No matter how much she convinced herself Iris would be back, Farryn couldn't sleep. She settled on sitting quietly on the bed, rocking back and forth gently with the candle in her hand.

When the keys in the door started jingling, Farryn finally let go of the candlestick. She had been holding it so tight all night that the handle had left indentations on her palm. "Farryn." Iris said, poking her head in. She stopped. "Lords, you look ill," she said. "You aren't sick, are you?" "No." Farryn said, and she was shocked at how easy the laugh came to her. Like everything was alright. "it's a bit warm in here. I might crack the window tonight."

Iris nodded. "You left the candle lit." "Yes, I'm sorry." "Don't do it again," Iris said simply. I will do it again. "I won't, I'm sorry." "Hurry along, get ready and then meet me in the childrens' nursery."

She shut the door and left Farryn to get ready. Not that it really meant anything. She had no clothes to change into; she had chosen to leave their possessions down in town. It wasn't like she had much, and it was better to be free than to cart around luggage.

So Farryn used her sweat-slick hands to smooth her hair, and took off her dress and shook it out before re-wearing it. She tried and failed to put her hair up in a bun, so she simply braided it, and then hurried to join Iris.

The triplets were already awake, even though the clock said it was six in the morning. Iris was changing one of the boys, and waved to Farryn absentmindedly as she entered the room. "Go down to the kitchens and ask for their meals," she said. "And then bring a pint of hot water."

Farryn hurried off, excited by the prospect of getting out of the childrens' wing. Finally, a chance to snoop about. Where would she find employment records? In the library? In the Lord's office? She hoped it wasn't the latter.

She wandered about for a little while, poking her head into rooms or pressing her ear to closed doors. Nothing, nowhere she could possibly find what she needed. She almost got caught by Lady Trison too, when she accidentally peeked into the dining hall.

Finally, she gave up. Better hurry to the kitchens before Iris came searching for her. It took her a while to find them, but she just returned to the hall she and Luli had met the woman in yesterday and continued down it till she heard a commotion.

The kitchen was bustling with life. There were no more than eight workers, ten at most- but they were all moving so fast, talking so loud over the bubbling pots and meat hissing in the heat. Farryn merely dodged a man waving a knife, yelling at someone else.

"Sorry, I'm here to pick up the childrens' meals," she said. The din swallowed her voice, and so she approached a woman who was slicing away and tapped her shoulder.

The woman jumped, and when she turned Farryn realized it was the one from the day before. "What are you doing, sneaking about like that!" she yelled, dumping the diced carrots into the bubbling pot next to them. "Sorry! I am here for the childrens' food!"

"Horace!" the woman yelled. "If you don't stop screaming at me-" "Give this girl the food!" she shoved Farryn with her hand, and she almost went tumbling into someone's path. "And get that girl to come clean up this mess!" The tall man in the far corner handed Farryn a tray with three covered platters. "She also asked for hot water," she said. "Come get it afterwards," he said annoyed, turning away.

Farryn hurried for the door, but someone squeezed in as she tried to press through. "Luli!" Luli stared up at her, dropping the bucket she held in her hands. She clutched her skirt. "where did you go?" she asked. "I'm working, Luli." Farryn said, carefully prying her fingers off as she struggled to keep the tray balanced. "And you're working too. Are you working good?"

Luli hesitated, and then nodded. "Yes." Farryn nodded, unsure of what to say. "Well. keep on working then. I'll see you... later."

She hurried out of the kitchens. See you later. Was that what she had said to Her, all those years ago? Had she said it to her while she was in the house? Had she said it to her without her voice, just with her face pressed against the window? Had she said it to her at all?

She hoped she had. She wanted to go back and tell Luli something more, but she didn't 

Farryn got an earful from Iris when she returned. She silently tidied up the nursery as Iris went on and on about her wasting time. Finally, the woman ran out of steam, and told Farryn to get the children into their coats. "We'll be going for a walk in the garden." she said. Farryn kept silent and got to it.

It took a lot of effort to get the children ready. Luisa was the most resistant. She let her annoyance at being forced into her frilled coat by biting. By the time all five of them were outside, almost half an hour had passed, and Farryn looked like a dog had gotten a grip on her.

The three children went in one large pram, bigger than the one Farryn had seen Iris pushing the day before. "The children have their walk every morning, after breakfast," she said. "Then I let them play for about an hour before lessons." "Lessons?" Farryn was walking beside Iris, marvelling at how effortlessly she pushed the pram. It must be heavy.

