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Only then was she able to settle back in her chair and look upon hi that this day, her world had shifted

Her beloved father The most important person in her world He’d almost not come home

And if he had not, she would be left alone, heiress to Langu Henry--a ripe prize for anyprayers of gratitude to the Heavenly Father for sparing her earthly one The rough stone of the floor cut through her heavy wool skirts, and the chill and da her how different her life would be were her father not there to protect her

Despite her array of responsibilities as lady of the ht of being without her papa Allegra had never had the inclination or the skill to e the estates Indeed, Maris tended to care for her ra cared for her Her papa was her strength

Maris rose frole tear that had seeped from one eye

It was foolish and a waste of time to cry over that which would not come to pass Papa had returned and he would heal well She would see to it And she wouldn’t let hi and able She would also take Raymond of Vermille aside and impress upon the master at arms that if he allowed one hair on Merle’s head to be harroaning softly, and Maris reached for his heavy hand She sat on the edge of the bed and held his fingers in her lap, thanking God again that he was not so sore injured that he had fallen into a fever

"Maris" His voice was stronger than she’d expected and a surge of relief rushed over her

"Papa, I have broth for you…andtea" She helped hi and lucid Aye, there would be no fever and for that she sent up another prayer of thanks

"Aye, dearling I find I aht hied up a spoonful of the rich broth as she replied "Maash, her head becaet some air She bade me call her when you awakened--or if you worsened So there you see, naught has changed in your absence" She smiled with a bit of huulped the broth

Papa s her worry that ht has changed--for I have seen changes just in this charown more beautiful and more skilled in my absence I told Raymond I wished to come to the place where I would be cared for the best And I ht choice"

"Aye, indeed, Papa, none will care for you as I do," Maris told him with a teary smile "But you must rest now"

"Aye That I will And on the hter, and I will brook no disagree after Christ’s Mass was a cold, clear one, and the sun was high in the sky Maris shielded her eyes from the brilliance of the snow as she picked her way to the stables

Her mare, Hickory, nickered softly froently to her, petting the soft black nose that rooted about the folds of her brilliant blue cape for the dried apple hidden therein She offered the treat to Hickory, then knelt in the stall to look at the injured leg

Yesterday’s poultice was long dried, and Maris peeled the strips of cloth away Gingerly feeling the length of the , she noted Hickory’s start when she pressed on thefroh stone had eased, but the mare was still in too much pain to walk easily

Before the warm bruisewort poultice she’d prepared cooled, Maris pressed the cloth that held the herb onto the tender spot on Hickory’s leg The horse nickered softly and butted her nose against the top of herthe herbal mass firmly in place, she wrapped clean strips of cloth around, binding it fir to her feet when the sound of running footsteps alerted her

"Lady!"

Maris froze her heart surging into her throat Papa?

She whirled to see as dashing into the stables with such haste