“Here she is,” a woman beside Alyx said.
Alyx looked up at an angelic face, blonde hair, blue eyes, an ethereal, delicate smile.
“I am Elizabeth Chatworth.”
Alyx’s eyes widened at the name, but she said nothing.
Elizabeth continued. “I’m afraid our little bride-to-be is terrified,” she said in a tone of exasperation and disgust. “Do you think you could calm her enough so that we could get her downstairs?”
“I will try.”
“If you can’t, then I’ll have to put my hand to her cheek and see if that music will quieten her.”
Alyx had to smile at this sweet-looking woman’s words. They did not fit her face at all. “What is she frightened of?” she asked, trying to decide what music to play.
“Life. Men. Who knows? We have both just come from the convent, and you’d think Isabella was going to her death.”
“Perhaps her betrothed—”
“He’s manageable,” Elizabeth said with a wave of dismissal. Her eyes went to Jocelin, who was staring openly at Elizabeth. “You’re pretty enough to not frighten the rabbit,” she said. A loud wail from Isabella sent Elizabeth to her side.
“My goodness,” Alyx said, feeling as if she’d just left a storm. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone quite like her before.”
“And I pray we don’t again,” Joss said. “She calls us. Heaven help the man who dares disobey that one, although...”
Alyx looked up at him, saw the speculative gleam in his eye. “She’ll have your hair if you disobey her.”
“It’s not my hair she’d remove, and damned if I’d mind letting her.”
Before Alyx could reply, Joss pushed her toward the crying bride.
It took an hour to calm the woman, and all the while Elizabeth Chatworth paced behind the chair, now and again narrowing her eyes at the weeping Isabella. Once she opened her mouth to say something but Alyx, fearing the woman would ruin what she and Joss had accomplished, sang even louder to cover the beginning of Elizabeth’s sentence.
When at last Isabella was ready to go downstairs, all of her maids went with her, leaving Jocelin and Alyx alone with Elizabeth Chatworth.
“You did well,” Elizabeth said. “You have a magnificent voice, and unless I miss my guess you are well trained.”
“I have spent some time with a few teachers,” Alyx said modestly.
Elizabeth’s eyes fixed on Jocelin in a piercing gaze. “I have seen you before. Where?”
“I knew your sister-in-law, Alice,” he answered softly.
Elizabeth’s eyes turned hard. “Yes,” she said, with a brief, insolent look up and down Joss’s form. “You would be her type. Or perhaps any man with the proper equipment is pleasing to her.”
Jocelin had an expression on his face Alyx had never seen before. She wished he’d say no more. After all, it was Joss who’d killed Edmund Chatworth, Elizabeth’s brother.
“And how are your brothers?” Joss asked, and there was challenge in his voice.
For a long moment Elizabeth’s eyes bored into his, and Alyx held her breath, praying Elizabeth would not know who Joss was.
“My brother Brian has left my home,” she said quietly, “and we do not know where he is. There is rumor that he is held by one of the filthy Montgomerys.”
Jocelin’s hand clamped down on Alyx’s shoulder brutally. “And Roger?” he asked.
“Roger... has changed. Now!” she said smartly. “If we are through discussing my family, I am sure you are wanted below.” With that, she swept from the room.
“Filthy!” Alyx yelled before the door was closed. “Her brother kills my Raine’s sister and she dares call us filthy!”
