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until, like Frevisse, she must have seen the small smile crooking at the corners of Lady Eleanor’s mouth and—apparently as much to Joice’s own surprise as Frevisse’s—the girl began to laugh. “I hadn’t thought of that!” she said around the laughter, and then broke down in tears that seemed to take her as much by surprise as the laughter had done so that, hiding her face in her hands, she sank back down into the chair, sobbing helplessly.
    Lady Eleanor exchanged a look with Frevisse who nodded in return, agreeing with her that the crying was for the best. This girl had been through fear and courage and cold shock and rage, almost all together and far too rapidly; her tears would exhaust her and then the wine would quiet her and she would be able to rest, even sleep, and after that be better able to deal with whatever came next.
    Margrete had taken the pan from the brazier back to the aumbry and was pouring the wine into goblets. Frevisse crossed to the window that overlooked the yard. Whatever came next would have much to do with how things had gone—or were going—between Domina Alys and Sir Reynold, and from here she could see them, Sir Reynold dismounted now, standing on the guest-hall steps in gesturing talk with Domina Alys who looked to be returning as good as whatever he was giving her, with Sir Hugh and Benet, both dismounted now, standing close below them. The rest of the men had all dismounted, too, and were drifted away or standing about at discreet distances from the steps in talk of their own but undoubtedly listening, while servants led off the last of the horses to the stable. There was nothing to be told from all that except that neither Domina Alys nor Sir Reynold seemed in a rage at each other now, and Frevisse found herself wary at the thought that they must be coming to some manner of agreement. Given Domina Alys’ willingness to indulge her relatives, she might even be coming around to Sir Reynold’s view of matters, ready to take his side against the girl. But then again, she rarely changed her mind on any matter, so mayhap she had brought him around to her way of seeing it and so to peace between them.
    Margrete served the wine. The rich savor of mixed spices wafting from it was warming in itself as Lady Eleanor laid a kind hand on Joice’s shoulder and urged, “Drink now. While it’s warm. You’ll be the better for it.”
    Drawing a deep, shaken breath, Joice raised her head. The worst of the crying had passed and she wiped her eyes with the edge of one sleeve, took the goblet Margrete held out to her with an unsteady smile, and said, “Thank you.”
    She drank a little while Margrete brought Lady Eleanor and Frevisse their goblets, and then leaned back in her chair, nursing the goblet’s warmth between her hands and against her breast. Even with her face marred by the crying, she had a simple loveliness that made clear how easily young Benet could have been drawn to her, low birth or not; and because of its simplicity, it was a loveliness likely to last through the years, not fade with youth, although just now, with her hair still fallen loose and the tears and anger at least momentarily gone from her face, she looked even younger than she was, as if she were a small, exhausted child in need of her supper and bed. And with a child’s simplicity she said, “I’m sorry for the crying. I won’t do it again.”
    “Unless you need to,” Lady Eleanor answered. “Tears are as good for easing the heart as warmed, spiced wine is for easing the mind, and you may want the comfort these next few days. Cry if you need it.”
    Joice smiled a little unsteadily and looked down into her goblet as if the remaining wine might have answers for her. “It would help,” she said, “if I at least knew that my people knew where I was, that they knew what had happened to me.
    “What did happen?” Frevisse asked.
    Joice looked briefly bewildered at the question. Exhaustion was beginning to