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quickly. “Well, then, say that. Ladies do not say things like ‘he spoke real pretty.’ And do try to slow your speech somewhat. That is when you make the most mistakes.”
    Brinna sighed in frustration, then took a moment to calm herself before continuing in the modulated tones Joan had spent that first night trying to hammer into her head. “You are correct, of course,” she enunciated grimly. “I apologize. But he truly is not the way you think he is. He was very
complimentary
. He said your eyes twinkled, your hair was as soft as down, and your lips—”
    “It doesn’t matter. I am not marrying him,” Joan declared firmly, then closed the lid of the chest with a sigh and turned to face her. “Now, Sabrina told me about the little incident of your falling out of the wagon.”
    Brinna felt herself flush and sighed unhappily. “Aye. She nudged me and—”
    “It doesn’t matter. All I wanted to say was to be more careful in future. And try to remember that you are a ladywhile pretending to be me and should comport yourself accordingly.”
    “Aye, my lady,” she murmured.
    “So, you’d best change quickly and make your way down to the meal.”
    Brinna’s eyes widened at that. “Should I not go below and fetch you something to eat first?”
    Joan arched an eyebrow at that. “That would look odd, do you not think? A lady fetching a meal for her servant?”
    “Nay, I meant that I could change into my own dress and—”
    “That will not be necessary. I have already eaten.”
    Brinna stilled at that news, confusion on her face as she considered how that could have come about. One look at Lady Joan’s closed expression told her that she was not to dare ask. Sighing, she shook her head. “Still, I should at least go down to the kitchens for a minute. They will wonder if they don’t see me every once in a while.”
    “They saw you today.” When Brinna blinked at that news, the other girl smiled wryly and admitted, “I donned your dress and the cloth you wore over your hair in case anyone came looking for you while you were out on the mistletoe hunt as me. Someone did. I think it was your Aggie. At least she seemed a lot like the old woman you described to me.”
    “What happened?” Brinna gasped.
    Joan shrugged. “Nothing. She said Cook had said ’twas all right for her to bring you something to eat and check on you. I told her that ‘Lady Joan’ had left a whole list of chores to do while she was gone and thanked her for the food. They won’t expect to see you again today. That is why I told you to inform them that I wanted you to sleep in my room. So they wouldn’t expect to see much of you.”
    “And she didn’t suspect that you were not me?” Brinna asked with disbelief.
    “Who else would she have thought I was?” Joan laughed dryly. “No one would suspect that a lady of nobility would willingly don the clothes of the servant class.”
    “Nay, I suppose not,” Brinna agreed slowly, but felt an odd pinch somewhere in the vicinity of her chest. Aggie had raised her. Watched her grow into womanhood. Surely the woman could tell the difference between her own daughter and an impostor?
    “Come now.” Joan clapped her hands together. “Change and get downstairs, else you will be late for the meal.”
    “Aye, my lady.”

Chapter 3
    “Riding? On that great beast?”
    Brinna stared at the mount before her with nothing short of terror. This was the fourth day of her escapade, but it was the first day that she did not have Sabrina dragging her about, lecturing her as she avoided the rest of the guests while a frustrated Lord Thurleah trailed them, doing his best to be charming and friendly to the back of Brinna’s head. Brinna had actually begun to feel sorry for the poor man as he’d tried to shower attendance on her while Sabrina blocked his every advance. His Lordship was not finding this courting easy. Or at least he hadn’t been until this morning, for this morning Sabrina was