Summary: While wedded bliss is what Sir Erik and Christine long to enjoy, the recent threats and mysteries that haunt Winterbourne take precedence...especially when Christine decides to take matters into her own hands...

Tapestry of Deceit

Growing Suspicions

Christine wiped her eyes and leaned against a stone column as she listened to Sir Erik speak soothing words to his children. She was still in shock after Helena's sweet question, her body trembling every time she recalled the young girl's words.

Mother. Helena had called her mother.

Christine knew that Sir Erik had married her because he wanted a mother for his children, and she had long since accepted this fact, but…the thought of actually becoming their mother, had not truly struck her until just now. And it moved her beyond anything she had ever imagined…

"Do you love us, Papa?"

Christine was shaken from her thoughts as she heard little Sabrina's young voice ring out, like a small, clear bell. She held her breath, waiting for Sir Erik's answer, knowing in her heart what his answer would be, but waiting breathlessly to hear him say the words.

Erik, who was sitting in his daughters' bedchamber, with both Jacob and Charles standing by his side, was shocked by his young daughter's question. His eyes immediately flew to Jacob, who caught his father's gaze, before looking down at the floor, his face written in sadness. Erik remembered all the words that had transpired between himself and Jacob when the boy had come to his chamber earlier; actions weren't enough for him to show his children how much they meant to him—they needed to hear the words too.

Erik looked down at his daughter, who was gazing up at him with large green eyes, eyes that were filled with hope and expectation at what her father would say. Without a word, Sir Erik reached down, and picked Sabrina up, until she was nestled on his lap. Before Sarah could protest, the Black Knight also picked her up, and settled her on his other knee, before addressing them all.

"Understand this," he murmured, his voice deep, yet soft. "All of you…every single one of you…mean more to me than life itself. I would do anything for you, anything," he vowed, a growl rising up in his voice as he remembered the mysterious scroll that had held The Jackal's seal. "You are my greatest joy," he whispered, but his voice was strong and sure. "I know that I have not been a proper father, I know that I have left all of you, often in the care of servants, to fight battles or survey villages, as ordered by His Majesty. And during those times when I was here…I…" his voice caught, and outside in the hall, Christine struggled to swallow the emotional lump that was lodged in her own throat. "…I was afraid," he finally confessed. "Afraid of how to be a father…unsure what to say…unsure what to do…" he lifted his eyes heavenward, swallowing once more, before returning his gaze to his children, each of them looking up at him in amazement. "That man…that man who never played with you…who never ate with you…who…who ignored you…" he managed to shakily get out. "That man is no more. The father who played 'Knights and Dragons' with you…he is the man who sits before you now, he is the father that you should have had, and that you WILL have, from this day on," he vowed, his eyes fiercely holding the gaze of each child before him.

Jacob felt his chest swell with pride, as he looked at the way his younger brother and sisters gazed up at their father with such admiration and love. And he too also looked at his father this way; the man he had once hated was no more. Thanks to Christine, the father they loved was there for good.

"Understand this," Sir Erik murmured, his gaze softening just slightly. "There will still be times when the King will call me away…but know that I am thinking of each and everyone of you…that I am counting the hours, from the very second I depart, to when I will be home, once more, with all of you," he then turned his gaze back to his daughter, who was looking up at him with wide, wet eyes. "And yes, Sabrina, I do love you…I love all of you, I always have. I just…never knew how to tell you, until now."

Christine let out a long, shaky breath, as her husband's words echoed throughout the small bedchamber. She smiled and wiped her eyes once more as she heard tearful, loving murmurs escape the children's lips, as they hugged their father tightly.

They know, now. Christine smiled at this thought and hugged her arms tightly around herself. Truly, they had become a family.

"You should all get some sleep," Erik murmured, his voice struggling to keep control, despite the great emotions that were swelling within him. "I know that it is dawn, but I think a few extra hours of rest won't do us any harm."

The children were feeling rather tired, especially after being awoken by Helena's frightful screams. The boys returned to their chamber, while Sir Erik kissed the foreheads of his daughters, before tucking them back into their beds. Christine watched, her heart overflowing with love for her masked husband, as he slowly exited the chamber. Inside, she felt a glimmer of hope rise within her heart; perhaps one day, he too would murmur such a loving oath to her…

Sir Erik appeared around the stone column that Christine had been hiding behind, causing the young woman to jump in surprise. It still amazed her how a man of his great size could move about so quietly.

