“The girl took it well enough, according to your mother. She was upset, of course, but your mother is of the opinion that she will come around, especially once she understands that any type of relationship with you is hopeless. Your mother told her about your engagement. That should end the matter.”

It should, but Marcus had the feeling that it wouldn’t. His thoughts in regard to Evelina were all mixed up; a tangle of desire and revulsion that he couldn’t understand. He saw her lying naked beside him on the bed, and he ached and throbbed, and he saw her somewhere else, doing something else—he couldn’t remember what or where—but when that vague memory tugged at his sleeve, the throbbing turned into a sickening feeling that churned his stomach and left a sour taste in his mouth.

He said nothing, however, and his father, thinking he understood, gave his son a sympathetic glance and rode on ahead, leaving Marcus to his thoughts, which immediately left wedding and/or bedding and went back to what—if anything—lay ahead.

They rode swiftly that day and made a cold and cheerless camp late in the evening. The rain ceased, but the trees dripped incessantly all night long. The ground was wet and soggy. The fires smoked and gave forth only sullen, grudging warmth. Marcus was stiff and sore from the long ride, and a night spent sleeping on the ground didn’t help. They were up and in the saddle as soon as there was light enough for men and horses to see where they were going. They rode all that day, slept on soggy ground that night, and were up yet again with another gray dawn.

The clouds passed that morning, leaving a clean-washed blue sky and glaring sun that, by the time they reached Aston Castle, was high above the trees. Prince Wilhelm was not there to meet them. He’d ridden out with his troops. He had left orders for the care of his father and brother and their retinue, orders that his lady-wife carried out in an exemplary manner. Grooms stabled the horses, which were glad to rest after their wearying journey. The knights enjoyed a hearty repast, and the king enjoyed meeting with his daughter-in-law and playing with his grandchildren. There was an air of tension, however, and when a messenger arrived, riding a steaming horse into the courtyard, half the castle turned out to meet him.

“What news?” the king asked, holding the horse’s bridle himself.

“Prince Wilhelm bids me to give you this message, Your Majesty,” said the knight. “My lord says: ‘The sun shines. The river flows. The birds sing. Our archers snore beneath the trees and our men-at-arms lose the money you are paying them to each other at dice.’ “