Page 44 of Fortress of Snow

“And he left. That was all.”

“But what did he say? Does he want to see you again? Did he touch your hand or your arm or your shoulder?”

“No. He didn’t touch me at all. I told you, he thinks of me as John’s sister.”

“Well, did he say he would see you again?”

“He wants to look in on me, he said. I probably shouldn’t have, but I told him the story of why some people call me Knife Girl.”

“Oh, I hope you emphasized the danger you have been in and told him that you need him to watch over you.”

Mazy huffed out a breath. “I told him the truth, of how I have saved myself more than once with my knives.”

Ro looked as if she was about to scold her, but then her face lit up again with her most beaming of smiles as she grabbed Mazy’s arms. “But he does want to see you again? I know he will fall in love with you. How could he not? You are everything a man wants in a wife—sweet, demure, and beautiful.”

“Sweet and demure?” Mazy made a gagging sound. “I can’t afford to let people think I’m sweet and demure.”

“Well, you are sweet, and that’s what you want Sir Berenger to see.”

Mazy shook her head. “You make me laugh, you know that?”

Ro went on talking about Sir Berenger until Mazy said, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

Ro followed her up the two flights of stairs to Mazy’s rooms, talking without taking a breath.

“Good night, Ro.” Mazy smiled and kissed Ro’s cheek before slipping inside and closing the door.

She loved Ro, but sometimes her enthusiasm was overwhelming.

She took a deep breath and her thoughts went to Sir Berenger, to the way he looked, to his smile, to the gentle wayhe had about him, and yet she had no doubt that he could be quite fierce when the situation called for it. He was a knight, after all.

Sir Berenger was good. So good.God, why could You not make more men like him?

Berenger could not stop thinking about Mazy as he carried out his duties the next two days, duties that, more often than not, required him to stand still and watch—and there was very little to watch.

He did have to make sure the king’s guards did their duty, stayed sober while they were working, and were loyal to the king.

He was getting to know Sir John again. His old friend had changed in the two years they had not seen each other, and not for the better. Sir John drank to excess more than he used to, and he complained about everything. He cursed the weather; he cursed the food; he cursed himself, even, on occasion. His language was foul, even when he wasn’t drinking.

He could hardly believe this man and Mazy were related.

Sir John did speak fondly of Mazy, but even when he had time away from his duties, he did not go and visit his sister. Instead, he seemed intent on drinking and carousing with the female servants.

As his commander, Berenger was responsible for ensuring Sir John was alert and unencumbered when he was on duty, buthe also felt the need to speak to him about what he did when he was not on duty. After all, he was a knight in the service of the king and queen, and a knight pledged to behave in an honorable way at all times.

When he was finally finished making sure the next watch of guards was in place, which included Sir John at his post just outside the king’s apartments at the Tower of London, where he awaited a delegation that was set to arrive by boat, Berenger went to speak to Sir John.

“Fine day today,” Berenger said as he approached Sir John.

“Too hot for my taste,” Sir John said, shifting his weight onto his other foot as he nodded at Berenger.

“I saw Mazy yesterday.”

Sir John raised his brows.

“She was well and spoke fondly of you.”

“I haven’t had a lot of time to go and see her, but when I do, she’s always well.”