Page 69 of Fortress of Snow

Mazy’s stomach churned at how sharply John was looking at her, as well as the edge in his voice.

“She didn’t say, just that there was a rumor about Lady Bristow, something bad, but she didn’t know if it was true. She was concerned for Sir Berenger.”

John was slow to speak, kicking the dirt at his feet, staring down, then out across the Tower Green. “I’m sure Sir Berenger can fend for himself,” he drawled, “make his own decision about marrying.”

John could be so maddening in his responses.

“But have you heard anything about her? Is there any gossip around the Tower, with the other men?”

“I don’t know anything.” John did not even glance her way, and she got the sick feeling that he was lying to her. But why would he?

“Did you see her a few weeks ago when she visited the king?” He must have, since he was part of the king’s personal guard.

“I saw her.”

“Is she a handsome woman?” Her heart sank. Why did she ask that? She didn’t want to know.

Again, John was very slow to answer. Finally he said, “She is known for her beauty. Tall, dark hair.” He still wasn’t looking at her.

“Can you ask around, see if anyone here knows her character?”

“I’m not some old woman who has nothing better to do than gather gossip.”

“I know that. I just thought maybe you might hear something about her, if she is a good person or bad, what she is known for, for our friend Sir Berenger’s sake.”

John said nothing, just shuffled his feet. “Well, I could stand here talking all day, little sister, but I have duties.”

“Of course. I don’t want to keep you from them.”

“From what?”

“Your duties.”

He grunted and nodded, then turned and walked away.

His behavior was not so different from the way he usuallyacted. But she couldn’t help feeling that he knew a lot more than he was saying.

Now she was even more curious to find out about Lady Bristow. If only there was someone she could ask, but her brother was the only person she knew at the king’s palace and the Tower of London.

God, please protect Sir Berenger.

***

Mazy had once heard one of the Swan’s regular customers tell Ro that his wife worked as Queen Anne’s favorite lady’s maid and therefore heard a lot of the gossip about other nobles. And now that she had someone working for her in the market, she could go back to the Swan early to watch for him.

Mazy looked up from the letter she was writing to Lady Delia and saw the very man enter and sit on a stool near the door. Ro started toward him, but Mazy stopped her.

“I’ll wait on this one.” Mazy approached the man. “What can I get for you?”

“Ale and stew,” he said.

“I’ll get it forthwith.”

Ro was already dishing up the stew, then she fetched the ale. “He always gets the same thing,” Ro said. “I’ll go with you and tell him who you are, and maybe he will be more inclined to trust you.”

“Good idea.”

They delivered the man’s meal and Ro said, “Mazy, this is Reginald Worsley. Reginald, this is Mazy, the daughter of theBaron Wexcombe. She and I have been working together for years.”