A teary eyed Thaniel once again addressed the filthy woman who was now in the center of the room, “So you haven’t the slightest idea who my daughter is?”

Seeing that the man who had previously attacked her was in pain, Laveda was prompted to answer him carefully… tenderly.  “I am surry, sir.   But I hadn’t even heard her name until the man mentioned her today at the docks.  And lookin’ as nicely dressed as ya do, I don’t rightly believe you or yer family visit there much.”

“You are quite correct,” Thaniel responded sadly.  “In fact, I can’t imagine my daughter would even associate with anyone who would go to the docks at all.” 

Then, slightly changing the subject, “Will you do me a favor,” Thaniel asked the girl.  When she didn’t nod, Thaniel continued and hoped she’d at least listen, “My daughter has run away from home.  I am sick with worry and have been searching town for hours.  Please, if you see this man again, ask him about my daughter.  If he doesn’t wish to let you know where she is, at least find out if she is safe.”

Laveda didn’t want to upset her new benefactor, but she also wanted to help this man.  However, what could she do?  “Sir, I don’t have much, and if I do see ‘im again, I don’t wanna make ‘im mad.  He might help me sum more.”

Thaniel could see her situation.  “Listen carefully.  I am the Baron de Ranger.  I live southwest of the marketplace on an estate called Indira.  If you hear anything about my daughter, please bring the information to my manor.  I will pay you well for your help.”

“I don’t need no money, Baron.  I can take care of meself,” Laveda saw an opportunity.  “If I do my best to find out about yer daughter, I‘d want you to help me with my sister.”  She moved closer to Thaniel, “A sickness made it so she can’t walk anymore, and I want something better for her than I have to offer.”

Just then Dermot came from the back with a small brown bag of rolls and several copper coins.  “Here you are young lady.  The bread is a day old, but it’s still quite good,” he handed her the rolls as well as the coins.

“Thank ya, Dermot,” she accepted the food and coins then turned back to the Baron.  “Well, Baron, do we have an agreement?”

Thaniel nodded, and the girl nodded back.  Afterwards, she ran out of the bakery and toward the docks.

“Ethana, it is so good to see you again, my dear,” Duchess Bronwyn greeted her young guest.  “I am sorry, but Oren is a little behind schedule. It does; however, give us time to talk amongst ourselves,” she smiled.

“And where is my lord today?  I hope he is well,” Ethana struggled to keep her mind on why she was there instead of where she’d rather be… in town searching for her sister. 

Waving Ethana to be seated with a gracious hand; the duchess spoke, “Oh he is cleaning up from his riding lesson.  He really should be joining us momentarily.  As for the duke, he had pressing matters to attend to.”

Ethana nodded though she could not have cared less as to whether she saw the duke again or not.  She felt had Duke Saben not ordered her father to punish Anne, she would not have run away.  Then, noticing she must have been too quiet too long, she thought she should comment on the beauty of the palace grounds.  “Your Grace’s gardener must be exquisitely skilled, for your grounds are quite lovely.”

“Yes, Armond, and his crew are rather extraordinary.  In fact, I was so impressed with these gardens, that I added this tent here for afternoon teas.”

“Yes, I can see why you chose this area for the tent as well.  As near as it is to the lavender, you can continually enjoy a pleasant fragrance even once teatime has concluded,” Ethana smiled faintly.  She had never found small chats so difficult before.  She felt as though she was feigning everything and prayed the duchess would not be able to read her true thoughts.

The duchess smiled and then spoke carefully in a hushed tone, “Ethana, you do realize the duke and I have decided that you would be best for our son?”

Ethana knew this was the true reason she had been asked to the palace but couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge that fact now.  “But, Your Grace, what of my sister?”

“My dear, as lovely as your sister appears, I’m afraid she has the soul of a gypsy.  Now, I know you must love your sister, and I don’t mean to offend, but her manners are quite appalling.”

Before Ethana had a chance to offer a response to the duchess’s comment, Oren was approaching from the back doors of their grand estate, and she noticed he was dressed in the same manner of suit he wore the night before.  It was in style for men this season, but it seemed to overwhelm Oren’s slight figure and quiet demeanor.  Ethana watched as he came closer to where she and his mother sat; however, she wasn’t looking at him as if he were the most handsome man alive but was trying to find the reason for her attraction to him the night before.  Perhaps it was the romanticism of meeting with royals, or the soft light of the evening which had made him so enticing.  However, now, in the truth revealing morning light, he seemed too thin, too pale, and left her wanting. 

Once he reached the tent, he kissed his mother upon the cheek, then turned to bow to her before returning his attention to his mother.

“Mother, there seems to be a slight problem in the kitchens and Mrs. Sproule would like your help putting everything right.”  Oren stood straight with his hands clasped behind his back.  It was the first time Ethana had heard him speak.  His voice was not as deep as most men, and he was quite monotone.

The duchess, looking very annoyed, stood, commented on how nothing ran smoothly if she took a break.  Apologizing to Ethana, she began to stroll toward the palace.  Oren, on the other hand, slowly moved toward his mother’s vacated seat and sat down.

“So, I hear your sister’s run off,” he stated as he began to spread lemon curd on a crumpet.

Ethana was shocked by the direction in which the conversation began.  “How did you know that?  My family just became aware of her disappearance a few hours ago.”

“Well, servants talk,” he took a bite of the now sweet roll.  “A few of them went to the market this morning and overheard your father searching for her.  You know,” he continued, “her leaving may have been the best thing to ever happened to your family.  I mean, she would have eventually pulled you all down to her level.”

Not believing what she was hearing, Ethana didn’t know what to say.  She never imagined that someone of such noble upbringing could say something so callous… so mean.  It took her a moment to respond, but when she did, she was a less than kind.

 “I must beg to differ, my lord.  My sister is the core of my family.  She is the only one who can keep us together, and I fear if she does not return soon, we shall all suffer.”

“Nonsense,” he said before saying something beneath his breath.

“I apologize, Lord Oren. I missed your complete response.”

“I said, women are too blinded by their emotions to see the truth.  Your sister was a plague upon your family.  Now, I know you must have loved her because she was your sister, but her habit was that of peasants.  I for one am glad she is gone, so you are no longer exposed to her influences.”

Ethana could feel her blood beginning to boil.  “And what influences might those be, my Lord,” her voice was strained as she tried to keep it level.

“All that nonsense she spoke at dinner about wanting to go to boys’ school, and study what men do.  It is not proper, and any woman I marry will have to know her place.”

Deciding she was in the wrong place after all, Ethana rose gracefully, coolly, from her chair.  “My Lord, I do apologize, for I must be on my way home.  You see, I, apparently unlike my sister, do know my place, and it is not here.  I should be with my father; helping him search for Anne.”

As she turned to walk away, Oren stood and yelled, “Ethana, don’t be foolish.  What you can have, what you can achieve, you can do it here.  If you throw it all away, you are just as ignorant as your sister.”

Ethana smiled to herself before turning back to answer.  ““I would rather hold company with my sister than to be in company with you and your sort.  You may think her ignorant, but she is intelligent enough to know more things political than yourself.  This means, she can manage both women’s talks as well as men’s; whereas you, thus far, have only been able to share gossip.  Perhaps, my sister was correct in saying that you should stick to women’s talks.”  Ethana once again turned her back on the intensely rude young man and walked to where her carriage was awaiting her.