'Where is His Majesty?'
'In the Fall Room, ma'am.'
'Is the prince in residence yet?'
'Yes ma'am. His ship docked this morning, but he arrived a few hours ago.'
***
It was late in the day and dusk was falling rapidly. Some of the wall sconces were alive with fire, casting long shadows across the stone floors. The corridors of Mainecroft castle were longer than Madelyn remembered or perhaps it was her anticipation. Her hand trembled slightly and she quickly held onto her skirt. She had not seen Brand in months and the thoughts of seeing him now filled her with both dread and longing.
She had lost all the courage that removed her from Wiltshire. It had abandoned her somewhere along the road, perhaps during those long hours in the carriage, when nausea had seized her without warning.
