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Odessa Room.”
    “Whatever for?”
    “I went to the gaol shortly after you left
and found her out cold on the floor.”
    His friend came up before him and sighed.
“What do you intend to do with her?”
    “Well her fever has departed, for one. I
left the guard and a kitchen girl in the chamber to look after
her.”
    “This is absolute madness. You are aware of
that, aren’t you? Your sister in staying in the same house. She
could easily stumble upon her.”
    “I can handle Ryia.”
    “Can you? I spent only a few hours with her
today and I assure you, she is definitely changed. I doubt she
cares anymore about those ‘rules’ you’ve created years ago.”
    Ulric frowned, the heavy breeze batting
against his face. “I cannot take her to the gallows now.”
    “I hardly thought you would have--”
    “And I cannot keep her in the gaol
either.”
    “I really do not think keeping her in the
Odessa Room is sensible--”
    “Which is where you come in.”
    Edwin gaped. “Me?”
    “Yes. I believe you are right about Ryia.
She has grown far more prudent and I think that is owed to an
underlying curiosity that I wish she had not developed. The girl
will recover soon and by then I doubt the Odessa Room will be able
to contain her.”
    “What do you suggest then? You said so
yourself, she’s just a thieving wench. She’d never pass for
anything else.”
    “She doesn’t have to. It’ll work out just
fine. Ryia will be leaving in a week’s time and by then I fully
intend on getting rid of the wench.”
    Edwin’s eyes
narrowed on his friend as an idea came to him. Before giving it
much thought, the words sprung from his lips in rapid succession.
“Ryia is in dire need of a lady’s maid.”
    Ulric shook his head. “That would never
work. The girl is starved, not in loss of her memory. I doubt she’d
be convinced to pretend to be a maid until my sister leaves.”
    Edwin grinned and gave his friend a slap on
the back. “Now that part, I can handle.”
    “How so?”
    “Persuasion, Ulric. I’m sure there’s
something she wants.”
    “To rob me blind, that’s what.”
    “Mayhap you should ask her.”
    “ Or
mayhap, you should.” Ulric turned away and shook
his head. “The last time I attempted conversation with the girl, I
was tempted to snap her pretty little neck. She’s positively
irritating, I tell you.”
    “ Pretty little neck?”
    Ulric’s frown deepened as he turned,
noticing a mocking grin on his friend’s face. A clenched fist could
easily rectify that but he figured the last thing either of them
needed was bruised faces, and an interrogation by his beloved
sister. “Just do what you need to do, Edwin.”
    “ Of course.”
Edwin reached for the reins on his gelding, the mirth bubbling in
his voice. “I wouldn’t want you to have to wring that pretty little neck, lest you wish to see that pretty little neck again.”
    “Sod off, will you?” Ulric shook his head at
Edwin’s jesting and mounted his horse. “I need to go re-pen a few
entries before I’m to face Ryia again. God knows what she wants to
talk about now.”
    “Good luck with that. I should warn you...”
Edwin hooked his foot into the stirrup and reached up, taking his
seat across the saddle. The corners of his mouth trembled with
impending laughter. “Your dear sister has also become quite the
talker.”

Six
     
     
    “ T here...” Miss Darcott
traced cool drops of scented liquid along Audelia’s neck and
smiled. “All done now. Madame de Lucci shall soon be in to see
you.”
    “ What is this place?” The question had
come out of mere curiosity, as she turned to appraise the richly
furnished room. Everything looked regal, from the finely crafted
armchairs to the masterly sculpted bed, covered in the most
exceptional sheets she had ever seen.
    The woman whom she had known to be mostly
tense in nature, pivoted around the room with a broad smile on her
round face. “Remarkable, isn’t it?” She even bent to sniff on