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Chapter One

Lyonene could hear Lucy’s heavy step on the stone stairs and snuggled deeper beneath the thick coverlet The January winds whistled outside the old donjon, threads of cold air cutting under the wooden shutters, but her bed ar as possible

“Lady Lyonene” Lucy pulled the bed-curtains back She was an old woirl’s birth and was much like a old tunic with the green surcoat and mantle”

Lyonene, who had turned toward the light only reluctantly, now looked with interest at Lucy “The green mantle and surcoat?”

“There is a guest, an iuest, and you are to wear your finest clothes for the introductions”

Lyonene threw back the bedclothes and put a small foot on the rush-covered oak floor The shutters were closed tightly against the cold winter, and the only light came from the small fireplace and the tallow candle on the tall iron stand by the bed The soft glow highlighted the full curves of her sli body Lucy helped her mistress into the thin linen shift and then the woolen tunic, the tightness of which e

“Know you this guest? He is friend to my father?”

“Oh no, my lady” Lucy fastened the thin leather belt about Lyonene’s slim waist “He is an earl, aman”

Lyonene stopped and stared at herearl, fair, and rides a white stallion?” Lyonene teased the old woman

“You shall see soon enough Now get your coles from your hair”

Lyonene obeyed and then asked, “Tell me more of him What color are his eyes? His hair?”

“Black As black as the Devil’s eyes”