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The door flew open, slae ould have been a crash if it had been h had been about to dismount, but paused to run a wary eye over the old wo hi her shoulders and gnarling her hands and fingers Her hair was a long coarse cape of white around a face puckered and wrinkled by the passage of years Only her cobalt eyes still held any hint of snapping youth They also held a knowledge that was unnerving

She can look into your eyes and see your soul, pick out every flaw you possess, along with every grace She can read your future in the dregs of the wine you drink and read your past in the lines on your face

Hugh had been told all of this and, still, a jolt went through him as he looked into the eyes of the old witch He felt a shock run through his entire body, as if she truly were looking right into him As if she could see all the way down to his presently curling toes She held Hugh in thrall for a moment with just her eyes, then turned to walk into the hovel She left the door open - undoubtedly an invitation for hilanced at the mounted man beside him: Lucan D&039;Ah had rather hoped his co within him The old childhood beliefs in witches and haunts were all rattling to life in his suddenly fancy-filledon Lucan to arch one amused eyebrow andback into perspective Unfortunately, it appeared his sensible friend was feeling rather fanciful himself today Rather than soothe him, Lucan appeared nervous, hiave a start at the question It hadn&039;t occurred to hiaze fixed on the hovel "Nay," he said at last "How could she?"

"Aye," Lucan agreed with less confidence as they dis over the fire when they entered the shack It gave the two s

In contrast with the filthy and dilapidated state of the outside of the cottage, the inside was clean and quite hoh-hewn table at one end of the rooainst the wall opposite A fire was built into the wall across fro the flames Once satisfied, she moved back to the table and collapsed upon one of the three chairs, then waved Hugh and Lucan to the others

After a barely noticeable hesitation, Hugh took the seat opposite the wo his back to the door Lucan took the seat adjacent to her, leaving him a clear view of the door, should anyone enter They then waited expectantly for the wo Instead, she took the wine flask fro Lucan, she pushed one to Hugh, then lifted the other to her h drank He was i across his tongue Doing his best not to show his distaste, he set the alh returned his gaze to the witch, still expecting questions regarding his presence, or at least his identity The croneWhen the silence had grown long and tense, he finally spoke, "I aave a start as she finished the introduction for hi your pardon?" He stared at her nonplused

"I said he&039;s dead His heart gave out on him," she repeated is"

"Aye I am his nephew His only heir"

"The only one, h unco under her all-knowing gaze He said, "Nay Uncle Richard left a bequest for - "

"A bequest?" She seeh picked up the wine, drinking fro the tankard down once it was ehtened his shoulders and scowled "Of course, you shall continue to receive coin for her care"

"Her?"

"The girl This Willa person my uncle was so concerned with" He did not bother to hide his distaste for the h sed and felt his disco He could al into his soul If so, he suspected the flaws to be found were races to be seen at the h his teeth

"Do ye not mean she&039;ll be well cared for once she h went still He could feel the blood rush into his face with reawakened rage That sa this news from his uncle&039;s solicitor He&039;d inherited it all The earldom, the money, the servants and estates as well as his uncle&039;s bastard daughter to wed In effect, he&039;d been willed a wife Nothing e bastard, raised by an old crone who had once served in the castle It was one of theforced into He, a lord, the son of a great knight, and now the heir to an earldoe brat! Not even a titled lady, but a bastard village brat with nothan how to e brats to do Impossible Inconceivable But true Now, as he had that , he felt his body cra to fit themselves around the crone&039;s throat That hen he heard the singing It was a woh and clear and as sweet as a tankard ofseehts, his very heartbeat all stilled in anticipation, even the roo A fly he had absently noticed buzzing around his tankard landed on its lip and re to the voice as it drew nearer

The door behind hie in afternoon light, then so abruptly halted

"Oh! We have guests"

Hugh heard Lucan&039;s gasp Wondering over it, he turned inexorably toward the source of the lovely voice He felt his jaw slacken in shock

An angel Surely, that hat she was Only an angel would glow golden, Hugh thought as he stared at the radiant outline of the female form Then she stepped away from the door She olden glow had lory that was! Full, thick strands of pure gold

Nay, not pure gold, he decided Those tresses were brighter than gold and there were strands of red shot through theht set afire It blazed down over her shoulders and trailed past her hips to her knees Hugh had never before beheld such a vision and was sure he never would again At first, he was so transfixed by the sight, he noticed neither her face nor figure as she bent to press an affectionate kiss on the cheek of the old hag Then she straightened Her li in their pale color and bold expression His gaze dropped to the s

"You h cold His adriarirl, a pretty village girl perhaps, but a village girl just the sa bound to a si her was out of the question, though she would old whether buried deep in the h frowned at the coestion that she&039;d knohat he was thinking He was evenof her words, since he was positive they didn&039;t apply here

When he remained silent, the witch tilted her head to the side, considering him She then reached up to clasp the hand at her shoulder, drawing the girl&039;s attention "We will need , the chit collected a basket and left the cottage withouta sound

"Ye&039;ll h turned sharply on the witch, but froze, eyes widening when he saw that she now held his es that had been left behind when he&039;d finished the drink That knowledge sent a frisson of so up his spine This wos In these uncertain tih did not think he wished to knoas yet to be But whether he wished it or not, the woman read on

"Ye&039;ll marry her for yer people, but she&039;ll quickly come to claim yer heart"

He sneered at this possibility, but the woman paid him little heed as she continued to stare into the tankard "The future holds much joy, happiness and children aplenty if ye solve the riddle"

"What riddle?" Lucan asked breathlessly and Hugh sneered at his being taking in by this trickery When the woht, he shifted and asked, "Well then, what if he does not solve the riddle?"

"Death awaits"

Hugh saw the conviction in her eyes and sed nervously Then she sat back and waved an ione I am weary and your presence annoys me"

The two men were more than happy to coe, and stepped out into the sunlight with relief

"Well?" Lucan queried as they returned to their h waited until he was back atop his mount to ask, "Well what?"

"Do you return on thearound, Hugh glared at the old woed on his reins, drawing his horse around before spurring hi to h had to slon once he hit the trees; there was no true path to or fro it an adventure His decreased speed allowed Lucan to catch up to hih would h scowled at the question His visit with Lord Wynekyn and the solicitor had been short Once he had heard the bit about his being expected to marry some by-blow named Willa, he had worked hi about a bit, he had headed for Hillcrest Hugh had no desire to et himself out of it The way the solicitor had phrased it, he had to ain his inheritance "I do not wish it, but fear I may have no choice if I want Hillcrest"

"Surely you cannot be denied Hillcrest," Lucan argued " &039;Tis yours by law of priirl or not, Hillcrest cannot be refused you"

Hugh perked up at this coht"

"Aye So ill you do with her?" Lucan asked and Hugh&039;s posture deflated, along with his h said slowly, "I suppose I really have to see to her future She is a relative after all"

"Aye," Lucan ested tentatively, "Perhaps you could arrange a h pondered that briefly, then gave a slow nod "Aye ThatShe may even have a fondness for so a little, Hugh set histhe task He would have to work around the old woot wind of his idea, she would ht quick and make trouble for him He supposed that wouldn&039;t be his responsibility After all, the only thing he could do was try to see to the girl&039;s future well-being If the old woe well, she was going to be disappointed It was just a shairl than need be