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“Juliette. . .”

“Tell him,” she said, more firmly. “And I will be along as well.”

Galien’s father did not seem pleased by his wife’s announcement. Yet, he did not argue with her. Instead, the man grunted, a familiar sound of displeasure Reina knew well. She could not help but smile at the similarity.

Indeed, as she followed Lady Juliette abovestairs, she nearly laughed aloud at the similarities between the two. Reina caught Lady Juliette peering at her as they reached the top of the stairs.

“They are so similar,” she said, by way of explanation.

Galien’s mother pushed open a door after inserting its key. “As are we.”

She nearly gasped at the state of the bedchamber. How could it possibly have been prepared so quickly? The coverlet was turned down, a fire already started. Candles lit every bit of the room, and, as they entered, a tub was brought by three servants behind them. As hot water was brought inside, so too was a trunk. After it was placed at the foot of the bed, Juliette made her way toward it.

“You will find everything you need inside.” She pulled out a cotton shift so lovely it looked more like a gown itself. “There are three gowns in there as well,” she said, closing the lid and placing the shift on Reina’s bed. “But that should suffice for this eve.”

“A moment, if you please,” Lady Juliette continued to one of the maids, who had stayed behind after the tub was filled. She curtseyed and exited the chamber, closing the door behind her.

“I have never seen anything quite like this bedchamber,” Reina said in earnest.

“Yet you are a baron’s daughter. Anbarth’s daughter, are you not?”

That alarmed her. “If you know,” she said quickly, “do others as well? Do they link Galien to me?”

Lady Juliette clasped her hands in front of her. “You are concerned for my son.”

“Of course. None can link the two of us. I fear he has told too many already.”

“You must be hungry,” the lady said in response, gesturing toward the table. Reina sat as Galien’s mother poured each of them a goblet of wine, never answering her question. Lady Juliette did not eat, however, the hour well past supper.

“How did you know?” Reina asked, curious about that and so many other things. She ate as Lady Juliette spoke.

“MacAdder,” Galien’s mother said. “He told us of Galien’s capture. Of your rescue.”

She’d assumed when the reivers bid them goodbye, they had returned to. . . wherever it was they lived. Also, the lady was holding something back. “Mmm,” Reina mumbled between bites of the most delicious duck she’d ever tasted.

“He also told us”—she did not smile, precisely, but the crinkles of Lady Juliette’s eyes became slightly more pronounced—“that you seemed. . . special. To Galien.”

“Oh,” she said, not typically so unable to find proper words.

“I will be forthcoming, Lady Reina.”

“Reina, please,” she said, remembering how Lady Juliette had introduced herself.

“Reina. I would like to thank you for rescuing my son. If it were not for you, he would be on his way to the hangman’s noose. It is a debt that neither I, nor our family, can ever repay. But MacAdder also told me of the deal you struck with Galien. Please know, we will begin an inquiry into Dennochbrook that we’ll not conclude until the truth is known. In the meantime, you are welcome in our home.”

“Thank you, my lady. I do appreciate your welcome as,” she cleared her throat, “I am unsure what awaits me at home after what I have done.”

“Have you and my son spoken of this?”

“A bit. Although I have mostly avoided discussion of it.”

Lady Juliette put down her goblet and leaned forward. “What you did was brave, Reina. And of course we are very thankful for it. But you need not worry about your future. If it is reparations with your parents you seek, we will find a way to facilitate it. Whatever you need, it is yours.” She stood. “However, it is my belief you’ve already found what you seek.” Lady Juliette smiled. “Good eve, Reina. I will see the maid back inside to assist you in your bath. I’m certain you are weary from your journey.”

Reina thanked her hostess and watched her leave with so many questions, and too few answers.

Where was Galien? What had Lady Juliette meant by that? It is my belief you’ve already found what you seek. She knew nothing more of her birth now than when she’d left Anbarth. And why did Galien’s father seem angry? Was it with her? And yet, it was his wife he’d looked at as if he would chastise her. However, after meeting Lady Juliette, Reina did not think Galien’s mother was a woman easily chastised.

It was only after she’d eaten and bathed and donned the extraordinarily soft shift Lady Juliette had left her that one of her questions was answered. She knew by the sound, the way he knocked, Reina had at least found Galien.