Page 82 of Fortress of Snow

“I see.”

A short silence ensued, then Berenger said, “Perhaps she could have something to eat and the servants could get a room ready for her?”

“She is to be our guest, then.” Lady Bristow’s expression was quite cold. She turned and walked away without another word.

Mazy’s heart was still in her throat after meeting Lady Bristow. She was as cold and frightening as Mazy had imagined. She was also quite beautiful. Was Sir Berenger still hoping to marry her? He hadn’t said he wouldn’t, and this castle was most desirable for any knight, as valuable as Lady Bristow was beautiful.

Sir Berenger walked with Mazy toward the kitchen.

Mazy whispered, “I shall leave first thing in the morning.”

“The child and I will be leaving with you,” Sir Berenger whispered back.

As they entered the kitchen, two servants were still inside, working. They smiled when they saw Sir Berenger.

“Good evening,” he said pleasantly. “Is there anything you can gather together for a late supper for this young lady?”

“Yes, of course,” they said, quickly scurrying about. “Shall we take it to her room?”

“I can eat it here,” Mazy said, “and I’m sure Giles would appreciate some food as well.”

“He already came and we supplied him,” a servant said.

“Oh, thank you very much.” Mazy sat down and realized just how tired and sore she was, almost too tired to be hungry. One of the servants put down a plate of food in front of her. She took a bite of a fruit pasty, the flavor of plums and fried dough spreading over her tongue, making her close her eyes and exhale in bliss.

Perhaps she wasn’t too tired to eat after all.

Sir Berenger talked to her while she ate, though she could tell he was only talking about unimportant things, not what was truly on his mind. He couldn’t speak freely, of course, with the servants in the room. Mazy paused between bites to tell him a little bit about what she had been doing and the things happening in London, at the Swan, and at the marketplace.

When her stomach was full, she thanked the kitchen servants. Giles had brought in her bag of clothing, so Sir Berenger picked it up to carry it to her room.

Just outside in the corridor, an older woman servant was waiting, frowning. She said, “I’ll take you to your room.”

They followed the woman to a room on the ground level of the castle.

“Is there not a room on the same level as my bedchamber that our guest could stay in?” Sir Berenger asked the servant.

Was he afraid for her safety?

“Lady Bristow instructed me to put the lady here.” The servant did not turn around or look at him.

Sir Berenger met Mazy’s eye but said nothing.

They followed the servant to the room. “Will there be anything else?”

“Thank you, that will be all,” Sir Berenger said. When the servant had left the room, he whispered, “Come, I will show you to a room near mine. I don’t trust Lady Bristow.”

Her heart actually expanded and she let out a pent-up breath. He didn’t trust Lady Bristow. Surely that meant he would not marry her.Thank You, God.

He looked both ways in the corridor before motioning her forward. When they reached the stairs, he again looked all around. When he had stood still for several moments, he started up.

He seemed to walk extra carefully when they reached the next level. He passed two doors before opening the third one and letting her inside.

He inspected the room, checked the bed, and locked the door that led into a smaller servant’s room.

“Will you be able to manage without a servant?” he asked.

“Of course. I am not accustomed to having a servant.” She smiled, stifling a chuckle.