ends were adorable. She was reaching for another coat, a little larger, rust red and gold wool, when there was a knock on the door.
She scooted the tiny coat under the bed with her foot and shut the drawer, stan d ing quickly. “Yes?”
A maid came in with a piece of pale blue paper, folded in sharp quarters. Tasmin bowed her head slightly in thanks and took it, waiting for the woman to leave. Her name was written on it in familiar indigo handwriting, and she slipped it open, taking it to the window to read.
I think my lady will find the park behind this house charming, even more so if she consents to visit it in half an hour.
William
The half hour crawled, but the person who managed to wait that eternity and get herself to the garden was quite as pretty as whatever art she possessed could make her. William, himself, was not terrible to look upon; in fact, he seemed quite changed. The man who stood at the back of the garden was not the same one who had greeted her in prison. His clothes were quite fashionable, with only a little embellishment, mostly in the rich depth of its blue color. His knee breeches had gold buckles, as did his shoes.
He bowed coolly, as if they had never before met, and she returned the courtesy with a curtsey. She rose, and looked him in the eyes, her hands folded at her waist, her expression calm.
“There is a tower behind you—nay, do not look,” he said with that same cold co r diality. “But ‘tis part of the house, and is made for observation. From where I stand, you can tell if someone is at the window, because they block the window in the wall behind. A trick of mine that is not generally well known.”
“Your mother is watching us?’ she asked, amusement creeping into her tone.
“Nay, she is in with my father. But someone is. I bethought we could speak in pr i vate here, but I think I am mistaken. In any case, I wished to see you, so it is a small matter.”
“Well,” she said, “I can wish you joy of your freedom?”
“That is not something of which I am entirely certain.” His eyes flickered with su p pressed anger for a moment before he became cool again.
“How so? You do not think they will jail you again?” she asked, upset so plain in her voice that he gave her the kindest look.
“Nay. My father has taken care of that detail. Avast, a maid comes.” He bowed again, indicating his leave.
“This is all you wished to say?” She felt cheated, somehow.
“Nay.” He walked around the fountain, then bowed deeply, and said, loudly, for the maid’s benefit, “You may tell my mother that the wedding will take place in two weeks time.” He looked at Tasmin again, “Thank you, milady, for agreeing. I am beyond words.”
She forced herself not to react. The idea that there was now a deadline of sorts made it seem more real, more tangible. And a bit frightening.
Worse , she thought when she went through the hall to go back upstairs and saw her future mother-in-law looking fit to kill, t wo more weeks in this wretched household. However shall I survive?
Chapter 11
Ferou 5 th ,
Saph. Mn. Qtr. 1788
Dear Tasmin,
I received your package an hour out of Dert Harbor , which I believe is only two hours from your home. I am tempted, severely tempted, to come and see your city. I should like to see the castle ruins where you found your sprites; see the great, ever changing un i versity where you work. Is it really made of earth and stone and ice, and therefore changes with the seasons? Do rooms and halls and passageways disappear and rea p pear?
I must thank you for the care with which you prepared these potions. I have already placed the amulet under my shirt, and will place the rest where they may best be used. I am deeply moved by your kindness and worry for my safety.
Yours,
William
William b ought the woman who might hang for him a fine meal of chicken stuffed with shrimp and spinach, b lue b erry tarts, and b oiled
She scooted the tiny coat under the bed with her foot and shut the drawer, stan d ing quickly. “Yes?”
A maid came in with a piece of pale blue paper, folded in sharp quarters. Tasmin bowed her head slightly in thanks and took it, waiting for the woman to leave. Her name was written on it in familiar indigo handwriting, and she slipped it open, taking it to the window to read.
I think my lady will find the park behind this house charming, even more so if she consents to visit it in half an hour.
William
The half hour crawled, but the person who managed to wait that eternity and get herself to the garden was quite as pretty as whatever art she possessed could make her. William, himself, was not terrible to look upon; in fact, he seemed quite changed. The man who stood at the back of the garden was not the same one who had greeted her in prison. His clothes were quite fashionable, with only a little embellishment, mostly in the rich depth of its blue color. His knee breeches had gold buckles, as did his shoes.
He bowed coolly, as if they had never before met, and she returned the courtesy with a curtsey. She rose, and looked him in the eyes, her hands folded at her waist, her expression calm.
“There is a tower behind you—nay, do not look,” he said with that same cold co r diality. “But ‘tis part of the house, and is made for observation. From where I stand, you can tell if someone is at the window, because they block the window in the wall behind. A trick of mine that is not generally well known.”
“Your mother is watching us?’ she asked, amusement creeping into her tone.
“Nay, she is in with my father. But someone is. I bethought we could speak in pr i vate here, but I think I am mistaken. In any case, I wished to see you, so it is a small matter.”
“Well,” she said, “I can wish you joy of your freedom?”
“That is not something of which I am entirely certain.” His eyes flickered with su p pressed anger for a moment before he became cool again.
“How so? You do not think they will jail you again?” she asked, upset so plain in her voice that he gave her the kindest look.
“Nay. My father has taken care of that detail. Avast, a maid comes.” He bowed again, indicating his leave.
“This is all you wished to say?” She felt cheated, somehow.
“Nay.” He walked around the fountain, then bowed deeply, and said, loudly, for the maid’s benefit, “You may tell my mother that the wedding will take place in two weeks time.” He looked at Tasmin again, “Thank you, milady, for agreeing. I am beyond words.”
She forced herself not to react. The idea that there was now a deadline of sorts made it seem more real, more tangible. And a bit frightening.
Worse , she thought when she went through the hall to go back upstairs and saw her future mother-in-law looking fit to kill, t wo more weeks in this wretched household. However shall I survive?
Chapter 11
Ferou 5 th ,
Saph. Mn. Qtr. 1788
Dear Tasmin,
I received your package an hour out of Dert Harbor , which I believe is only two hours from your home. I am tempted, severely tempted, to come and see your city. I should like to see the castle ruins where you found your sprites; see the great, ever changing un i versity where you work. Is it really made of earth and stone and ice, and therefore changes with the seasons? Do rooms and halls and passageways disappear and rea p pear?
I must thank you for the care with which you prepared these potions. I have already placed the amulet under my shirt, and will place the rest where they may best be used. I am deeply moved by your kindness and worry for my safety.
Yours,
William
William b ought the woman who might hang for him a fine meal of chicken stuffed with shrimp and spinach, b lue b erry tarts, and b oiled
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