"Has Helena gone back to sleep?"

Christine nodded her head, a deep blush washing over her cheeks as he looked down at her with such intensity. She was suddenly aware, once again, that she was only wearing a bed sheet to hide her nudity…and from the way he was looking at her, it seemed he could see right through it.

The recent events with the children had distracted the Black Knight from the recent events that had taken place between himself and his young bride. Now, as he gazed upon her glowing face, which had turned a beautiful pink color, he could feel his desire growing once more. He was well aware that beneath that sheet, she was completely naked, and it was extremely tempting to take her up in his arms, and carry her back to his bedchamber so that they could continue their newfound wedded bliss. After all, they had been married for several weeks…and there were many nights to make up for…

But sadly, now was not the time. The children had gone back to bed, but they would be up and about shortly. The servants were already going about their early morning chores, and while he knew they would not dare to gossip in his presence, he did not wish for Christine to be embarrassed. And there was still the mystery involving the infamous scroll, a mystery that had been heightened after Helena's mysterious nightmare…

"Come…" Erik murmured, his large hand falling across Christine's back. "The day is only beginning…but I fear it shall not be easy."

Christine's eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of her husband's large, warm fingers, but she shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. He was right, of course; now was not the time for girlish romantic fantasies.

As Sir Erik escorted her back to her chamber, Christine's mind began to piece together the many mysteries that she had been learning over the last few weeks:

Sir Raoul's mysterious appearance, and his revelation that Sir Erik had been married before.

The mysterious disappearances of both Beatrice and Elizabeth.

And now, someone who called themselves The Jackal, leaving frightening messages for Sir Erik to find.

All the mysteries seemed vastly different…and yet, Christine had a strange feeling that somehow…they were also connected.

"Erik?" she turned to him, her eyes filled with question. "What did the scroll say, exactly?"

Erik was caught off guard by his wife's sudden question. She had been walking alongside him so silently, and now, as they stood just outside her chamber, she asked him the last thing he thought she would ask. "Nothing you need to worry about," he murmured, before opening the door.

Christine shook her head. "Nay, I want to know. Please, tell me what it said."

Erik clenched his jaw. "I will handle it, Christine. Don't worry—"

"Stop saying that!" Christine practically shouted, her eyes darkening with frustration at the way he was shutting her out. "I am not a child, Erik! I am your wife and I have a right to know!"

Erik was not in the mood for a fight, and yet it seemed that a battle was inevitable. "Christine, hear me now: I am the master of this castle, I am your husband, and I have the final word!"

Christine squared her shoulders, ignoring the angry growls she heard in his voice. "They are my children too!" she spat back. "Or am I not their mother any longer?"

Erik groaned. "Christine, you know that's not what I—"

"Good!" Christine pushed her way past him, and without a moment's hesitation, dropped the sheet she had been wearing, as she marched over to her wardrobe, fully aware that he was staring at her from behind. "I am glad that is settled," she grumbled, as she selected a gown.

Erik swallowed as he watched Christine move about the chamber with such ease, with not a care in the world that she was naked. He felt his body grow hard once more as the memory of her naked flesh beneath his own, returned.

"As their mother, I need to know about the dangers that threaten my family," she continued, before slipping her shift over her head. "Therefore, I need to know exactly what that scroll said."

The spell that had captured Erik had been broken by Christine's words. She was an innocent, yes, but it seemed she had also learned a woman's strategic methods for distracting her husband. "Christine—"

"It had The Jackal's seal on it…" she continued as she began to slip a blue gown over her shoulders. "And yet you claim the man is dead—"

"He IS dead, I killed him myself!"

Christine lifted her eyes to her husband then, and Erik hissed out a curse. This was the very thing he didn't want to tell her; he didn't want her to look at him like a bloodthirsty monster, he had already revealed to her that when he was younger, he enjoyed slaughtering enemies, but he did not wish to press the issue into reality. Last night she had given him her body, she had given him her heart; he would die if she came to see him as the monster he knew he was…

"I know," she whispered.

Erik had turned his face away, but immediately caught her eyes, his own wide with surprise. "You do?" he was sure he had not revealed to her that The Jackal had died by the end of his own sword.

