Page 103 of Fortress of Snow

They rode along the sandy path that followed the shoreline, a short cliff on their right that fell straight down to the narrow shore below, and always the vast sea was there beside them.

“I think I see it.” Berenger pointed. A tower was visible abovethe tops of trees. Then the road curved around and they lost sight of it.

“Do you think it will need a lot of work?” Mazy asked. She had already decided she could help repair the roof if necessary. After all, she had helped build her own booth at the market and had helped Ro make repairs on the Swan when her father was sick.

“I don’t think so.” Berenger gazed at her with a content expression. “Lord Marcheford, the previous owner, would have kept it in good condition, and he only just died a few months ago.”

Lord Marcheford was a viscount who had died without an heir, but Mazy had never paid much attention to nobles or what they did or where they lived. Ro had been more curious about such things than Mazy. She certainly had no idea how responsible or fastidious Lord Marcheford had been.

“It looks as if it has a good view of the sea.”

“We shall soon find out.” Berenger winked at her.

How could he be so calm?

Juliana was crying now, as she was overly tired and needing sleep. The nurse was trying to calm her, offering her a drink of water or a bit of cheese and a roll of bread. She grew quiet, and Mazy saw that she had fallen asleep against her nurse’s arm.

As they rode along, Mazy saw a flake of snow, then another and another. It was snowing in earnest while they were climbing the castle mount, the castle gradually coming into view. As they rounded the last bend, Mazy gasped.

“It’s more magnificent than I imagined,” Mazy breathed.

Thankfully it was not snowing hard enough to obscure their view of the castle. There were three towers of varying sizes, one square and two round, with the main body of the castle having two rows of windows showing two levels, and every tower and roof was ringed with crenelations of masonry and gray stone.

“It’s larger than I thought,” Berenger said.

“It’s huge,” Mazy said softly, not wanting to wake Juliana. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a castle I liked more.”

Berenger smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”

No doubt he was amused at her enthusiasm, but she was too happy to care. It was a magnificent castle, and she was in awe.

They were greeted by the servants, who all welcomed them. Berenger met the reeve and steward, and the three of them stepped into the former owner’s study, where he kept his records. The nurse and Juliana went into the kitchen with the cook. Meanwhile, Mazy walked with the head house servant through the castle as she showed her all the rooms.

“Let me know which bedroom you and Lord Saynborne would like for yourselves.”

It took Mazy a moment to realize she meant Berenger, her husband, when she said “Lord Saynborne.” She would have to accustom herself to that name and title, as well as her own, for she was now Lady Saynborne.

After surveying much of the castle, she lingered in the bedchambers on the upper level while the servant hurried off, saying, “I will make sure the servants are attending to their duties. But if you need anything, Lady Saynborne, ring the bell.”

“Thank you very much,” Mazy said.

She would have to get used to having servants available to her. She had grown up with servants, but she’d always thought of them as her father’s servants, and they were as apt to scold her as to show her deference. This would be a new experience altogether.

She wandered from room to room, testing each of the beds, looking at the view from each window, weighing which room would suit her and Berenger best. She was staring out a window, watching the flurries of tiny snowflakes, when Berenger came in.

He put his arms around her from behind and she rested the back of her head against his shoulder.

“Is this not the most glorious view? The snow makes it look almost magical.”

“Yes. And when you get tired of hearing the noise of the sea and the sight of it, I shall take you to see England’s finest lakes and hills, then the mountains of Scotland.”

“I can hardly imagine I would ever tire of it, but I shall want to see the lakes and mountains someday.” She raised her brows at him, smiling playfully. “And there is plenty of room here to teach Juliana archery, knife-throwing, and horsemanship.”

“What if she doesn’t want to learn those things?”

“Then I can teach her to play the lute, and you can teach her to play the pipe. Remember the time when we played those songs for Roger at Strachleigh? I enjoyed that so much.” She sighed.

He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tighter. “Then we shall have to play together again, as often as you like.”