But I shook my head, for it must be I alone who cut and harvested the plant. The Lady of the Forest had made that clear. I gave Margery a hug of reassurance and thanks.

Lord Richard had to see me sooner or later. The summons was brought by Megan, who of all the maidservants seemed to be least in fear of me. I was to come to the hall, she said. Myself and Mistress Margery. The lady Anne said we should all be there, as a sign of respect for our visitors. Straightaway, the lady Anne said. Margery grimaced, and told Megan the lady Anne would just have to wait. She seemed in no particular hurry. She undid my hair and brushed it, and plaited it up again, muttering to herself. “I’ve never seen such an untamable head of hair! No sooner do I put it in order but these little curls come breaking out as if they’ve got a life of their own. Well, near enough will have to be good enough. Can’t keep the lady Anne waiting forever. She’s got a sharp tongue on her, when she wants to use it. Chin up, Jenny, you’ll do well enough.”

I followed her along the hallway and down the wide stone steps to the lower floor. Maybe this won’t be too bad, I told myself. After all, everyone will be there; we can just slip in the back and make an appearance, to satisfy the lady of the house, and then slip out again. My hands were feeling better; maybe I would go back to my room and spin some more. Surely nobody would notice.

My hopes vanished the moment we came into the hall. For this was a select gathering only. No hope of anonymity here. Lady Anne sat on one side of the hearth, and Elaine on the other. She carried her head like a queen, and her face was as delicate and fine as a gardener’s most prized bloom. Her large blue eyes surveyed me tranquilly, without judgment. Beside her I felt every bit the uncouth, feral child that they doubtless thought me.

Red was standing by the window, with his back to the room. Near him was the lord Richard, and I could see on closer inspection a trace of the family resemblance; not much, but it was there in the fair, graying hair with its slight curl, and the shrewd, measuring gaze, the same I had seen in the lady Anne’s eyes. He was not a particularly tall man; Red stood a good head taller. But there was an authority, a presence about him, something you sensed instantly. Something that set me on guard. You will find it difficult, Red had said, speaking of his uncle and how it would be when I met him. That was all right. I was the daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Why should I be scared of some Briton, even if his name was Northwoods?

“So this is the girl,” observed Lord Richard. His voice was held deliberately soft. Soft, I thought, like a cat’s paw when it toys with a mouse. “Well, come forward. Let me see you, girl.” Margery gave me a gentle push in the back, and retreated to the far end of the room, where her husband stood looking as if he wanted to blend into the tapestry on the wall. Ben was there too, I saw; he gave me a reassuring wink, and Lady Anne frowned. As well, there were two or three men in Richard’s household colors, russet with a slash of black, and all of them were looking at me. Red had not turned around. I glanced at Lady Anne. She gave a sort of frozen nod, and I took one step, two steps forward. Held my head high. Looked him straight in the eye. I am the daughter of the forest. I am not afraid of you.