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"I should be glad to," Spink declared To my astonishment, he crossed the room with alacrity and offered Epiny his arm He blushed as he did so and she seemed likewise ruffled Nonetheless, she accepted his offer and they preceded ainst the marble steps as they descended the staircase Her hair had been brushed and siold lace net at the base of her neck Spink’s back was straight as a ramrod; he was not much taller than she was As I followed them, it struck me that they looked like a couple

Then, abruptly, Epiny ended that illusion She snatched her hand back froathered up her skirts, and bustled down the stairs ahead of hiht up with hi room

"Don’t mind her," I told hiirl at this point My sisters went through a similar time"

I did not add that htiness had been far more severe than my uncle’s tolerance of Epiny’s eccentricity I recalled his stern admonition toand womanly calm, they will never find appropriate husbands I am a new noble, madam, as you are aware Some of their opportunities to rise in society theysedate, tractable, and de women"

"As I was," e to her voice, bitterness or regret, that I could not understand

I do not think my father even heard it "As you were, my lady, and continue to be A fine example of all a noblewoman and wife should be"

When we entered the dining roo behind her chair My uncle was at the head of the table Purissa waited at his left elbow The child looked far roomed than she had earlier Someone had tidied her hair and put a clean pinafore on her Spink and I rapidly took our places and I

"We are short on formality at family , for you are definitely faard your friend as if he were alret that your Aunt Daraleen and Cousin Hotorn cannot be here as well He is away at his schooling, and she has been summoned to serve our queen at court for the days of the Council of Lords They will not convene it until Firstday, but the women of the court must have at least a dozen days to be dressed for it And so she has departed, leaving us here to get by on our own But we shall make do here as e can in their absence"

With that, we took our seats and a servant entered almost immediately with the soup Thein Old Thares The food had been cooked to be consumed by individuals rather than stirred up in vats for hundreds The difference in taste and texture seemed marvelous after so many meals produced for the le chop cooked toofto controlof apple pan dowdy

Spink kept pace with ed to hold up his end of the conversation with Uncle Sefert He expressed great admiration for my uncle’s home, and asked a nueneral The gist of his questions see it took a noble farand ancestral seat The answer seeenerations" My uncle spoke proudly of the innovations he had introduced in his lifeti of the wine cellar to allow for better temperature control Spink followed his ansith enthusiasm, and I saw my uncle warested that we ht retire to his den for tobacco and brandy My brief hope of a peacefully masculine retreat was shattered when Epiny protested with, "But Papa! You said I ht have the forward to it!"

Uncle Sefert heaved a tolerant sigh "Oh, very well Gentle roo games of Towsers" He looked ruefully aood-naturedly and agree? Purissa seeht, for she jumped from her chair and ran to catch hands with her They led us away from the table and into a pleasant room where a little iron stove ena a teakettle puffing out steas from Sebany Upholstered cushions in the vibrant colors of that exotic land littered the room Potbellied oil lamps with painted shades flickered in their alcoves despite literally legions of fat yellow candles of all shapes and sizes on holders of all heights throughout the chaher than my knee, and on one of these were several platters of biscuits and a carafe of watered wine A large wicker cage held half a dozen tiny pink birds that hopped fro as we entered White curtains had been drawn for the evening across the tall s