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over to her worried maid, and thought it better, for now, not to reveal more facts of her true life. A life a long way away from here. Instead, she turned her mind to finding out about the mystery woman who had graced the halls last night.
    “Does the baron have a mistress under this roof?” The blood drained from her maid’s face before it bloomed red enough to rival a darkest ruby. Maddie clamped her mouth shut, and waited for a reply.
    “I believe his lordship houses his distant relative, the Lady Veronica de Walter, under this roof. I do not know the nature of their association, m’lady.”
    She didn’t believe that answer for a second. After what she’d witnessed last night, Maddie hoped they were very distant relatives. She sighed but decided not to push the matter. There were other, more important, things to find out anyway.
    “So, you said yesterday, I’m the late Baron of Aimecourt’s daughter. Do I have any living relations, siblings that sort of thing?” Did she hope for any? A single child in the twenty-first century, would discovering a family in this time lessen the shock and horror of being stuck in medieval England? No. Not a chance in hell.
    Mistress Rhode fluttered about, in an almost nervous fashion. “I cannot believe you do not remember still, m’lady. To answer your questions, you are in fact an only child, my dear. You currently hold all properties your father acquired during his lifetime in trust for any future children you may have.” Mistress Rhode finished making the bed before moving over to a wooden chest from which she pulled clean clothing. “You do have an aunt who lives in London. Your father was not fond of her.”
    Mistress Rhode paused. “What I’m about to declare is far from proper, but I believe you must know, since you knew these facts before hitting your head yesterday. The lands and monies you inherited upon the death of your parents were not part of the dowry paid. A sum I am not privy to was presented to Baron Kingston upon your marriage. Although it is most unusual, your father arranged for you yourself to control the holdings of your family’s land. Your husband may guide you if you allow. But you, m’lady, have final say in everything concerning your former home.”
    Maddie gasped. She was…rich? Now that could buffer this era somewhat. But still, being married to a man who not only hated her for some unknown reason, but seemed to sleep around was not ideal. In vain, she rubbed her temples to dispel the tension.
    “How much do I own, Mistress Rhode?”
    “You father was the king’s closest confidant, m’lady, your holding is prosperous, the biggest in Northern England. Your army is great, three-fold larger than your new husband’s.”
    Maddie sat and took all this in. All these facts were well worth knowing and could be useful if her husband continued to be difficult. “Did the baron marry me because of my wealth? From what you said yesterday, this union was arranged years ago. Is he poor, Mistress Rhode?” Surely not, this castle, although sparsely furnished seemed well-maintained by a horde of servants. Not to mention the armed men who patrolled the grounds, and the village people living within its walls. No, a baron with no financial resources couldn’t possibly keep up such a farce for long.
    “Not that I’m aware, m’lady. But what I do know is, the dowry paid has allowed his lordship to increase his might and rebuild areas of Kingston Castle not previously achievable,” she replied. “Now is the red mantle to your liking, Lady Madeline, or would you prefer the green?”
    Maddie let her maid fuss over her while she turned her thoughts to the days ahead and the one thought most prominent in her mind, the coming confrontation with her husband, about his highhanded, roguish ways. She sighed in resignation. It wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.
    *
    Maddie sat alone at breakfast within the great hall two days later, eating porridge with a dash