Genith did not disagree. Nesta guessed that by now Genith found it commonplace that everyone thought her entrancing. On seeing her sister after eight years, Nesta herself had been astonished. They shared similar features, but it was as if God had used the older face for practice and then, on forming Genith, had corrected His errors and achieved perfection.

Genith rose on her arm and looked to where Marcus slept near the horses. “He guards them as if he thinks someone will steal them during the night.”

Not someone, Nesta thought. Me. The idea had crossed her mind, and she did not care for the evidence that Marcus had guessed that.

Normally she could disarm such suspicions with a few smiles and a bit of teasing. The thing about having men look at her with lust was that it made them vulnerable, and she was not above using that. Marcus, unfortunately, seemed to see through the ploy every time. Worse, as he had shown in the cottage, he also had the weapon this time.

She heaped silent curses on Edward and his chancellor Stratford. Why couldn’t they have chosen a stupid man for Genith? Saints knew the English included enough of them. Or at least chosen one whose looking could be used, rather than shamefully savored? This man was making everything much more difficult than it should be.

“Have you decided what we are going to do?” Genith sounded fretful and confused.

She wrapped her arms around Genith, and relished the sisterly bond so much that her heart whispered a traitorous cheer that the escape had failed. “I know what to do. Sleep now, and do not worry.”

She was lying. She had no idea what to do. Her conversation with Marcus on the horse had revealed more than he intended, however, so she at least knew how to thwart his plans until she figured out the rest.

Marcus pushed them along at a good pace, but once they crossed from Clun into his own lands that changed. Their approach to his home slowed as he paused to greet farmers along the road. In two villages he made the retinue wait while he dismounted and spoke at length with the reeves. Nesta overheard talk of wives and kinsmen, and not only discussions about duties and sheep and such.

Anglesmore proved an impressive castle that showed signs of recent expansion. The folk greeted their lord’s return with good cheer. By the time she climbed out of the wagon in the inner yard, Nesta knew that Marcus’s return was welcomed and not dreaded.

She found that disheartening. Dissatisfaction would have been more useful to her. She wasn’t surprised by the contentment, however. She knew something of the recent history of this place. For a horrible few years the people of Anglesmore had suffered under the worst of men. Even if Marcus had proven less than fair, they would have been grateful to have him instead.