page50 (2/2)

TERREILLE

“Lady?”

Cassidy looked at Powell, as hurrying toward her

“Told you they’d notice you were still working,” Reyhana said quietly

Grf That was Vae’s grumpy opinion

“Oh, hush up, both of you” Cassidy tossed the handful of weeds into the basket, brushed off her hands, and s a feeeds and keeping Reyhana company while she brushed Vae” Of course, if she wanted him to accept the “a feeeds” fib, she should have vanished at least half the weeds in the basket

“Excellent,” Powell said “You don’t rest as much as you should”

“Powell?” Cassidy asked sharply The man was too distracted to notice the basket? Her Steward noticed everything

“There are some people who need to see you”

Not want,need She sent out a psychic probe to get a feel for Spere’s and Archerr’s tempers, since they were the escorts on duty this afternoon, and wished Ranon or Gray were back from their respective errands—or that it was closer to sundown and Talon could be with her

Si up from her men

“Reyhana, stay here Vae, you stay with her,” Cassidy said

“But” Reyhana began

“Stay”Until she knehat this was about, she was not putting Reyhana in a potentially explosive situation

We will stay, Vae said

Thatto keep up with her When she reached the parlor that was the waiting roo to have an audience with the Queen

“Dryden?” Cassidy looked at the Grayhaven butler “What?Birdie? ”

Therewas the reason for the anger—that dark bruise on the little maid’s face

Shira, Cassidy called I need you in the visitors’ parlor

Cassie, I really don’t feel

The Healer’s attendance is required

Shira didn’t reply Cassidy didn’t expect her to Shira the woone out to look at properties with Gray, but the Healer would arrive in the parlor ready to practice her Craft

Putting an arm around the maid, Cassidy led Birdie to a sofa and sat doith her “What happened?”

“I didn’t do anything bad,” Birdie whispered “I swear by the Jewels, I didn’t”

“If I may explain, Lady?” Dryden asked

Cassidy looked past him to the other people in the room Elle, the housekeeper; Maydra, the cook; and four of the young men orked in the Grayhaven stable and had befriended Gray before he’d begun to heal from the emotional scars that had their roots in the torture he’d endured

Shira burst into the rooet some ice from the block in the freeze box”

“I’ll do that,” Spere said He slipped out of the room