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She swept by him as Adalia gave a quick curtsy and followed. John watched them walk swiftly down the corridor.

Did Anne think he would just remain here, after such a curious encounter? He followed at a discreet distance.

* * *

When Elizabeth felt they were far enough away from John’s bedchamber, she whispered to Adalia, “How could my sisters have come unannounced?”

“Apparently, the rumors of your captivity had finally reached them. I know not what they intended; mayhap to surprise Lord Bannaster?”

“Where is their foster father?” Elizabeth asked in exasperation.

Adalia shrugged helplessly.

“What did Milburn do when they arrived?”

“Told them they could not see you, and said he’d return them to their foster father with an even larger escort tomorrow. I think they would have caused trouble right there, but I signaled for them to be quiet. They behaved like meek young ladies and let themselves be escorted to their bedchamber.”

“Your presence worked wonders then,” Elizabeth said dryly. “Meek young ladies? I may not have seen them since our parents’ funeral six months ago, but they can’t have changed that much.”

After climbing a circular staircase in a corner of the castle to the second floor, they arrived at the girls’ shared bedchamber.

Elizabeth knocked, and when one of the girls called for her identity, she said, “’Tis Anne, lady’s maid to your sister.”

The door was thrown wide by a shocked Sarah, the eldest of the two at sixteen. “I thought I recognized your voice!”

“Be quiet!” Elizabeth hissed, pushing her way inside.

Adalia retreated. “I must see to me son,” she said with a grin. “Good night, ladies.”

When the door was safely closed, both girls, redheads without Elizabeth’s height, hugged her and started talking at once.

“That man said you were secluded!”

“Did you call yourself Anne?”

Elizabeth, her arms full, patted their backs and finally disengaged herself. “I am all right. Aye, they think they’ve held me captive, but Anne and I exchanged places.”

“Then why haven’t you escaped?” Sarah demanded. She was the practical one of the two.

“Because Lord Bannaster would punish our friends and servants. I couldn’t permit that to happen. I’ll find a way to make everything right.”

“So you’re acting as a maid?” Katherine said, looking appalled. “But you’re the eldest daughter of an earl!”

“I am doing what is necessary. And it’s not as if I have much to do, since the steward only allows me in the tower at mealtimes.”

“Anne is imprisoned there?” Sarah asked. “How long has it been?”

“This is the fifth day.”

“Oh, Liz,” Katherine whispered, using Elizabeth’s childhood name. “I am so afraid for you.”

Elizabeth put her arm around her youngest sister. Katherine may be old enough to marry, but the girl had been sheltered within this loving family—as Elizabeth had once been, before her parents’ deaths.

“It may seem frightening,” Elizabeth said, pressing a kiss to Katherine’s head, “but Lord Bannaster does not want to harm me. He only wants guardianship—and perhaps marriage. That is illegal, since I’m betrothed.”

Sarah put her arms around them both. “You must promise me that if you can’t free yourself, you’ll get word to us. Our foster family will gladly come to your aid.”

“I promise,” Elizabeth said, although she could not imagine bringing another family, especially one with so little wealth and power, into what might become a violent situation.