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When the clearing came into view, anticipation sparked in her veins and a calmness settled her tumultuous spirit.

The Midnight Shadow was waiting for her.

Kenric searched the streets, the houses, but Bria was nowhere to be found. He grimaced. That girl is going to pay for this, he promised himself. Ruining a good night of wenching and drinking. He shook his head and reined in his horse, turning back to the castle. At least he’d collected some taxes and frightened some farmers. The night wasn’t a total loss.

“Terrifying women is no way to get respect.”

Kenric whirled.

A man clad all in black stepped from the darkness of the forest, a dark hood hiding his face.

“You,” Kenric snarled.

“Only tyrants rule through fear,” the Midnight Shadow whispered. He flung back his black cape and pulled his sword from its sheath. It hissed like the hot flame of justice.

Anxiety gripped Kenric. He looked around, but none of his men were anywhere to be seen. His horse danced nervously beneath him.

“Come, Kenric,” the Midnight Shadow said. “Meet me in battle.”

Kenric hesitated. Perhaps if he waited, his men would appear.

“Coward,” the Midnight Shadow whispered into the darkness. The word carried to Kenric’s ears on a light breeze. “By the time your men return, I’ll be long gone. Face me now.”

Kenric refused to dismount, holding tight to the horse’s reins. It would be foolishness, he told himself, to fight in the dark. He looked around once more, hoping some of his men would appear, but the road remained empty. He turned back to the Midnight Shadow. “Your lover is now in our hands. Knowles married her to bait you.”

“Here I am,” the Midnight Shadow whispered. “Come and get me.”

Kenric hesitated again, his horse circling. “We shall meet again,” Kenric promised. “And the advantage shall be mine.” He spurred his horse, moving down the path to flee into the night.

Terran stared out his chamber window at the late morning sun. Its bright rays bathed his face with warmth, but only coldness reached his soul.

“She knows who he is,” Kenric said from behind Terran. “We should question her thoroughly.”

Terran’s mind refused to focus on Kenric’s request. Bria was still out there somewhere. Had she reached Castle Delaney? Had brigands hurt her? Did she need him? Terran’s jaw clenched.

“Terran,” his cousin called, “he’s robbing you, taking your coin, making a fool of you in front of your people. Why are you not more concerned with capturing him?”

Terran whirled quickly, fury binding his hands into fists. He approached Kenric, and Kenric retreated before Terran’s anger. “I am no fool,” Terran said. “But this Midnight Shadow is not important right now. The whereabouts of my wife is. And you failed to find her last night.”

Kenric was silent for a moment, unused to Terran’s rage. Finally, he bowed slightly. “M’lord,” he said, “I did not realize she meant that much to you.”

Did not realize she meant that much to you. The words echoed inside him. God’s blood, Terran thought. She does mean that much to me! That’s why I’m going mad with worry.

“I will – ”

A knock came at the door. Terran whirled, breathless in anticipation of any news. “Come,” he commanded.

The captain of the guard, Sir William, entered. He looked at Kenric as if gaining approval, then glanced at Knowles. “We found her,” he announced.

Terran took a step forward. “Where?”

“In the old garden, m’lord,” he said.

Terran wasted no time in racing out the door toward the old garden. She hadn’t left the castle! Or had she and then returned? What was she doing in the garden? Had she gone to that weed-infested patch to get away from him? Or was it as Kathryn had said, that he had hurt Bria’s feelings? Guilt surged within him.

Terran cursed his rashness, but caring for someone so deeply was new to him.

He threw open the door to the old garden. It was smaller than the main garden and grossly neglected. Perhaps Bria felt she fit in here, Terran thought. He stepped through the door and looked quickly around, but there was no sign of her.