“I would dearly love to hear you speak, little wild girl,” said Richard, and although his tone was soft, his stare was as hard as cold iron. “Where do you come from? What could you tell us? And why do you suddenly look so fierce, like a mother wolf defending its young? You know something of this, I am certain of it. So convenient, to be without words. I wonder what your people would give, to have you safe home again.”

There was a short silence. I looked him straight in the eye. I am not afraid of you. I am not afraid.

“She’s a good girl,” said Margery unexpectedly. “She comes here with no ill purpose, my lord, of that I am sure.”

“Not only that,” said Ben with a crooked grin. “She wouldn’t have come at all if we’d given her a choice in the matter. Very averse to sea travel, is Jenny. She’s here by accident as much as anything.”

“Besides,” said John, “if you are suggesting some noble family would pay a ransom for her return, you are certainly wrong. This is a child who has fended for herself for some time, I am convinced. She has no family but this one to turn to.”

“Child?” Richard seemed like a hunting creature waiting to pounce. “The girl is of marriageable years, and comely enough in her wild, unkempt way. What future has she here, if what you say is true?”

“My brother and I had an idea, Hugh” This was Lady Anne, and sensed this part of the conversation, at least, had been well prepared. “He—we thought, since we are lacking in suitable company for her here, that Jenny might go to stay at Northwoods for a while. Richard is headed back there in the morning, and sees no difficulty in her joining his party. Elaine has several young companions, and has said she would welcome another. This would please me, Hugh.”

“Out of the question.” Red’s response was immediate and abrupt.

“Not so fast,” said Richard, his eyes narrowing. “There’s Elaine to think of as well, boy. Your betrothed. Don’t forget, I’ll be away from home again soon, and my daughter asks this as a special favor from you. It’s lonely for her up there with her father gone. She’d welcome the novelty.”

My heart quailed. I had little doubt of the true purpose of this request. It was not companionship for his daughter that he wanted. It was the information I could give him. And I sensed his interest in Simon’s fate was not simply that of a solicitous uncle. No, there was something more to this, I was becoming sure of it. Red had been right to suspect his uncle’s motives. Richard needed to know what I knew, and whether I would tell it to others. And he would be adept at making me talk.

“This could be a good idea, Hugh,” said his mother carefully. “You cannot be unaware that Jenny’s presence here has brought some—unrest—to the household and to the folk of the estate. Since Elaine has been so kind as to extend an invitation, surely it could do no harm to send Jenny to Northwoods for a while. It would relieve the pressure here greatly. Perhaps you have closed your ears to what people are saying about her and about—about your motives in keeping her here. It is a delicate matter. But this would be a wise decision, I think.”