Doran watched as Andrew walked quite clumsily toward the galley.  He had to chuckle a bit at the youth’s nerves.  If he didn’t know any better, he would think the young man was afraid of him, yet at the same time, always spoke with such honesty.  In his experience, men who were afraid found it difficult to speak as plainly as Andrew always did.  He smiled inwardly and glanced back to the dock; only turning again when he heard someone approaching him from his right.

“Sir, I have received a message from the palace requesting your appearance there tomorrow afternoon,” Kenward stood a mere few feet away, hand outstretched to pass the message to the captain.

Doran sighed.  Surly it was another letter from the Princess.  She had been requesting his presence for the past few months at several banquets and ceremonies, and thus far he had found a way to politely decline all invitations; however, with each new invite the excuses were becoming increasingly difficult to conjure.  “Thank you, Kenward,” the captain regretfully accepted the letter, and turned back to the docks.

Kenward grimaced as he continued to watch the captain.  Then, taking a chance, he asked, “Captain, are you going to accept the invitation?  I mean, you haven’t been to court in nearly four months.”

“My dear friend, I have no intentions to return until I have completed the task at hand.  If the Princess wishes to see me, she can come to the docks while we are at port.  Not that I believe she would ever be seen within ten miles of here.  Besides, we are to be leaving here tomorrow morn.”  Again, he sighed.  “I will write to her tonight to inform her of my plans.  She can then notify the rest of the palace.”

To that Kenward walked back toward the crew quarters to eat.  Doran, on the other hand, stayed above deck a few moments longer before turning slowly to his cabin. He shouldn’t waste time in his responding if he wanted to send it off before they left port.

 Reyna had been lying in bed since the night Thaniel had returned from his first attempt to find Anne.  Alone, in the unbearable quiet, her mind continually reeling over the events of the past few days, she began to despair.  The moment she realized Anne was not returning home, she’d even forgotten to ask Ethana about her second meeting with the duke and duchess.  She knew she should probably show more interest in her younger daughter’s future affairs, but at the moment, her mind was filled with Anne.  Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she envisioned her eldest wandering in a forest all alone and dressed in Henry’s work clothes.   Turning on her side, she cried for her prior behavior and how she had spoken to Thaniel upon hearing of Anne’s disappearance. 

Thaniel… her darling husband… loved Anne so dearly.  Of course, he loved Ethana as well, but Anne had always been his little one.  He loved her boldness, cleverness, and wit.  When Anne was but six years of age, he’d told Reyna he didn’t believe he would have been happier had they had a son instead.  He often spoke to Anne of trade and took her fishing and hiking.  They would race around the manor and share interesting facts they had read in one of the many books in the library.

Reyna knew, very well, this was the reason she had also blamed him for Anne’s behavior the night the duke and his family came to dinner.  If only he had treated Anne more like a girl, perhaps none of this would have happened.  Choking back a loud sob, she shook her head. Knowing her daughter as she did, deep down, she knew no matter how Thaniel treated Anne, she would have turned out just the same.  Adventure and curiosity were deeply rooted within her soul. Had he not tried to take Ethana fishing?  Had he not tried to include her in all the activities he and Anne had shared and enjoyed?  In truth, Anne was to her father as Ethana was to herself.  Anne relished exploration and excitement, loved to read and learn just about anything.  Reyna knew she should not have been surprised by Anne’s desires, nor the way she had behaved that horrible night.

Reaching for the handkerchief on her nightstand, she gently picked it up and folded the blush-colored material into fours and dabbed her eyes and blew her nose, only to have fresh tears surface as she remembered the look on Thaniel’s face after he had punished Anne.  Never in her entire life had she seen such torment and never before had she witnessed her husband cry.  Of course, since that night he had wept every day and sometimes twice or more.  He no longer slept in their room, preferring to sleep in the front of the manor… just in case Anne was to return.  She remembered how she had scoffed at his pain over what he had done.  Remembered how he’d tried to talk to her about it; her cold response was to say Anne finally received what she had always deserved.  She lay back down and placed her face into her pillow and wept anew for the loss of her family’s happiness.

Just then there was a soft rapping at the door.  A few seconds later, Verna appeared in the room.  “My lady, I ‘ave brought ye sum suppa,” she spoke as she closed the door behind herself.  “Reyna, it’s not rie healthy te go so long with nah food nar drink.  Please, eat somethin’, deary.”  Verna placed the tray of food on the nightstand.  There was barely any light in the room for the sun was being chased from the sky by the rising moon.  Finding a few candles within the nightstand, Verna placed them on their holders and set them alight, illuminating the stand and the edge of the bed.

Looking at Reyna then, Verna shook her head.  She had never seen such sadness in all her days.  Of course, when Thaniel’s mother had lost her first born, she was tremendously heartbroken and wept many a night and day.  However, in that situation, the child was gone and there was nothing to do but move on.  But in this instance things seemed much worse.  It was the suspense, the not knowing, the blame, and the regrets which were tearing the de Rangers apart.  Reyna had separated herself from Thaniel and Ethana.  Thaniel was often gone for all of the daylight and most of the night.  And Ethana was often in deep thought trying to decide her next move.  Verna had even seen the young girl talking to herself, asking… ‘what would Anne do.’  As for herself, she was going to try to keep everyone together, but she knew if no one heard from Anne soon, all her efforts might be for not.

