Hildegarde and Annelise would get along just fine. Rolfe’s step was light as they left thestables.
All had come right, just as he had promised his ladywife.
* * *
Annelise was shownto a room to one side of the great hall. She glimpsed the boughs of cedar hung in the larger room and realized that it must be very near the Yule. She had lost track of time in the djinn’s palace. Would it be possible to reach Viandin in time for the festivities? She hoped Tulley did not intend to delaythem.
That lord’s bright gaze locked upon her as he pivoted to faceher.
“Come in, Annelise,” he said, as emotionless asever.
Annelise swallowed her fear andobeyed.
“I had understood that you were to join the Sisters of Ste. Radegund a short time ago,” the overlord said. His gaze flicked over her garments. “Without my permission, I might add. But you do not wear nun’sgarb.”
“I did not return to the convent, sir.” She spoke more demurely than was her inclination. This man held her future in his hands, and Annelise had no intention of annoying himunnecessarily.
“Whynot?”
“Our party was beset by hunting wolves, sir, after we had lost our way. The man I travel with granted merefuge.”
Tulley arched a brow. “Indeed. Yves returned here with the others. I sent him on to France, to fight in thetournaments.”
Annelise bowed, relieved to hear these tidings. “It was his fondest desire,sir.”
“Yet he was concerned about your fate. He feared the wolves had takenyou.”
“I was more fortunate than that,sir.”
“Indeed.” Tulley leaned closer. “But why did you abandon Sayerne in the first place? I did not grant you leave to doso.”
“But you summoned Quinn.” Annelise shuddered. “I could not simply await himthere.”
Tulley’s gaze turned assessing and he settled back in his chair. “You have no reason to fear yourbrother.”
“It seems to be only good sense, given the tales I have heard of Quinn’scruelty.”
Tulley arched a brow. “But from whom did you hear thosetales?”
“From myfather.”
His gaze locked with hers, as resolute as ever. “A man we both know to be of somewhat unsavorycharacter.”
Annelise saw in Tulley’s gaze that he knew what had transpired at Sayerne all those years past. “You knew!” she breathed. “You knew and yet you didnothing.”
“On the contrary, I did all that I could!” Tulley’s tone was savage. He pushed to his feet and paced the room, his frustration evident. “Law maintains that a man cannot be accused of a crime without evidence or witness, Annelise. There was neither! I had no option but to send you away and secure your safety, and that was what Idid.”
Silence reigned while Annelise came to terms with thisnews.
“So now you would compel me to return toSayerne.”
Tulley looked surprised. “Why would I dothat?”
“Because Quinn is not home and I am the only other legitimate child. I am not a fool, sir, so pray do not treat me asone.”
Tulley smiled before he sobered again. “Trust me, Annelise, even if that were the case I have learned my lesson about leaving a woman—heiress or no—in charge of an estate. No, I would find a man I could trust and grant the estate to him on the condition he wedyou.”
Annelise parted her lips but Tulley raised a finger imperiously, commanding hersilence.
