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Shipment? Adrienne wondered frantically Shipment of what? She backed soundlessly away from the door

Stupid Gullible Innocent What was so bad about being innocent? she wondered as she slunk through the darkened house, sing her sobs At least there was honor in innocence At least she never hurt anyone, never used anyone So ullible Maybe she even lacked a bit of common sense But she ood heart That should count for sohtened with suppressed tears Stop it, she chided herself Focus Find the queen Get back home They don’t make men like the Hawk in the twentieth century, and after the Hawk no atehouse loomed before her Why hadn’t they stopped her? She knew they were still there Maybe he wanted theo Maybe she’d been so naive and unschooled that he really wasn’t interested at all After all, aa willing wo’s whore care? There would always be another worily at a pebble and watched it skitter into the wall of the gatehouse Would they pull up the portcullis and draw back the sally port for her? Roll out the red carpet to celebrate her leave-taking?

And as she stepped into the archway, Grimm melted out of the shadows

She stopped, relieved

Try that again, she told herself Write that scene one more time, Adrienne de Si denied escape"

No, definitely relieved

She sighed, her shoulders drooping "Grimm Let me pass It’s my life Move"

He shook his head "Sorry, o back to the Co light He looked truly confused, and his eyes kept scanning the northern bailey, as if he was expecting someone "Because I’m homesick," she lied Well, perhaps not exactly a lie--she diddawned in his handsos apart,for so?"

"What?" He couldn’t know! Could he? "Gri about … well … anything of ht have left there … at home?"

"Like what?" Grimm asked, the veritable picture of innocence

"Yes, like what?" echoed a voice behind her Soed and for the worse The Hawk’s velvet purr had taken on the coldness of se?

"Take her to the Peacock Rooaround to face hio to the Comyn keep!"

"What seek you, wife?" he asked icily