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Lia cruainst the kitchen wall, unable to stop tears fro! She buried her face in her hands and wept, struggling to understand her feelings For though she was embarrassed and humiliated and undone with tiredness and shock, yet Colvin had finally returned to Muirwood He had co the relief would feel

That he had not forgotten her after all

CHAPTER FOUR:

Colvin

Lia wrung water fro that its color was not as fashionable as Sowe’s as her friend began coaxing tangles out of it with a coht over a tray of bread, cheese, nuts, and a cup of cider Lia’s body was still wet fro of the lye soap, but the spare dress arm and soft and she felt less constricted without her hunter leathers, which were in a basket waiting for her to purge the by the ovens to flare hotter, helping fight the evening chill The other two glanced at the sudden spurt of fla it

Lia ate quickly for she was starving She looked up at Bryn and said between ?"

Bryn did a bouncy step and a twirl "A year Maybe more What Pasqua said is that we are to feed the Alder to eat at the learner kitchen Since they will be staying at the er into the kitchen Ever" She stopped a dead, should we be so worried? Sowe told me that the sheriff stole in here once and hurt you, Lia Do you think soulped down so "You should always fasten the doors at night, Bryn, even if I am not back I can always sleep elsewhere, and I kno hard it is waking up Sowe Besides, there are still survivors fro off the land Martin and I have seen their tracks, but they have stayed away from the Abbey so far Still…it is best to be cautious" She wiped her mouth "So explain this to me How did Colvin and Edmon…"

"The Earls of Forshee and Norris-York," Sowe said, interrupting her "They have titles, Lia You are supposed to use them"

Lia snorted before continuing "They ca at the Abbey for a year? You said they brought two young ladies with the her dancing since it was her first year to attend the Whitsunday festival and she wanted to be sure she had it memorized "One is the Earl of Forshee’s sister She’s a second year learner from an Abbey in the north Not only is she Colvin’s…I mean the Earl of Forshee’s sister, she is also the couest – the niece of Garen Demont The two earls are her protectors Or maybe more than just protectors"

Lia chewed on a handful of nuts, trying to understand as going on Pain froentle," Sowe said, tugging another tangle loose

"More than protectors?" Lia asked "What do you e of a flagstone Honestly, the girl could hardly hold still! "At the laundry, they say the girls are each promised to the earls That the Earl of Norris-York is to marry the Earl of Forshee’s sister That is so co all those titles Besides, they said we did not need to address them as nobles Edmon is supposed to marry Colvin’s sister Marciana And Colvin is supposed to ed with disbelief, but she sta to Muirwood because he was out wooing a girl?

Bryn clearly did not see her burning face, for she kept on talking "Reome says that Colvin is too old not to be married or at least promised to someone She thinks that he should have found a wife before beco a maston Do you think he is too old? He is only nineteen My father and mother did not marry until they were twenty and five and twenty" She stopped and turned to Lia "Tell Lia about the girl, Sowe About Ellowyn!"

Lia sat still while Sowe finished with the comb She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but only Colvin knew the answers she sought

Sowe’s voice was soft "She was a wretched, like us The king kept her hidden in an Abbey since she was a baby and so she did not knoho she was The earls brought her out Not many know her story The Aldermaston said we should not tell anyone that she was raised a wretched We should only say that she is the niece of Garen Demont and that she is to stay for a few seasons"