Page 56 of Fortress of Snow

The last day of their trip, the air grew significantly colder, the clouds darker and thicker, and snowflakes began to fall, small flakes at first, then big, heavy drops of snow.

The snow was so thick, Berenger could hardly see a hundred feet in front of him.

“Bristow Castle is at the top, just up there,” Lady Bristow said, pointing.

Their horses had only started climbing the hill when a gray stone structure came into view. He stared up at Bristow Castle. The fortress was big and imposing, and yet it looked dark andnot very appealing. But perhaps that was only because of the snow clouds.

“Bristow Castle. What do you think?” Lady Bristow smiled at him in that now-familiar way, out of one side of her mouth and with her brows raised.

“Very impressive.”

She urged her horse into a trot and moved ahead of him. Her veil flowed out behind her in the way he was becoming accustomed to seeing.

No doubt she was anxious to be home. She quickly arrived, dismounted, and left her horse near the front door and went inside, while Berenger and the other guards took their horses to the stable and helped unsaddle them before going in.

Berenger heard shouting coming from down the corridor from the main entrance. The voice was sharp and high.

He broke into a run. A wide-eyed servant sidestepped out of the way.

At the end of the corridor he turned a corner. In front of him was the kitchen. Lady Bristow was standing before a handful of servants, their eyes cast down at the floor.

“Is everything all right?” he asked.

Lady Bristow turned her head, a look of annoyance on her face, which immediately faltered and was replaced with a smile.

“All is well,” she said with a cheerful tone that sounded less than authentic.

“I thought I heard shouting.”

“Oh, that was just me encouraging the servants to have everything perfect for you. They can be a little lazy when I’mnot here with them.” She turned to face the servants, whose eyes were wide as she addressed them. She clapped her hands. “Let us make everything ready, and be quick about it, shall we?” she said in a sweet but high-pitched voice.

She turned toward Berenger and smoothed her hands down her sides and hips. “And now I shall show you the castle.”

She took his arm and hurried him away. “You don’t want to see the kitchen. Come. I will show you around.”

He let her pull him along to the staircase. Then she abruptly stopped. She sighed and reached out to him, placing her hand on his chest. “I am so glad you came. I so want to impress you while you are here.” She made a pouty expression with her lips.

“You do not need to worry. I’m sure all will be well.”

“I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

“Were you scolding the servants earlier?”

“I was only instructing them. Sometimes I have to raise my voice because the cook is rather deaf.” She leaned toward him, putting her weight against his chest with her hand.

Light footsteps sounded on the stone floor. They both turned to see a little girl walking toward them. She was wearing a ragged dress and her dark hair stood out against her pale face. She must have been about seven or eight. She froze when she saw them.

Lady Bristow said in a breathy, whispery voice, “This is my little ward.” Then she turned to the child. “Darling, why are you wearing that? Be a good girl and go and change your clothes.”

The little girl turned and ran away.

“She is your ward?”

“Yes, a distant relation. Her parents died, poor thing, and I took her in. I promise she will be no trouble to us. Only, I can’t imagine why she was wearing that dirty old dress.” She smiled as if amused.

“Does she have a name?”

“Of course. Her name is Juliana. I’m sorry she was not ready to greet you properly when you arrived.”