Book Eight: Chapter 125

“Announcing the arrival of his lord’s vassals.” The androgynous servant’s voice sounded wheezy, as if from disuse. They stepped to one side and stared toward the far side of the room. “Lady Charlotte, she who keeps the children.”

A young woman with a slightly crooked nose walked in with a disgruntled look on her face. Thick auburn locks of hair tumbled down to gather around her waist, and she wore a crimson provincial dress with a white apron in the front. She didn’t bother making eye contact with the others. Her soul was her own, but seemed to be in turmoil, as if caught in a storm.

“Wonder what that’s about?” he muttered as the woman moved to the farther side of the table to sit. So this was the woman who had created all of those paintings. She looked miserable.

“Announcing Lord Gerard, who keeps the library.” A brooding man in a cloak stepped into the room and stopped, his dark eyes intensely focused on Mike and the others. He said nothing, then moved to sit acr