"Speaking, walking. I am in charge of their development." "Ah." "Did the child you cared for not need that?" "Oh!" Farryn blinked. "She... she was quite smart. She began walking quite early. Her mother was more involved." Iris sniffed. "My Lady is busy. Very busy."

A servant hurried past, head down, and Farryn watched as the guard standing by the back door stopped her. The woman pulled something out of her pocket, and handed it to the guard, who inspected it and then let her in. An identity card?

"My Lady's first son was sent to school only when he was six. She believes firmly in at-home education." Farryn kept her mouth shut. An at-home education she was not involved in.

Iris kept her busy for the rest of the day. Between the three children and all of her demands, it was almost a relief when Iris told Farryn to go and get herself tidy and ready for bed. "There's water in the tub. If you want it boiled, go ask the kitchens." Iris knew she would not be doing that.

"Pardon me, Ma'am. When will I get my wages?" she needed new dresses, new stockings and underthings. Since she'd left Serval's manor she had abandoned so many things.

Iris sniffed. "You'll get your wages at the end of the week. You'll be allowed into town for an hour to spend them." "Thank you." Iris turned away without responding, staring at Luis in his crib. "Well? Go on, then."

Even though she had directions and knew where the bathroom was, Farryn took her time. She couldn't bear to be locked in again, and she needed to start snooping. She was here for information, not to wipe snotty noses.

So she wandered the halls, keeping silent and cautious. A few guards and other members of the staff passed by, but they paid her little attention. She must have looked a mess, so it was obvious she was the new nursery maid.

After about ten minutes, Farryn went down to the kitchens. They were much less busy tonight, and it was quite silent when she stepped in. "Where's Luli?" she called to one of the women wiping down the counters. A boy sweeping in the corner eyed her, and the woman said "The little girl?" "Yes. My sister." "She's asleep." "Oh." She fell quiet and stood there for a moment. Everyone quietly tidying up the kitchen, tired. Farryn had always loved being in the kitchen. When she was little. When her body felt hotter than the stove, she'd still drag herself to sit and watch everyone at work. She would swear to herself that one day she would be able to help.

"I heard about the heir," she said casually, shaking herself from her memories. "So scandalous." the man in the corner rolled his eyes and Farryn felt her face heat. She wasn't the best at gossip. Possibly because she had been all alone for almost a decade.

"It was sad." the woman said. She dumped the rag she was using into a bucket on the floor. "He will be missed." "Some people are so cruel," Farryn said, shaking her head. "She couldn't handle the rejection?" 

"We don't like to talk about it." the man said pointedly. "If there's nothing you need then maybe you should leave so we can finish up." Farryn bit her lip. She needed to ask questions about the library or office, find out where the employment records would be, and to do that she had to get these people to talk to her. Who wouldn't be eager to talk about a murder? she wondered to herself.

"She must have been a pretty girl..." she sighed, in a last-ditch effort. The woman snorted. "You want to follow in her footsteps? Trust me, it isn't worth it. No matter how pretty and fair headed she was, he was never going to marry her. That's not how it works, and you'd be smart keeping your head out of the clouds, girl."

Fair headed?

"She was... blonde?" The boy put away his broom, and the sound of it smacking against the wall made Farryn jump. "When was the girl hired?" she stepped closer to the woman. "What was her name? Was she-"

"Out!" the man yelled. The woman shoved past her, giving her an odd look, and Farryn bit back a protest. She was acting beyond suspicious. She needed to get... she needed to-

This wasn't part of the plan! She was supposed to be here!

She hurried out of the kitchen and down the hall, suddenly full of energy again. It couldn't be her. She'd never kill anyone. And Farryn just couldn't imagine her old enough to fall in love. She was just a little girl. It couldn't be her.

She needed those records, and she needed them tonight.

Her first thought was to head up the stairs, but someone would see her and stop her. But she doubted the office was on the first floor. What could she do? Farryn felt that familiar wave of panic, the panic that had become a constant melody but sometimes still crescendoed. If Liviana wasn't here, if she had killed Lord Trison's son, then she was gone. She was gone and there was no possible way to find her.

She found herself a corner and pressed her back against the wall, squeezing her eyes tight to dry them of tears. She'd have to be smart, that was all. She'd have to be-

"What do you think you're doing?"