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breathlessly.
“Milady and Sir Edwin. Th-they have returned just now.”
    “Damn it.” Ulric strode for the door. “You
two are to remain here and call for me when the girl wakes.” And
before leaving, he paused just a moment to glance at the guard.
“And what are you called?”
    “Gilgallon, milord.”
    “Gilgallon, it is then.”
    Ulric marched down the hall, heart hammering
as he made to seek out his friend as quickly as possible. What he
was going to do with the girl, he hadn’t a single clue but he
needed to find one immediately. He was halfway through disembarking
the staircase, which led straight down into the front hall, when
the large main door came shoving in along with his sister’s
voice.
    “We shall have to try again on the morrow,
Edwin,” she was saying. “My goodness, I hardly thought it would be
so difficult to find a good maid.”
    “Tomorrow?” His friend’s tone was pleasant
as always but if Ulric knew his sister as well as he thought, then
she must have picked up on the slight exasperation carefully hidden
within it. “Are you sure you’re up for it?”
    “Why Edwin, if you find it too tiresome, I
can always try asking Bryce even though--”
    “Edwin would be more than happy to accompany
you again, Ryia.” Ulric quickly moved down the steps and flashed a
smile at his wind-blown sister. “How was town?”
    “Terribly busy--”
    “And more like a burning furnace, if you ask
me,” Edwin said, shrugging out of his coat. “I’d fully expected it
to rain this afternoon.”
    “Edwin is a terrible traveler, is all,” Lady
Ryia said, waving a playful hand in his direction. “Took us the
quickest ten minutes I could ever remember and the people are
downright joyous. To think I was worried about them still hating me
after all these years.”
    Ulric shook his head. “They never hated you,
sister. It is I that they loathe. So do relax yourself. How about
you ring for some refreshments while I borrow Edwin for a few
minutes, mm?”
    Lady Ryia looked between the two men and
rolled her eyes. “I know quite well when I am being dismissed,
brother, so no need for the smiles and good manners. We all know
you are not very good at them.” She turned on her dainty little
feet, nose in the air. “I shall need to speak with you sometime,
though. Preferably before dinner.”
    “ I refuse to take that woman on another blasted maid hunt.” At least
Edwin had the decency to wait until that woman was out of
earshot to say such.
    Grinning, Ulric patted him on the shoulder.
“Thought you’d have fun.”
    Edwin scowled and shrugged off his arm. “I’m
happy to see you find this amusing.”
    “Hardly. But I need to speak to you on a
serious matter. In private.”
    Brow arched, his friend paused in his
tracks. “How serious?”
    “Let’s go for a ride, shall we?”
     
    * * *
     
    T he meadows enveloping
the eastern borders of the estate gave a wondrous scenery of lush
vegetation, and the infamous ruins of the very first primary house
of Chastelle’s lordship. The structure, that was built some century
earlier, was believed to have been set on fire by a allegedly
wronged serfman desperate for revenge. Luckily, no one had faced
the tragic demise a fire was known to bring and Chastelle’s heir
had survived to make the estate what it was today, thriving in
wealth and prosperity.
    “It’s been a while since we’ve come here.”
Edwin shifted on his mount, a black gelding he’d favored for
years.
    Running a staying palm along his dapple-gray
stallion’s neck, Ulric nodded absently, taking in the cool fresh
air. “It certainly brings back memories, does it not?”
    “I suppose. But I wonder why you brought us
all the way out here now. Is the matter we are to discuss so
serious then?”
    “Not entirely.” Hands tightening on the
reins, he guided the horse a few paces towards a nearby tree and
dismounted. He then waited for Edwin to follow suit before
continuing. “I placed the girl in the