I looked at him in silence. His pale brow wore a frown, and his eyes were troubled.

“What could she say,” asked Richard, “against such charges? It is clear the girl is both adulteress and informant. She has proved on this household like some creature of evil that sucks the lifeblood of its victims. She has abused the trust of my sister and my nephew in the vilest way. She—”

“Is the last witness still not to be found?” asked Father Dominic mildly enough. “This Benedict, the man you spoke of. I would hear his tale, before the final judgment is made.”

“He’s gone, sir.” The men at the door shuffled their feet awkwardly. “We sent out, and all hunted for him, but the stable lads tell me now he’s gone away. Been gone some days, they’re saying now. Gone home to visit his family, that’s what they think.”

I saw Richard’s eyes narrow at this news, and he called one of his men to him. After a hasty whispered exchange, the man left the room, rather quickly.

“Indeed.” Father Dominic drew a line across the page of notes. He turned to Richard, and his tone was very cool. “This was an important witness. He should have been heard. Did you make no attempt to keep him here? Must you rely on your stableboys for accurate information?”

“I was unaware that he was gone, Father.” And that was true, I could see it in Richard’s face, where there was an ill-concealed anger.

“Well, it is clear this is one witness that will not be heard. Are there no further statements to be made?” asked Father Dominic, looking about the assembled folk.

“I would—I would ask a question, by your leave.” Lady Anne seemed unusually hesitant. Heads turned as she stood up at the back of the hall.

“Very well, put your question.” The priest sounded weary. It had been a long day. A very long day.

“If Jen—if the girl is guilty, I know the penalty is death. But—but what if she were with child? That is possible, even probable. This child would be the heir to Harrowfield; my son’s son. I would not wish—”

I felt myself flush scarlet with shame and humiliation. But at the same time, somewhere deep inside me, I knew just how she felt: Such a child would be mine, half a son of Erin; in her estimation that would make him wild, fanatical, and a sworn enemy of all she held dear. But the child would also be Red’s; a son whose father, and whose father’s fathers, had nurtured the very life of the valley. I could have told her there was no child. But I sat there like a stone and willed my face to calm. I did not forget I was the daughter of the forest, not for an instant. And something I had heard once, long ago, slipped into my mind and out again before I had time to grasp it. Something I had been reminded of recently…one who is neither of Britain nor of Erin, but at the same time both…what tale did that come from? My mind was hazy, I could not remember.