She nodded. “And respect you and esteem you for those qualities you have, which is to my mind the more important. I have met rogues in business whom I could not help liking though I knew they were rogues and not to be trusted—but I would never consider marrying such a one. You, I had heard of and admired from afar before I met you, and meeting you was like meeting an old friend. Trust, my lord Duke. That’s what I offer.”

Joy boiled up through his former confusion. He realized he was grinning at her like a foolish boy. “Then, my lady, we should make this formal: Sera Calla, will you marry me?”

“Indeed I will,” she said. She glanced at her child, now looking from one of their faces to the other in puzzlement.

“Do I need to speak to your father?”

“Oh, no. I’m a widow; I’m my own woman. We should tell him, but—no more. And you aren’t worried that marrying a merchant’s daughter will injure your prestige?”

He laughed. “Kieri married a soldier. Besides—it doesn’t matter to me. Does a marriage soon suit you?”

“Very well. We will want to be in the north as soon as possible, won’t we?”

“We,” not “you.” He put out a hand to the boy. “Jamis, I am pleased to see you. We will be going on a journey together.”

“Indeed so,” she said, when the boy looked at her, still puzzled. “You and I, lad, are going north—north beyond anything we’ve seen. It’s an adventure!”

“Ad-venture? Like this picnic?”

“That’s right. Only bigger. We won’t know what’s coming around the next turn of the trail. Isn’t that exciting?”

“Leave Granna and Grandda?”

“Yes. But we’ll visit sometimes. Now come, Jamis. We’re going to walk around with Duke Arcolin and make our manners before going back home to start planning the trip.” She turned to Arcolin. “I can ask Cyntha to watch him for a while, if you want.”

“We’re not in a hurry,” Arcolin said. “I’ll walk slowly enough.” She took his arm and gave her other hand to her son. They strolled around; Arcolin saw—and was sure she saw—the knowing looks others cast at them. Duke Marrakai’s lady was the first to approach. “Duke Arcolin—and—”

“Lady Calla,” Arcolin said. “She has consented to marry me. And her son, Jamis.”

“I am happy for you both,” she said. “And hope you are both as happy as you look now, for the rest of your lives.”

After that, it was greeting after greeting, but they stayed only so long as necessary; the king himself gave them leave to depart.

Immediately after the wedding, the king called Arcolin in for a last conference. To his surprise, Dorrin was there, along with High Marshal Seklis and the Marshal-Judicar. Something about Beclan, he surmised.