‘One step at a time,’ Verna told herself as she took a cloth from her apron and gently wiped away Reyna’s tears.  She would stay until Reyna ate most of her food, then would try to convince the lady of the manor to leave her room when the sun rose again.  If not, then perhaps she could persuade Thaniel to speak with his wife.

Thaniel, Ethana, Laveda, and Sophie sat around the dining table silently eating their meal.  Thaniel glanced around the table in quiet contemplation.  Laveda had told him and Ethana that her benefactor had promised to tell Anne to write as soon.  Though Ethana wanted desperately to believe the young woman, Thaniel was unsure as to whether they truly could or should.  Then again, what choice did they really have in the matter? 

He looked back down at his plate and thought over the events of the afternoon.  Once the princess had gone, the rest of them had retired to the drawing room where Verna had set up the tea tray.  Over tea and biscuits, Laveda told them all her mysterious friend had told her.  Excited, Ethana could barely remain in her seat.  Thaniel had tried to get more information about the stranger to whom they were instilling all their trust; however, much to his dismay, Laveda remained true to her promise to him.  Thaniel had even offered to take in her as well as her sister if she gave him the information he requested.  She still refused.  Then, just before supper, Ethana had asked her father to be patient, believing the young lady and her friend were the answer to their prayers.  If she were correct, if this were true, why did he still feel uneasy?

Ethana sat wondering how she was going to care for their new ward, Sophie, and look for Anne at the same time.  She and her father had promised Laveda they would do all they could to ensure Sophie was well cared for in exchange for information about her sister.  Though all she wanted to do was search high and low for Anne, she also felt a strong desire to help the two girls at the table.  She knew Anne would not hesitate to do so and smiled at what she believed Anne’s methods of teaching might be.  Also, perhaps her father was right in hoping that if they helped these two girls; the Fates would take care to watch over Anne.  Deciding her last thought was the most positive she had had all day, she was resolute to do all she could for Sophie.

Sophie believed this to be the best meal she’d ever had in her entire life and had to force herself to finish it because she really wanted to hide some in her skirts for later. But somehow, she knew that would be frowned upon.  Glancing at her sister, Sophie’s heart sank.  As long as she could remember, it had always been just the two of them, but tonight Laveda would be gone.  She’d wished Laveda had told her of the deal she’d made with the baron, but also understood why she hadn’t.  If she had been told sooner, she would have made things difficult for Laveda; she didn’t want to leave her sister.  What if something happened to her?  How would she ever know?  Then again, if something did happen, what could she do about it?  It wasn’t as though she could run for help.  Hell, if anything did happen to Laveda, and she was at Swinfen’s, there was nothing she could do.  There wouldn’t be anyone to take her in, and she would eventually be thrown out into the streets.  In all actuality, this probably was the best thing for her, but to be left with strangers and not know whether she would see Laveda again…  Sophie closed her eyes to hold back her tears.

Of all the people at the table, Laveda had to be the happiest.  She’d found a nice family to care for her sister, she was in love with a handsome and generous young man and had money enough to take better care of herself.  Not having to worry about Sophie was a huge load off her petite shoulders and though she was going to miss her sister, she knew she was doing the right thing.  Finishing her meal, she began to think of what to say to Sophie before she left.  Then she began to wonder if the baron would mind her returning to visit Sophie from time to time.  Looking to him for a moment, she smiled.  Of course, he wouldn’t mind!  He was a very kind man.  Besides, coming around a bit would help Sophie feel better about staying.  She signed and thought of the time, she had better be on her way since it was already late.  She wiped her mouth with her napkin and cleared her throat.  “Baron, my lady, I think I should be goin’ now.”

Ethana was startled by Laveda’s voice after everyone had been so quiet, and though she heard what the girl had to say, she couldn’t believe it.  “You can’t mean you are going to walk back to town in the dark,” she exclaimed.

“Well, I haven’t got no choice.  I gotta get back to Swinfen’s else he’ll be thinkin’ somethin’s goin’ on,” Laveda began to push her seat back.

Thaniel was immediately on his feet and pulling the girl’s chair back for her.  “I insist you stay the night, Laveda.  It is not safe for a lady to wander alone at night.”

“Ahh, I’m nah much of a lady,” she winked. “‘Sides ye’ve done enough for me already an’, I have to return the wheelbarrow I used back to Nyssa before mornin’ else her husband find it missin’.”

Standing then, Ethana, nervously ran her hands down her dress and looked to her father.  “Father, could you take her as far as the market?  I mean we can’t really let her walk all that way.”

Realizing Ethana was right, Thaniel nodded.  “Laveda, I will retrieve my cloak and meet you in the foyer.”

“But, sir,” Laveda called after him.  She didn’t wish to be any more of a burden to these good people.  They had already done more than she had ever dreamed anyone would do for her, and now, after taking in her sister and feeding them both, he was going to give her a ride?  No, she just couldn’t allow it.  “Baron?”  He continued out of the dining room, so she turned to Ethana.  “Please tell ‘im I’m alright on my own.”

“I will do no such thing,” Ethana placed her hands on her hips.  “We are already missing one person, and I am determined not to lose another.  Now you stay here with your sister while I leave a few instructions for the kitchen staff.”