Christine nodded her head. "I could see it in your face, when you told me the story," she whispered. "I saw the pain of the memory…" she slowly walked over to him, and Erik held his breath as Christine lifted her hand to touch his masked cheek. "I can not imagine how horrible it must have been…"

Erik stumbled back, not wishing to be reminded of The Jackal's "gift", nor did he feel worthy of Christine's pity.

Christine bit her lip, and watched the strong, broad shoulders of her husband, sag as if a great weight had been placed upon them. A great weight that no doubt carried many painful memories of the past. "I want to help, Erik. I want to help you with protecting our children and our home. Please…"

Erik stiffened as she felt Christine's soft fingers touch his arm. No, no, she could not help, she could not learn anything! Learning anything about the past would lead to her learning about…about…

NO! I have just found her…I will not lose her because of that!

"Erik?" Christine watched in horror as he grabbed a hold of his tunic and threw the door open, before marching out and slamming it behind him, the sound causing the very stones at her feet to tremble.

Meg kept glancing at Christine's reflection, as she went about the task of combing her new mistress' hair. The poor girl looked troubled, and Meg yearned to help her friend in any way possible.

"Christine…if this tension between you and Sir Erik is because of Robert and myself…perhaps it is for the best that we move on?"

Christine was shaken from her thoughts at Meg's words. "Nay, Meg, I promise you, you are the last thing on Sir Erik's mind. And I will not hear it; you and Robert are staying, besides, your time is very near, you can't possibly travel now!"

Meg smiled at this and lovingly ran her hand across her swollen stomach, but she still looked at her friend with worry. "Christine, you know that any secrets you reveal to me, will remain exactly that. You are my dearest friend, I will not gossip anything to the other servants," she looked intensely at the brunette's reflection. "Did something happen last night?"

A sudden blush covered Christine's face, and Meg's eyes went wide. She didn't have to be told what Christine's blush meant. "Christine!" Meg practically hissed, before spinning the young woman around until they were facing each other. "It wasn't your first time, was it?"

Christine's blush only darkened, and Meg's eyes went even wider. "But…but you have been married for…for weeks, now!"

"Meg, please…" Christine was so embarrassed.

Meg's curiosity, however, was only heightened by her new mistress' silent revelation. "Oh Christine, are you all right?" she bit her lip, her face holding nothing but concern for her friend. "Was he rough?" The Black Knight was a large, fierce man, and Meg felt her blood boil with anger at the thought that he had not been gentle with Christine. "I know this may sound embarrassing, but Mama did teach me how to make a tonic to help ease the pain of—"

"I'm fine, truly!" Christine hissed, her cheeks a dark shade of crimson. "Sir Erik was not rough! He was…" she blushed even more at the memories, and her words became extremely soft. "He…he was very gentle, actually," she whispered. "And…and very caring…"

Meg stared at her friend, her expression changing from concern, to surprise, to fascination. "Really?" she found herself giggling, and she quickly knelt down in front of her friend, a large, curious grin, spreading across her face. "Did you enjoy it?"

"MEG!" Christine gasped in shock at her friend's question, sure her face was redder than a strawberry. "You can not be serious!"

Meg couldn't help but giggle. "There's no shame in enjoying it," she grinned. "I enjoy it very much with Robert," she giggled, which only caused Christine to blush further. "What did you enjoy the most?"

Christine rose from her chair so quickly that it tumbled over with a loud thump. "I think this conversation is finished," she mumbled, walking immediately over to the window to get some air.

Meg couldn't stop giggling as she watched her flustered friend lean out to cool her face from the heated flush that covered her cheeks. "Well," Meg sighed, taking Christine's chair for herself to rest her sore back. "I must say, I am very happy to hear that it wasn't…unpleasant," she grinned. There was no doubt in Meg's mind that last night had been more than pleasant between her friend and Sir Erik. Yet the concern that she had been feeling earlier returned. "Christine, forgive me, I promise I am done teasing…but…is that what is troubling you? What happened last night?"

Christine swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing that her friend only wanted to help her. She was so grateful that Meg was there now; Anne and Ophelia were wonderful friends, but they didn't know her the way Meg knew her. "Oh Meg, no…it's not that," she turned her face back to her friend's, her cheeks still bright, but a smile spreading across her face. "It was wonderful, actually," she confessed. "I…I never knew that…that anything could feel like that…"

Meg grinned. "Oh Christine, I must confess, I was so worried for you when you left Baron de Coleville's. I was happy that you were getting out of there and away from Philippe, but…" she bit her lip. "The Black Knight has an infamous reputation, I feared his actions in the bedroom would not be so different from his actions on the battlefield."

