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Bernard returned to Rock, allowing hi his ears attuned to frohts to the path upon which they should be focused—finding a wife for himself, for his father’s threat was not an idle one—but soed in the back of his mind

At last, with a frown at his foolishness, he gave Rock a quick pat and walked silently toward the back of the stable In the event that it was just a randyin the hay with his lady, Bernard could slip away silently with no one the wiser But if, as the upright hair at the back of his neck warned, ’twas so more…

A diht shone in the depths of the stable, and as he turned a corner, he found himself in a small room, lit by a torch on the wall

A girl sat in the hay, her skirts bunched around her as she bent her attention to so he could not identify Her back was to hi braid that fell fro wench

She turned, saying, “Leonard, if you would—” Her words ended in a sht of Bernard

As she scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide in a face shadowed by the flickering torch, Bernard noted that she waswench Even in the low light he could see the quality of her gown, and the glitter of some jewels in her hair and at her well-rounded bosom

“My lady, I did not an, not quite certain how to proceed as she looked at him with such fearful eyes

He knew that his great stature and solidness was oftenti about this feh fear shone in her eyes, stood as tall as her height allowed,appearance He stepped backward to put space between theht was aht to see if I could be of assistance ”

She had a heart-shaped face, angelic and delicate, with ropes of honey-gold hair that glinted even in the flaht suddenly by her beauty, he saw the fear lessen in her eyes “You heard htly, as she seemed to turn the words over in her mind “You would have come to my aid?”

“Aye, of course, my lady,” Bernard replied He didn’t stumble on the form of address It was obvious she was of noble title—but as not so clear hy she was in the stables, alone, during a wedding celebration And as she doing in the hay?

Curious, he took a step forithout thinking about how this would affect her—but she did not ave the barest flinch as he came closer “What do you here?” he asked

She did not need to answer, for at once he saw for hirey cat ensconced in the hay Five tiny kittens, barely covered with fur, and eyes still shut, nursed whilst thenext to her

“They were born only today, and I ca behind hiht

advantage “Cleos, and ’twas only because Leonard, the stable boy, intervened that she lived to deliver this litter ”

Bernard reached to pet the mother cat The woman warned him—“Nay, she will scratch!”—but became silent when she saw Cleoer over the top of her pointed head and down to rub her side