‘Flidais has a headache.’ I drew a deep breath. ‘The visit to Winterfalls village did not go entirely to plan. I won’t take her with me again until . . .’ Until what? Until she turned into a different woman, the one I’d once imagined I would be marrying? ‘It is much easier when you are with me,’ I said. ‘If I have perhaps forgotten to thank you for all you do, that does not mean . . .’

‘Oran,’ said my friend, ‘I will not lie to you. I was disturbed when you made the decision to move me to the men’s quarters. More than disturbed. Perplexed. Hurt. I had perhaps come to expect too much, since you have always treated me more as friend than servant. But –’

‘Wait a moment. I made the decision that you were not to sleep in the antechamber any longer? No such thing – you moved of your own volition. One day there, the next day gone. And suddenly not a friend anymore. Suddenly as cool as if you despised me.’

No response from Donagan; he had his elbows on his knees and was looking with apparent fascination at a beetle crawling across a leaf.

‘Donagan? I gave no order for you to move out of the antechamber.’

He gave me a sideways look. ‘An order came from Lady Flidais, through one of her women. Saying that I was to remove myself and my belongings to the men’s quarters and leave the antechamber empty. I did question it. I was told the arrangement would provide better privacy, in view of your impending marriage.’

‘You should have spoken to me,’ I said, stunned. She’d got him out of the way so she could continue to steal into my bedchamber. I could think of no other reason. And she must have known I wouldn’t like it, or surely she would have consulted me first. ‘Why didn’t you tell me straight away? Surely you know me well enough to realise I would never do this.’ Gods, Donagan probably imagined we were still disporting together on a nightly basis.

‘Before Lady Flidais came here,’ Donagan said quietly, ‘I thought I knew you very well indeed. Now I’m not sure I know you at all.’

His words were like a blow. I looked down at my hands, unable to speak. Bramble leaned against my leg, and at her touch I felt tears start in my eyes.

‘You’re betrothed, Oran,’ Donagan said. ‘As good as hand-fasted. I can’t do my job with Lady Flidais here. I want to help you. I don’t want to leave you. But I can’t stand by and watch her destroy the man I knew; the man who was my friend. And now,’ he rose to his feet, ‘I’ve said it, and I should go.’

‘Wait,’ I said, struggling for calm. ‘Please.’