Christine blushed, but smiled at her friend. "Oh Meg, I…Sir Erik is a good man, truly. Like his face, he keeps his emotions hidden away as well, and yet…every day since I have known him, I have seen that he is certainly not the monster people would have you believe he is. He's a good master to his servants, a good lord to his tenants, a good subject to the King…and a wonderful father to his children."

In the brief time she and Robert had been there, Meg had learned all about Sir Erik's five children. She was shocked to learn that the Black Knight had so many, and even more shocked to learn that once upon a time, they were viewed more as demons than children. But Christine had changed all that, the other servants told her. It seemed that in the few weeks Christine had been there, the young woman had brought many changes to Winterbourne Castle.

"And as a husband?" Meg inquired, eyeing her friend closely. "How is he as a husband?"

Christine looked down at her feet and nibbled on her bottom lip. "He has been good to me, I can not deny that…"

Meg sighed. "Oh Christine, he may be a gentle lover, and for that I am grateful, but there is so much more to a marriage than that."

Christine felt a tear slip down her cheek at Meg's words. "I know," she whispered. "I…it's just…" she lifted her eyes heavenward and quickly wiped her cheeks. "I love him, Meg," she locked eyes with her friend, and Meg felt her breath catch as she saw the deep emotion reflected in the blue depths of Christine's eyes. "I love him with my whole heart…I don't know when it happened, exactly, but it happened. And I'm so afraid…" she wrapped her arms around herself tightly. "I'm so afraid that…that he will never return my feelings…"

Meg didn't wait for Christine to say anything more; she quickly rose from her chair and went to her friend's side, wrapping her arms tightly around the young woman. Christine was so grateful for the kind gesture; she hugged Meg to her fiercely, sniffling back the tears that threatened to fall. "It will be alright," Meg murmured into her friend's ear. "Have faith, Christine. It will not be hard for him to fall in love with you…if he hasn't done so already."

Christine shook her head, pulling herself away. "Oh Meg, you don't understand. I wish it were that simple but…" she sighed and took her friend's hands in her own. "Sit down…this may take a while." And she told her friend everything. She told Meg about learning that the children had different mothers, she told her about the mysterious disappearance of Beatrice, Sir Erik's mistress, she told her about the Black Knight's marriage to Elizabeth, Elizabeth's betrayal, and how the golden-haired beauty had also disappeared. She told Meg about Sir Raoul and the secrets he revealed, she told her about the mysterious note that had been found in the twins' bedchamber, about how it had contained the seal of an old enemy known as The Jackal, and how Sir Erik had revealed that he had killed The Jackal with his own hands. And finally, she told Meg about the strange dream she had had a few nights ago, where the Black Knight's past lovers had visited her, and where Beatrice revealed that she knew a terrible secret, one that Sir Erik wanted to keep hidden more than anything else in the world.

"Oh my…" Meg murmured after Christine had revealed all that she knew. No wonder her friend was troubled with heavy thoughts! "So many questions and very few answers…"

"Indeed," Christine muttered. "And…I wish to help! I care deeply for his children…I love them, all of them," she admitted with a tender smile, which gave way to a sad frown. "But he refuses to let me help, he is determined to keep me in the dark for some reason, and I hate it, because it only arouses my suspicions…towards him!"

Meg knew what her friend meant. "Yes…I can see what you mean. It is strange, these two women disappearing the way they did."

"Exactly," Christine groaned, before collapsing atop her bed. "I am convinced that Sir Raoul wants me to think the worst of him, I believe that is why he came to the castle in the first place, to extract some sort of revenge against Sir Erik."

Meg's brow furrowed as she considered this. "Perhaps…or perhaps Sir Raoul simply wants you to doubt your husband's character. Perhaps Sir Raoul murdered Elizabeth."

Christine shivered at that word. She had not suggested that Elizabeth had been murdered, simply that the woman had mysteriously disappeared. But it was a thought that she, herself, had been guilty of thinking…

"Sir Raoul was very calm when he told me about Elizabeth; I could tell that he thought very highly of her…but when he told me that she had disappeared, something in his eyes, something in his voice…changed. He looked crazed! Mad with jealousy and anger!"

