do as it was told, as long as it wasn’t left to run wild, as Annora used to say.
Right then I missed her terribly, amidst all the hubbub. Yes, I had had six years to come to terms with her absence, to learn to become a part of this new family, but cousins were not sisters. And Annora had been far more forgiving of my whims and humors than any of my cousins ever were. If I had told her something odd was going on, and had described the footprints I’d seen going into the woods, she wouldn’t have dismissed my suspicions, but would have talked to me seriously about them.
But she was gone, and had made a new life for herself in North Eredor. I could not blame her for the choices she had made, for I was sure I would have done the same thing, and yet…
…and yet I could not ignore the hole she had left in my world. Ever since our mother died, she and I were the only person the other one had. Our father was still very much alive, but that mattered little, considering how he had treated both of us.
Then I put those thoughts resolutely aside, for I could feel the sting of long-suppressed tears in my eyes, and it would certainly not do to appear before Lord Elwyn, Mayson’s father, with a red nose and puffy eyelids.
“Thank you, Tarly,” I said, once she was done with my hair. She bobbed a curtsey and headed out, no doubt to check on my cousins and make sure they also were fit to be seen by as exalted a personage as Lord Elwyn.
I studied myself in the mirror. Being out in the wind and the sun had added some color to my cheeks, and so the pale green silk of the dress did not wash me out quite as much as I had feared. Indeed, my eyes looked far greener than normal in contrast, and so I thought I should do well enough.
Besides, I told myself, I am sure he can have no idea of what his son said to you about being his wife. The earl will only look at you as the niece of his friend. Then he will go, and you can spend your energies on trying to determine whose footprints those were — and where they were going.
That sounded sensible enough. I could hear the chatter of voices out in the corridor, and so I knew my cousins must be ready to go downstairs. It seemed safest to fall in with them so I might descend the stairs as part of a group, and therefore escape any unwelcome attention.
Indeed, with Adalynn in fine rose-colored brocade, and Carella looking equally resplendent in bright sky-blue, I doubted that anyone’s eyes would seek me out. Janessa and Theranne were somewhat less noteworthy, but still looked quite lovely.
As we came into the great hall, I saw that our visitor was already there, his son next to him. I had met Lord Elwyn several times before, and thought him to be a kindly enough man…but now I could feel my heart begin to race. In the past, I had only been one of the gaggle of girls who lived under my uncle’s roof. Now I was the young woman his son had asked to marry him, although I still had no idea whether Mayson had divulged anything of our exchange to his father or not.
Like Mayson, Lord Elwyn was tall and dark-haired. His eyes, however, were deep blue, and his features had a more chiseled look to them. I guessed the slight roundness of his son’s nose and chin must have come from his mother, although of course I had never met her, since she’d died years before I came to stay with my aunt and uncle.
His lordship smiled pleasantly as we girls came into the hall. Almost as one, we curtseyed, and my aunt looked on in approval, clearly glad that we did not have to be reminded to show the proper respect to our visitor.
“Ah,” said Lord Elwyn, “I thought your gardens lovely here, but I see your most beautiful flowers bloom indoors.”
Carella and Theranne and Janessa giggled, while Adalynn only inclined her head, as if she was far too used to those sorts of compliments. I could feel my cheeks flood with color, but as I stood rather behind the other girls, I felt I did not have to show any more
Right then I missed her terribly, amidst all the hubbub. Yes, I had had six years to come to terms with her absence, to learn to become a part of this new family, but cousins were not sisters. And Annora had been far more forgiving of my whims and humors than any of my cousins ever were. If I had told her something odd was going on, and had described the footprints I’d seen going into the woods, she wouldn’t have dismissed my suspicions, but would have talked to me seriously about them.
But she was gone, and had made a new life for herself in North Eredor. I could not blame her for the choices she had made, for I was sure I would have done the same thing, and yet…
…and yet I could not ignore the hole she had left in my world. Ever since our mother died, she and I were the only person the other one had. Our father was still very much alive, but that mattered little, considering how he had treated both of us.
Then I put those thoughts resolutely aside, for I could feel the sting of long-suppressed tears in my eyes, and it would certainly not do to appear before Lord Elwyn, Mayson’s father, with a red nose and puffy eyelids.
“Thank you, Tarly,” I said, once she was done with my hair. She bobbed a curtsey and headed out, no doubt to check on my cousins and make sure they also were fit to be seen by as exalted a personage as Lord Elwyn.
I studied myself in the mirror. Being out in the wind and the sun had added some color to my cheeks, and so the pale green silk of the dress did not wash me out quite as much as I had feared. Indeed, my eyes looked far greener than normal in contrast, and so I thought I should do well enough.
Besides, I told myself, I am sure he can have no idea of what his son said to you about being his wife. The earl will only look at you as the niece of his friend. Then he will go, and you can spend your energies on trying to determine whose footprints those were — and where they were going.
That sounded sensible enough. I could hear the chatter of voices out in the corridor, and so I knew my cousins must be ready to go downstairs. It seemed safest to fall in with them so I might descend the stairs as part of a group, and therefore escape any unwelcome attention.
Indeed, with Adalynn in fine rose-colored brocade, and Carella looking equally resplendent in bright sky-blue, I doubted that anyone’s eyes would seek me out. Janessa and Theranne were somewhat less noteworthy, but still looked quite lovely.
As we came into the great hall, I saw that our visitor was already there, his son next to him. I had met Lord Elwyn several times before, and thought him to be a kindly enough man…but now I could feel my heart begin to race. In the past, I had only been one of the gaggle of girls who lived under my uncle’s roof. Now I was the young woman his son had asked to marry him, although I still had no idea whether Mayson had divulged anything of our exchange to his father or not.
Like Mayson, Lord Elwyn was tall and dark-haired. His eyes, however, were deep blue, and his features had a more chiseled look to them. I guessed the slight roundness of his son’s nose and chin must have come from his mother, although of course I had never met her, since she’d died years before I came to stay with my aunt and uncle.
His lordship smiled pleasantly as we girls came into the hall. Almost as one, we curtseyed, and my aunt looked on in approval, clearly glad that we did not have to be reminded to show the proper respect to our visitor.
“Ah,” said Lord Elwyn, “I thought your gardens lovely here, but I see your most beautiful flowers bloom indoors.”
Carella and Theranne and Janessa giggled, while Adalynn only inclined her head, as if she was far too used to those sorts of compliments. I could feel my cheeks flood with color, but as I stood rather behind the other girls, I felt I did not have to show any more
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