She told herself many things, and none were the truth. It was not the rain that made her pause, nor the pleasurable sight of the Welshman in the yard training one of the falconer’s birds to a lure. It was dread at what she might find.

Never would she have believed that she would pause at this last step toward her sister. It was not that she was a whore – many times she had thought Bea might have been forced to prostitute herself. In some ways, it was the best she could have hoped for, the least evil of many fates that could befall a girl of her station. Not starving or dead, just a common whore.

Now she could see that she had always imagined saving her sister. That’s what had been in her mind, that she would find Bea and carry her away somewhere safe. It’s why she had gone looking for her in the first place. But if what Aunt Mary said was true, then Bea did not need to be saved. There was no great urgency in the task.

So Nan hesitated, agreeing to wait until morning, delaying departure, nervous of what she might find. Afraid there was no more of her little Bea, and she must learn to love this Bargate Bettie. But no matter her fears, the day would not wait.

It was midmorning when they crossed the bridge amid a crowd of people and carts and animals. The falconer had said there was a small market just beyond the bridge, near to where her sister could be found, and he had some business there. The Welshman came too, and she felt the tug of his attention with every step. It had been her constant companion these many days, from the moment he had first seen her, and she would be free of it soon. It should make her glad. It should be a relief.

At least she need not be burdened with worry for him, so changed was he in the presence of his friend. It seemed to her as if he had found a lost piece of himself in the moment his friend had said his name. If he had regained his confidence as they left Wragby, now he had found his full ease and comfort. He had come back to himself. As they passed through this market, among all these people and their noise, he did not flinch or stare or shrink. He was well. He would be well.