He had been tender with her. Gentle. Kind. Her heart swelled. The measure of a man was not in his features but in his heart. She would tell him so, if he doubted thetruth.
But where was he? Annelise considered the empty room again, then smiled as sheguessed.
It was his chivalry at root again. He had let her sleep and was waiting for her to join him to break their fast together. He could not yet know that she was inclined to rise with the dawn. That he did the same was yet another trait they held incommon.
That realization was all the encouragement Annelise needed to rise, wash, anddress.
Draped across a chest was another surprise. The kirtle of emerald green was so dark and rich that Annelise had never seen the like. She touched it tentatively, guessing that it must be a gift for her. There was no other lady in this abode, after all. There were fine ochre shoes of smooth leather fit for a queen, a sheer chemise embellished with fine embroidery, a cloud of cloth of gold for wimple andfillet.
Annelise found a steaming bucket and a cloth, and smiled. She washed then donned her new garments. They fit perfectly and were of such fine material that she could not believe her good fortune. She spun happily in the middle of the room. She could easily become accustomed to her husband’sgenerosity.
It seemed she had not made such a bad match, afterall.
But there was a great deal Annelise wanted to ask her spouse. She certainly had not felt any evidence of disfigurement the night before and she thought she had made a fairly thoroughinvestigation.
It was time to find him and learn the truth, whatever it mightbe.
* * *
The palace provedto be as deserted as it had been when Annelise arrived. No matter how loudly she called, only the echo of her own voice sounded inresponse.
What of the servants her husband had mentioned? She found no sign ofthem.
Had he lied toher?
Annelise did not like that prospect atall.
And where had he gone? The pleasure of her surprises dissipated when she could not locatehim.
She did find a simple meal, left for one. The scent of fresh bread drew her to a room alongside the chamber they had shared. As before, there was butter and cheese, as well as a rosy apple and a cup of golden ale. She ate, assuming that he had already done as much. Then she embarked on a thorough investigation of the palace, resolved that she would not rest before she found herspouse.
The palace was not infinite. She was certain she could explore every nook beforemidday.
* * *
The sun washigh by the time Annelise had explored all of the rooms of thepalace.
She had not found another livingsoul.
Where had her husband gone? Where could he behiding?
She wondered whether there was only one gate in the entire circumference of the surrounding wall. There might be another gate for the servants to use. There might be a watchtower at some point where she could overlook the grounds and see what she had missed. She decided to walk the entire circle of thewall.
It was not long before she reached the stables once more and she hurried into their shadows. Her husband might have taken refuge here, in the company of hishorses.
The palfrey she had ridden the day before nickered at the sight of her. She greeted the beast and checked its flank, relieved to see that the wolf’s bite was healing already. The other palfrey in the stall greeted her with enthusiasm and she gave each of them a brushing. They had been tended very well, but she knew that horses enjoyed the attention. There were oats aplenty for both horses, and water, aswell.
As she worked, she recalled the day before, which seemed like a distant dream. What had happened to the rest of the party? What of Yves? Had he been taken by wolves? Annelise recalled hearing one man’s scream, although she could not have identified thevoice.
She should have spoken to Yves instead of trying to provoke him into granting herdesire.
She should have sought him out instead of waiting for him to cede toher.
Annelise had been so certain that she could accompany him, but he had been adamant. She had to admit that Yves would know more of what lay before him when he rode to tournament than she could guess. She had been raised in the shelter of a convent, while he had trained with men ofwar.
All she had been able to think was that she had not wanted to wed either Enguerrand or Hildegarde’sson.
And now, Yves might be lost. She might have no one in her life, save her elusivehusband.
