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T he boys did not accompany them on leaving the Great Hall. Instead, they bade them a swift good night with a promise of seeing them on the morrow once their training was done.

“Do you suppose they are up to something?” Gunnilde wondered suspiciously as they made their way back. “Only that farewell was rather hurried, and Hal’s manner a little too offhand for my liking.”

“Who knows,” James replied. When she did not look satisfied with this reply, he added, “They are likely up to some mischief but there is precious little we can do to contain them.”

Gunnilde sighed. “You are in the right of it, I know, but as an older sister I cannot help but be apprehensive.”

“Instead of worrying about their mischief making, why do we not set about our own?” he suggested, making her catch her breath.

“Mischief making?” She echoed, her eyes widening with delight. “Pray, what did you have in mind, husband?”

“I thought we could visit our first tavern,” he said, wondering if his own attempt at a casual manner struck her as false as her brother’s. He did not feel remotely casual. He wanted very much to take Gunnilde out into the town, just the two of them.

“Oh yes!” she cried, catching hold of his sleeve. “I would like it above all things! Shall we set out now?”

“We need to return first to our rooms and change into our plainest garb. We do not want to encourage thieves by looking too affluent.”

Gunnilde nodded. “Will we need to take someone discreet with us?” she asked, lowering her voice.

“Not tonight. I thought we would stick to the King’s Row,” he said, naming one of the bigger and better populated streets which was not so far from the palace. “When we venture further afield, we may have to.”

Gunnilde redressed hurriedly in a bright red dress with little adornment save for some gold-colored braid at the cuffs and hem.

James changed his dark tunic for an older one of similar design.

Perhaps his wife had a point about his dress being unadventurous.

He would have to let her have her say when next he summoned a tailor.

“You are wearing sensible footwear, aren’t you?” he asked with misgiving as they donned their cloaks.

“Yes,” she agreed with a gurgle of laughter. She stuck out her foot to show a red leather ankle boot. “I would not attempt to wear my others anywhere but court.”

“Have you gloves?” he asked. “It is cold out.”

Gunnilde nodded and held up a pair of embroidered mittens. She started pulling them on. “Are we ready?” She was all excitement, eyes aglow.

“Ready,” James agreed, proffering his arm.

“Oh, wait!” she said, whipping a glove back off. “What about Mistress Bartree’s ring? Should I leave that here?”

“No, you had better wear that at all times,” James replied without thinking. He would not want anyone laboring under a misapprehension. “At least until I have bought you a replacement for it.”

They exited the palace by way of the East Gate, which had a huge circular tower and studded gate. James exchanged a few words with the guards there, who, hearing their plans, warned him to steer clear of a certain part of town, and they passed out into the cobbled streets without more ado.

“Which tavern are we frequenting tonight?” Gunnilde asked, squeezing his arm.

“It is one of the largest in Aphrany, the King’s Arms.”

“And have you been there before?”

“Not for a long time,” James admitted. “It must be three or four years.” He cast her a quick look. “I was never much of a tavern-goer, in truth.”

“I hope Hal and the others are not let loose on the city at night.” Gunnilde shivered. “The guards would surely challenge them, would they not? If they attempted to escape the palace so late of an evening.”

James cast a swift look at her. It rather depended on the gate and how well manned it was. Also, how susceptible the guards might be to a bit of bribery, in his private opinion. “They would certainly be questioned if they attempted to breach one of the four main gates,” he answered evasively.

“Did you know they have been placed in castle barracks for the duration of their stay this time? They are not anywhere near the courtiers’ rooms.”

James nodded. “I heard. I suppose the guest quarters must be oversubscribed with so many traveling in for the Winter Solstice festivities.”

Gunnilde gave a murmur of agreement. “Hal was quite indignant at having to share a room with so many other boys.”

“I take it he is not sharing with his particular friends.”

“Not initially, but there has been some swapping around from what I can make out. They all sound a law unto themselves.”

“I am sure.”

“They were impressed that you were acquainted with Sir Renlow. He is a great tournament favorite these days. Do you see much of him nowadays?”

James shook his head. “He is not much at court. The last time I saw him he told me he was lately married.”

“And when was that?”

“It must have been the summer before last.”

“I had heard he married a rich merchant’s daughter,” Gunnilde observed, “but he did not bring her to Tranton Vale this year. We were all quite disappointed. I wonder what she is like.”

“She seemed a modest, quiet sort of woman to me,” James replied, hoping this description was sufficient. “Not remotely tall or sad,” he added, making her smile.

