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free to wander about? ” she asked.
    The woman laughed lightly. “ I trust you are safe in Henry ’ s house, lady. If you feel uneasy at the prospect, take your woman with you. ”
    “ Thank you, madam. You ’ re very kind. ”
    She nodded humbly and turned to go to the door. Once there, she turned back and looked at Felise again. “ You ’ ve grown into a beautiful woman, ” she said, a wistful tone in her voice. “ You must make your parents very proud. ”
    Felise cocked her head slightly, wondering at the woman ’ s unusually familiar behavior. “ They have not complained overmuch, ” she said softly, “ though I know I am a trial. ”
    Vespera smiled then -- a gentle and beguiling smile that gave her youth and beauty of her own. “ Nay, ” she whis pered. “ They would not complain. You are a treasure. ”
    And then turning again, the woman quit the room with quiet grace.
     
    ***
     
    The great hall held the evening feast and many nobles were present. Henry was flanked by his queen and sons Richard and John, and about them were a dozen long tables for other guests. F elise was seated near enough to the king and queen that they might easily watch her, but too far for conversation. However esteemed their positions, they were in fact the only people within the room she had met.
    There were eight seated at the table she occupied, and she longed for the presence of her parents. Beside her sat a dowager baroness whose company was welcome, for she proved friendly, but Felise had nothing in common with the elderly widow from the north. On her right came a tardy knight, just gaining his marked seat after the meal had been laid out. As he groped for his place, his eyes fell on her and instantly lit up in appreciation.
    He bowed to her. “ My lady, I fear to test my good fortune, ” he began. “ Sir Wharton is my name. ”
    “ A pleasure, sir, ” she said very quietly, turning her eyes quickly back to her plate. Internally she scoffed at herself. She was quick-witted and outspoken enough when lolling in her window or at a gathering in her parents ’ home, but here, void of escort, she could barely find the confidence to meet the man ’ s eyes.
    He took his seat quickly, his manner showing he was pleased. “ I am to be your dinner companion, fairest lady. Might I lay some name to you? ”
    “ Forgive me, ” she said, looking at him again. “ I am Felise Scelfton. ”
    “ And your family? Could we perchance be of some earlier acquaintance? ”
    “ I can ’ t say, sir. My father is Harlan, Lord Scelfton; Twyford is our home. ”
    He raised his goblet slowly to his lips and drank while watching her. When he lowered his hand to the table, there was a smile on his lips. “ I know the old lord, ” he confirmed. “ And I ’ ve ridden with your brother, Maelwine, on more than one occasion. ”
    Felise ’ s countenance lightened instantly. Even though she didn ’ t know Sir Wharton personally, she immediately felt safer in his company if he was a family friend. The tightness of her stomach relaxed as he entertained her with stories of his travels and discussed at length the rich land of his father. His family r esided north of London, while Fe lise ’ s Twyford was south, but it happened that over the years their families had been in the same company on several occasions.
    As she became more comfortable and the dinner went on with laughter and much revelry, she began to notice Sir Wharton ’ s dark handsomeness and chivalrous nature. “ Maelwine kept your existence a secret from me out of kindness. Had I known of you earlier, I would have been mad with longing and not fit for fighting, ” he said.
    She laughed at the prospect. “ Indeed, Maelwine did you no k indness. In all his brotherly af fection, he does not take much notice of me, but rather boasts the beauty of the women he meets upon his travels. ”
    “ Ah, then he has not graced your father ’ s walls with his presence in some years and