"Aye," Meg nodded her head. "Yet you must keep in mind that he told you what he wanted you to know…and Anne, while I believe she is a more reliable source of information, only knows what she saw. The rest is what she suspected, not what she observed. Sir Raoul may be more sinister than we think…"

Christine nodded her head, a cold shiver running down her spine. "Aye, I do not doubt that," she whispered to herself. "That is why I suspect him as the one who delivered that scroll!"

Meg nodded her head. "That makes sense; based on what Anne told you, Sir Raoul knew Sir Erik well, no doubt he knew about Sir Erik's battles with The Jackal. And what better way to extract revenge on someone than to actually threaten one's children!?"

Christine felt a stab of fury rush through her. They were her children too, and if anyone dared to lay a hand on them…

The fury of the Black Knight will not be the only thing they will have to worry about!

"Still…" Meg continued, her brow creased with question. "You say you feel some sort of connection between the disappearances of these women, and the scroll that held The Jackal's seal?"

Christine nodded her head. "It has to be Sir Raoul. When I saw the twins' bedchamber, there were footprints, but the window had been opened, not broken into. And the way he had slipped in and out so easily when I met him…who else could it be? And he has a reason to throw threats, he obviously blames Sir Erik for whatever happened to Elizabeth."

"Aye," Meg murmured. "Even if he is responsible for that mysterious 'disappearance'."

Christine shivered once more. Could it be that Sir Raoul killed Elizabeth? Perhaps she had refused to run away with him. She was a dutiful girl, based on what Anne had told her; perhaps she chose to stay with her family, ashamed of what she had done, and Sir Raoul, in a jealous rage, had murdered her. And now, driven mad by his actions, blamed Sir Erik for it all, and was hell bent on destroying him.

But Erik said something to me that day when I revealed to him that Sir Raoul had been at the castle. It was as if he were goading me to accuse himself of murder…

"I see some of the connection," Meg admitted, interrupting Christine's thoughts. "Sir Raoul taking on the guise of The Jackal because he is jealous about Elizabeth makes sense. But…how does that explain the disappearance of Sir Erik's mistress?"

Christine's brow furrowed at Meg's question. Her friend was not wrong; the rest of the puzzle seemed to fit, except for the piece that was Beatrice. "I don't know…" Christine whispered. "I just…I have this feeling. This feeling that somehow…she is connected in all this."

Meg nodded her head. She didn't understand the connection Christine was making, but she would not doubt her friend. "Well, that settles that," she sighed, before rising to her feet.

Christine looked confused. "Settles what?"

"That we must take this mystery upon ourselves and solve it," she said with a grin.

Christine covered her mouth with a gasp, but a smile began to spread beneath her hand, despite the tension she was feeling. "Meg…are you sure this is a good idea?"

Meg shook her head. "Of course not. But like you, I am now determined to solve this puzzle and help you with protecting your new family."

Christine smiled at her friend, and reached out to hug her tightly. "Oh Meg, I don't know what I would do without you," she sighed, meaning every word.

Meg grinned and hugged her friend back, just as tightly. "Sir Erik may not be aware of it, but he clearly does need your help with this matter. And if that means working behind his back, then so be it."

Christine agreed, but she wished it didn't have to be that way. She did feel somewhat guilty for revealing all these secrets. "Meg, you will not tell Robert—"

"I promise, everything you told me is in strict confidence, even from Robert," she swore, squeezing her friend's hand tightly. "Now, I best be getting on with my share of the chores, before any suspicions towards my character arise," she grinned, before leaving Christine alone in her chamber.

Christine sighed and fell back once more against her bed. I didn't want it to come to this, I didn't want to go behind Erik's back, but…I can't just sit here and not do anything! They are my children now, too! She turned on her side and hugged the pillow near her. She only prayed that when Sir Erik did discover the truth…for she had no doubt that he would…he would understand that her actions were done out of love.

Erik gazed into the fire that was crackling in the fireplace of his bedchamber. The flames made the gold in his eyes look like liquid fire, and fire was what he felt, coursing in his veins, pounding in his head, and kindling in his loins.