“They sound well matched, then,” she said, her tone strangely wistful. What did she mean by that? Before he could ask— “She must have made quite an impression on you,” she marveled. “For you to have remembered her. Why, you scarcely remember anyone!”

James cleared his throat. “She and her sister stayed at Wycliffe Hall for a month or so before either one of their marriages,” he admitted reluctantly. “Her father paid my mother a handsome sum to introduce them about the county.”

Gunnilde’s eyes widened. “So then, you know her sister too? The sister who married Lord Kentigern and is a very famous beauty.”

“I would not say I know them, either one,” James answered with a shrug. “I am slightly acquainted with both ladies only.”

“And was not Lady Kentigern very lovely?”

“I do not remember.”

“Really?” Gunnilde sounded incredulous. “She has raven locks and the most radiant complexion you ever beheld. A lovely singing voice too. I have been fortunate enough to meet her above twice now, for you know her husband brought her to my father’s house in much style and ceremony last May.”

“And what does that entail exactly?” James asked.

“Well, she wore her husband’s colors most boldly and unfurled his banner in the stands to sit beneath on all three days.

Instead of staying under my father’s roof, Lord Kentigern brought his own pavilion to stay on the grounds.

It was all emblazoned with his crest and very flaunting.

Everyone was most surprised for before times, he had slunk into Payne Manor as surly as a bear with a sore head, and would glare at anyone who looked too long in his direction.

Why, you were lucky to get three words out of him altogether! ”

They had reached the end of the street now and turned left. “Yet this time, he was different,” James guessed.

“Yes!” Gunnilde agreed. “Quite, quite different! We all agreed he had never been so agreeable. He made sure to have some conversation with his hosts, and then you know, he introduced Lady Kentigern to all and sundry and made a great show of it. She told me I could call her Aimee,” Gunnilde added with shy pride.

“I had hoped I would see her here at court, but apparently they never come to Aphrany, for they live chiefly in Caer Lyoness for all he is a northerner.” She turned her head to look at James.

“Were you not in Caer Lyoness for the summer tournament last year? There was a very famous incident where Lord Kentigern gave the tournament crown to another. Did you never hear tell of it? Oh, my heart broke for the lovely Aimee when I heard of it!”

James shook his head. “I do not frequent the tournaments,” he reminded her.

“Oh, sorry, I quite forgot that fact.”

He waved this aside. “What happened?” he prompted.

“When?”

“When Lord Kentigern awarded the tournament crown to another?”

“Well, they do say it quite enraged Sir Jeffree de Crecy, and everyone was expecting a huge scene to come of it, but my father says it was all just nonsense, for when they next met it was much the same as usual.”

“But why should it enrage de Crecy that Kentigern snubbed his own wife? Was he a former suitor of hers?”

“No, not at all! Sorry,” Gunnilde exclaimed, “I quite forgot to say, that Kentigern bestowed the crown upon de Crecy’s wife, who everyone said at the time he was holding in utter contempt for being some mousy obscure country woman, and not very beauteous at all.

They say she trapped him into marriage, and he was sulking about it.

Then Lord Kentigern raised Lady de Crecy higher than any lady present, shaming Sir Jeffree for hiding her away. ”

“Well, I know that is not true,” James said, glad to have some knowledge of such affairs.

“For this time last year, I saw Sir Jeffree kneel in supplication to his wife and beg her to return his love in full view of the court. He certainly was not holding her in contempt at that point and she did not look remotely mouselike.” Indeed, she had seemed quite a forceful personality in James’s opinion.

Gunnilde came to a standstill in the middle of the road, whipping around to face him. “You were not present for that?” she gasped, mouth falling open.

“I was.” And very bemused, too, by the strange turn of events.

“How could you not tell me? You must give me a firsthand account at once!” She was practically starry-eyed at the prospect. “Oh, how I envy you!” his wife breathed, clapping her gloved hands together.

James caught hold of one fast in his hand and tugged her along. “Keep moving,” he recommended. “The night air is brisk, and you will get cold.”

“I had heard of it, of course !” she continued happily, her words coming out in white puffs of air.

“How Sir Jeffree gave public penance to his wife and begged for her forgiveness for the early days of their marriage. They do say he is almost most abjectly devoted to her now,” she said wistfully.

“Would you say that is so? I have not had the opportunity to observe them together at close quarters,” she said with a hint of envy.

“That was certainly the impression I gained. He made a complete exhibition out of himself just to please her and did not seem to care at all.”

They had reached the main entrance to the King’s Arms by this point, and James towed Gunnilde in through the entrance.