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His eyebroere knotted with anger and he looked at her as if she were a fool – as if his every action should be obvious "It is inconvenient knowing that my fate and my life is in the hands of a wretched who cannot keep quiet Your friend is quiet I find her courtesy and deference admirable You talk too much for soh and she did, under her breath "Sowe is quiet because she is shy, especially around boys She hardly says tords when the Aldermaston comes"

"I would say that is a proper token of respect"

"Then you fear that I will spill your secret? That Iout ofin his ers were thick with dough, and she scraped thean shaping it Part of her crinkly hair dropped in her face, and she brushed it aith the back of her hand

"I aossip in the laundry," she said "Maybe that is what you are used to"

"It has been eneral cannot keep secrets My life depends on your ability to keep mine"

"But I am not like that You may believe me or not, but I have kept a secret of this abbey for years A secret that the Aldermaston has forbidden anyone to know You could trust me with your name, and I would tell no one Not even the Alder to believe her, or did he still doubt?

"I cannot trust anyone like that," he said softly "Except ed "At least you have a sister You had better climb up to the loft Pasqua will be here soon"

He nodded, scooping the last of the porridge with his spoon and took the bread and honey with hi at the ladder, he looked at her

"The shirt – thank you for troubling yourself to wash it"

"It was no trouble" She turned back to the dough and set it in a bowl, sprinkling flour on it "I aht from now so I will soon be fourteen So you do not have to wonder any ht-maston friend will coht with satisfaction He truly was insufferable

"I hope so," he said and clile of vats, pumpkins, sacks, and jars

"As do I," she whispered as she walked to the main door and raised the crossbar Pasqua arrived shortly after

Daas cold, bringing a soupy fog to the grounds With Soorking again, the chores were nearly done when the pear tart was finished baking Pasqua asked Lia to carry it to the Alder her cloak, she set off the short distance to the rantly of cinna, and she broke off a little crue to taste it She entered theto keep fro mud across the tiles and went to the Aldermaston’s study Normally it was quiet there, but it was abuzz with co the Aldermaston in conference with his elderly steward, Prestwich, as bald except for a fringe of snohite hair, and Jon Hunter, as explaining sos on the bridle or on the saddle or saddle bags No coat of arnet Nothe murders The saddle was of such quality as you would expect froht…or squire"

The Alder Lia to enter and directing her to the serving table With his other hand, he gave a littleHe was very good at that, Lia noticed The Aldernarled with hard work, the skin purple with veins, but there was still strength in those hands, and a feeling of authority

"Thank you, Lia Co not to look at Jon, or else she et hi she already knew about the horse and they could go on talking

He squinted at her, then rubbed an earlobe that had several gray hairs poking froive to Pasqua Please pay attention"

Lia stood still, listening

"We are expecting guests Eht They stayed at the Swan, not the Pilgrim Pasqua will care about a detail like that, so do not leave it out I have been told that they will co about this visit, so apologize to her that she was not given time to prepare"