, I can't lift my arm over my head anymore!"
Snorting, the blonde shook her head. "You'll not convince me, Em." Looking over her shoulder, she saw that most of the travel worn people were drifting toward the main house. "Come, Katerin, Ilia. If I know Em well enough, there's hot stew and freshly baked bread inside."
"Aye, you do know me well, scamp," Emerita chuckled. Gathering her skirts, she smiled at the new arrivals. "Welcome home, both of you," she said as she made her way across the yard, leaving the three to follow.
With a slight bow, Ros waved the women forward. "I'll see to the horses before joining you," she said.
"Don't be too long about it," the old woman's voice trailed back. "I'll not hold Cristof away from the stew forever." Those few still outside, laughed at the reference to the animal trainer's legendary stomach.
"We'd best get started then," the blonde laughed, moving towards her wagon. She clambered up the side like a monkey, grabbing the reins and guiding the horses to the barn. Behind her, Willem, Cristof and the two other men did the same.
For a moment, Katerin stood with her handmaiden, watching the wagons disappear around the side of the house. Ilia shivered, rubbing her arms against the autumn chill even as her liege tugged her shawl close.
"Here now, lass," the brunette said, upon seeing they were the only ones remaining. "Let's get indoors and warm."
"Aye, Kat." As they crossed the yard, the blonde's voice dropped into a murmur. "Who do you think that was with Cristof? His father?"
Recognizing a bit more than casual interest, Katerin responded in the same low tone. "I think it's his brother, Henry." She hid a smile at the calculating glint in her handmaiden's eye.
It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the darker
By the time Katerin had climbed from the wagon, most of the others had, as well, and a loud commotion was heard as people greeted one another. Ilia, who had opted to remain with the princess when Gemma and Lucinda had parted company, stepped from the back of Ros' wagon, standing as awkward witness. Wrapping a companionable arm around her handmaiden's waist, Katerin joined her.
Boasting four new faces, the small crowd was exuberantly hugging each other in welcome. Cristof had an older version of himself in a headlock, the pair rough housing in excitement. An elder man listened intently to young Wills as he prattled on about the season's adventures, Willem and Sati making the occasional comment in translation. Katerin found herself flushing when she noticed the dwarf, Sameer, heatedly kissing a young redhead who had knelt down before him. Looking prudently away, she saw Ros walking toward her, an old woman on her arm.
"Here now, scamp," the woman exclaimed as they neared. "These old ears are far beyond hearing language like that!"
A surprised grin lit the brunette's face at Ros' blush. I never thought I'd see the day...
Despite her reddening complexion, Ros responded, "Only when that old tongue starts saying the same things. Where do you think I learned it?"
With a scoff, aged eyes twinkling, the woman harmlessly slapped Ros' forearm. Catching sight of Katerin and Ilia, she said, "You've been picking up strays again, young lady."
Ros burst into a laugh. "Aye, that I have! It's my favorite hobby!" Stopping at the end of her wagon, the blonde bowed slightly. "Katerin, Ilia, may I introduce you to Emerita."
The pair curtseyed, Ilia's voice barely above a murmur as she said hello.
Emerita eyed them. "Well, at least these have manners," she said.
Ignoring her, Ros continued smoothly, "Emerita has been with the circus for as long as I can remember. She and her husband, Phizo, are the greatest contortionists known to man."
This got a laugh from the old woman. Leaning forward, she whispered in a conspiratorial fashion, "Young Ros still has not realized we're getting old and decrepit. Why, I can't lift my arm over my head anymore!"
Snorting, the blonde shook her head. "You'll not convince me, Em." Looking over her shoulder, she saw that most of the travel worn people were drifting toward the main house. "Come, Katerin, Ilia. If I know Em well enough, there's hot stew and freshly baked bread inside."
"Aye, you do know me well, scamp," Emerita chuckled. Gathering her skirts, she smiled at the new arrivals. "Welcome home, both of you," she said as she made her way across the yard, leaving the three to follow.
With a slight bow, Ros waved the women forward. "I'll see to the horses before joining you," she said.
"Don't be too long about it," the old woman's voice trailed back. "I'll not hold Cristof away from the stew forever." Those few still outside, laughed at the reference to the animal trainer's legendary stomach.
"We'd best get started then," the blonde laughed, moving towards her wagon. She clambered up the side like a monkey, grabbing the reins and guiding the horses to the barn. Behind her, Willem, Cristof and the two other men did the same.
For a moment, Katerin stood with her handmaiden, watching the wagons disappear around the side of the house. Ilia shivered, rubbing her arms against the autumn chill even as her liege tugged her shawl close.
"Here now, lass," the brunette said, upon seeing they were the only ones remaining. "Let's get indoors and warm."
"Aye, Kat." As they crossed the yard, the blonde's voice dropped into a murmur. "Who do you think that was with Cristof? His father?"
Recognizing a bit more than casual interest, Katerin responded in the same low tone. "I think it's his brother, Henry." She hid a smile at the calculating glint in her handmaiden's eye.
It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the darker
Similar Books
