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As she had predicted, the kitchen was in an uproar The s she was

"Another egg, Bryn Over there…no, over there! Do not be wasteful" Pasqua lanced over at Lia and shook her head "Look at you, child The Alderht in that storm, did he? Another flood, I suspect? And here we have five hundred loaves baking, just like before" She s her shoulder "We have been busy, but Sowe and Bryn are good girls They orking before I arrived, and I came early Let me help you wash your hair It is a thicket as always You do not want to look like that in front of Colvin and Edirl"

Lia al the Abbey grounds in the storm with Colvin, who insisted he accompany her in case any of the riders entered the borders of the Abbey grounds She was so exhausted, she accepted Pasqua’s help because it would bring sleep faster She hid the Cruciger orb and stowed her hunter gear and garb, while Pasqua went to the changing screen and started fetching ater froer froood look at her last night She is a dangerous one, she is The cut of her dresses It is sha an Abbey Poor learners will not be able to concentrate at all while she stays Let me hold up your hair, child Oh, this is filthy Like you were crawling through brambles and mud on purpose" Warm water drenched the crown of her head and dripped brown fro, Pasqua helped clean her hair and neck and talked about the visitors, the food they would serve, wondering how long they would stay, while Lia listened to the chatter from Sowe and Bryn

It was the softness of their voices that attracted her interest They were trying not to be overheard

"I think he will come earlier today," Bryn said softly "Earlier than yesterday"

"It will likely rain all day He is bored and likes telling stories"

"You know it is more than that He likes you, Sowe"

Soas quiet a moment "He is very kind, but he does not care for me, Bryn He is just friendly Lia told me"

"That may be what Ciana said, but I have eyes! You should see the way he looks at you He does not look at me that way Not at Pasqua" Their voices fell even softer and Lia strained to hear "How long was Colvin gone before Ed with you"

"Being with us," Sowe corrected "Besides, he is nearly finished with all hisalready He is bored"

"I do not think so And stop pretending you do not care, Sowe I see the way you look at hi like you are six," Sowe s

"And you are not acting like you are nearly fifteen Sowe, this is the year that the older boys start to notice us Not the ones our age, but the older ones, like Ed is that you should watch for signs from him Look for those little clues He wants to be here in the kitchen instead of in the cloister with Ciana and Ellowyn That says soht up when he h at his stories, too!"

"Of course I do! All I a is watch for it Will he come earlier and earlier each day? How many times will he ask you to dance at Whitsunday? Will we…"

"He will dance with me once Just like he said He will ask us all"

Bryn did not sound convinced "You think so But I have eyes Tell me you do not care about him"

"I do not care about him…not in that way He is an earl, Bryn I am a wretched I do not love him I do not love anyone"

Lia reht her Someone who says o’er much I love not is in love

As the ater dripped frohts turned to Colvin and she winced It was absurd It was totally, completely absurd She enjoyed his company She had shared with hiether inBut as she had listened to Bryn’s words she began to wonder if she had been blind Was Colvin telling her things with his eyes that he dared not say with his mouth? There were many hints He found Ellowyn’s quiet demeanor attractive in a wretched, not a wife He craved co equals with a woman He wanted to spend time with Lia instead He wanted toin his to inside her chest She could not wait until the afternoon