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wayward tongue?” hoping the lad would recognize his mistake and fear the consequences so it never happened again.
    But the lad faced him boldly. “Praying you would go away, but I see my prayers were not answered.”
    It was too much. The fellow was a servant.
Any
servant would get cuffed for such insolence to a noble of the realm. Wulfric was reaching to do just that, but the boy had more or less dismissed him and turned away to enter the hall and move off to the side of it, obviously so used to saying whatever pleased him that he had no fear whatsoever that he might be taken to task.
    Irate, Wulfric followed immediately after him, would have chased the lad down to the kitchens if needs be, but others in the hall sighted him and Nigel called out to him, forcing him to give his full attention to his host instead.
    Seeing his betrothed with her father, however, took the edge off of his annoyance and he madehis way eagerly to the Great Hearth to join them. This was another area that had seen improvements due to Nigel’s wealth. There was not one high-backed chair there, usually reserved for the lord of the castle, but four, all thickly draped with furs to add to their comfort. A low carved table sat at the center of them, a tray of refreshments on it. Other stools and benches were set about, showing that this was an area many made use of.
    The fire roared softly, giving a welcome warmth for those just coming in from outside, yet the rest of the large hall was not cold. The windows, which were letting in ample light, were every one of them set with expensive glass, keeping the biting weather at bay. Huge tapestries covering the stone walls aided this as well.
    It was a hall like any other, designed to accommodate most of the castle folk at one sitting, yet it was much more luxurious and comfortable than others he’d seen. The king himself would be envious of this chamber, Wulfric thought, and wondered if John had ever visited. Likely not, or he would have found some reason to confiscate it.
    It did not sit well with Wulfric, that he faithfully served a king he did not like even a little. But his sentiments were not far different from every other noble in the lands. John had endeared himself to few, made enemies with many, yet he was still their king, and men of honor would keep their sworn oaths to him—until they could tolerate him no longer.
    Nigel met him halfway to lead him back to thehearth. He seemed delighted that Wulfric was there, exceedingly so, effusive in his welcome.
    “It gladdens my heart that you are finally here, Wulfric, for the joining of our families. Your father sent word that you were coming, but we did not expect you quite this soon, or I would have warned my daughter to prepare herself. But I see that you have met her already.”
    They had reached the hearth, where the lady mentioned was standing nervously awaiting them. Wulfric made haste to put her at ease, smiling at her warmly, taking her trembling hand to bring it to his lips.
    “Aye, we have met, my lord,” he said to Nigel, while he kept his eyes on the lady. “Though we have not been formally introduced.”
    “I am not your betrothed, Lord Wulfric.”
    She was blushing painfully as she said it, because she had not said it sooner, there in the woods when she should have. Her timidness had kept her silent, and her fear that he would be upset—he was simply too big a man for her to risk upsetting, when angry men terrified her.
    Clearly he was confused now, and she was sorry for that, said quickly to explain, “I am her sister, Jhone.”
    Nigel was looking confused now as well. “But you did meet Milisant—did you not? You just entered the hall with her.”
    Wulfric looked back toward the entrance. He had entered with no one but that … boy.
Jesu,
no, please, no, that could not be her. ’Twould mean she had changed not one whit in all these years … ’twould mean he was saddled with the she-devil after all, just as he had