Sweet memories of Christine's body, her voice, her touch, her eyes, everything; they were haunting him now. And inside, he heard a demon hiss and mock him, calling him monster, and tutting at his weakness for her. He had given in to his desire, he had allowed the innocent beauty that he had married, to get under his skin, and now…now he was hopelessly lost. After one night with Christine, nay…after one kiss from Christine, Erik knew he could not end it there. He wanted her, he needed her…and yet, he could not have her. Not all of me…for she can never know about all of me.

Erik groaned and gazed with fiery hatred at the very object he held in his right hand. Many believed that the sword he named Ghost Maker, was the Black Knight's greatest tool of defense. But they were wrong. This small, white shield that he held in his hand…this was his greatest defense. And without it…he dared not wish to think of such things.

She asks for so little, she has done so much for you, cried out a voice within his heart. But Erik knew better than to listen to it. She said she simply wanted to help him, but by allowing her to do that, meant answering questions and revealing certain truths he was not prepared to reveal. And one question would lead to another, and another, and another, until…

She is my sweet innocent; my last hope for happiness, if a creature such as myself can have it. She finds out about that…and those sweet words I heard her murmur the night before will never be murmured again.

Nay, too much was at risk. Besides, it was his duty to protect his wife and children, and his duty alone.

"My lord?"

Erik was shaken from his thoughts by the loud pounding on his chamber's door. He quickly placed the mask back over his face, before muttering, "Enter!" and rising from his chair to greet his steward.

Bernard entered upon his master's order, and held out a scroll. Erik's eyes immediately went wide, assuming that the scroll was yet another message from The Jackal…or whoever was pretending to be The Jackal. But his heartbeat returned to normal as he realized that the seal was that of his own household, and that the scroll had come from his spies who remained in Valmour.

"Any news?" Erik muttered, before taking the scroll out of Bernard's hands.

Bernard sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Which is what I find most perplexing," he grumbled, before stroking his beard with thought. "It appears that the village has not changed since we left; the villagers remain silent, as if something is still hovering around them, haunting them, but…our spies have seen nothing unusual. No strange ships, no mysterious visitors who only travel by night, and several times they have gone down to those caves, and have found nothing. It's an absolute puzzlement!" he groaned, throwing up his hands in frustration.

Erik tossed the scroll onto a nearby table and gazed down at the map that adorned it, a map of the coastline that traveled all the way from his own castle, to the village of Valmour.

"Perhaps the villains have moved on?" Bernard suggested, also gazing down at the map. "There are some caves just south of Valmour—"

"Nay," Erik growled. "The villagers still live in fear, and we know now that it has nothing to do with me. Something is terrorizing them, but whatever it is…it chooses to remain unseen."

"Like a ghost," Bernard whispered.

Erik stiffened at his friend's words, remembering the ghostly message by the supposed Jackal. He refused to believe that The Jackal was still alive, but whatever was frightening the people of Valmour…and whoever had left him that message…it certainly seemed that there was a link between the two incidents. And he could not deny that Bernard was right about one thing; the atmosphere that presently haunted Valmour was not different from the time when The Jackal, the real and living Jackal, terrorized the tiny seaside village.

"What shall we inform His Majesty?" Bernard asked. But before Sir Erik could open his mouth to respond, there came another loud pounding on his door. Erik groaned and barked admittance, surprised to see that the pounding had come from Anne.

"I'm sorry to disturb ye Master, but…I think ye better come to the great hall at once."

Erik narrowed his eyes, not liking Anne's worried tone. "What is it?" he was already reaching for his sword, which lay resting against the fireplace.

Anne bit her lip and wrung her hands together. "I did not know them when they entered; they seemed friendly, and…and they seemed to know her—"

Erik gripped the old woman's shoulders, his eyes smoldering at the mention of the word "her". "Who, Anne, tell me who!"

Anne gazed up at Sir Erik, her worried expression unchanging. "The guards said they were family of her ladyship. They knew Lady Christine's name, and where she had come from. They seemed friendly, but…the second her ladyship entered the great hall…" Anne trembled as she recalled how pale Christine's face became upon seeing her mysterious visitors.

Erik felt his jaw tighten at these words, and he gripped his sword when Anne described how Christine's visitors had silver blonde hair…much like Carlotta de Coleville.

"Master, had I known that they would upset her, I would never—" but the old woman never finished her sentence; Sir Erik was already stomping down the hallway, his sword drawn and ready.

Anne swallowed the nervous lump in her throat, whispering to herself, "I've never seen someone look more frightened in her life…"