The man was not far off, of course, trying to pretend he had not been watching. “I come with less than joyous tidings, my lord,” Arcolin said to him. “Your daughter is remarkable—a good heart, graciousness, gentle in every way—but for all that, as she is young and in many ways innocent, I find myself … well, to be frank, I cannot wed her. It was no lack in her but in myself—my years as a mercenary, in fact. She deserves a gentler man.”

“I see.” A keen look out of the man’s dark eyes. “She did not beg you not to choose her?”

“No. She told me frankly she found me less frightening than she’d expected. I realized then that to gently bred young women, a man my age, with my experience, would be frightening. Yes, I have been at court; I am not the swaggering lout that some people think soldiers are, but the fact is, I spent four hands of years and more as a hired killer. And that is still my occupation; I am just back from another season of it. My stronghold in the north is full of similar men; my vills are populated largely with retired soldiers, men and women both. A better wife for me—a better duke’s wife for my people—will be someone less sheltered than your daughter or others like her.”

The man nodded. “I understand, my lord Duke. But I had understood you did not plan to marry a soldier, as Duke Phelan did.”

“No—his and Tammarion’s was a rare match; I cannot wait, at my age, for such a thing to happen to me.” He sighed and looked Rahel’s father in the eye. “I hope you will believe me, my lord, that this is not an insult to your daughter or your house, but—I truly believe—the course of wisdom.”

“I am not insulted,” the man said. “Will you then propose to the widow?”

“I will talk again with her, make plain the situation she would have with all those soldiers around her, and if she declares herself confident, then yes: I will. She is older; she worked in trade with her husband—”

“She has a child—”

“Yes. And if her child proves of good character, I may adopt the child; otherwise I will foster it and provide for its future. But that is still uncertain, as is my understanding of her.”

“Well, then.” The man put out his hand, and Arcolin shook it. “I wish you well, my lord Duke, and—though I may be disappointed in my hopes for my daughter, I call you honorable for speaking so plainly about the roots of your decision. Now I see Rahel sitting alone and looking pale. She needs her father, if you will excuse me.”

“Indeed, my lord,” Arcolin said with a bow.