September 15th, 1614

Daily life at Arindale Castle was a simple enough affair. The mornings were generally filled, with work for the Duke, and court for the Duchess; afternoons were private; and the evenings could be either entertainments with the ducal court, or private for the family and close friends. The day after Bryce Darroch had been raised from prisoner to guest was a court day, and as such, Alys had requested the presence of Lady Justine de La Roche in her private chambers. Justine deserved to know what had happened to her brother, and to know that the guarantee for her brother's safe return was now a guest within the castle walls.

It was not unusual for Justine to be summoned to the duchess' private chambers as the two of them were quickly becoming good friends and she often asked Justine's opinion regarding a particular dress or hairdo or piece of jewelry. It gave the two young women a chance to talk and get better acquainted and share some of the gossip that might be circulating around the ducal court - and the two women seemed to simply enjoy the other's company. "You wished to see me, my lady?" Justine queried as she stepped into the duchess' private chambers and offered a polite curtsy.

"Oh, come in, my lady." Alys looked up from where she was sitting, a picture of noble femininity first thing in the morning with her skirts piled high onto her lap as she fumbled for the ribbons on her slipper to tie it securely without actually being able to see it. Only Justine had ever seen this particular side of the new Duchess of Lonnare, which was probably just as well. "How are you this morning?"

"Well enough," the other replied, though there were tell-tale shadows beneath the young woman's eyes, as if she had not been sleeping very well, and who could blame her" With no word from her brother in weeks, she had started to worry. She knew he'd been sent to patrol the border, but it was not like him to go so long without sending word.

"Come and sit down, Justine," Alys told her, finally succeeding with her slipper and brushing her skirts back down to cover her legs modestly once more. "I have news for you." She offered the other woman a warm smile, hoping it was encouragement enough to bring her friend closer.

Justine was not the type to be scandalized by a little show of her mistress' leg. They were both women, for one thing, and friends, for another - and Justine was not the type to be overly concerned with frills and such. Justine arched a blond brow at her lady's bidding, not because she was surprised at the invitation but at the offer of news. She chose a chair beside her friend, arranging her skirts as she sat, and turning to face her, curiosity obvious in her expression. "Yes, what is it' Is it news of Joslin?" she asked, hopefully.

"Yes, it is news of Joslin," Alys told her, adjusting herself until they were facing one another. She reached to the table and picked up the letter Charles had been reading the day before. "We received this letter yesterday, which we believe to have been written by your brother, included within an official dispatch. You know his hand best, and this letter is for you." She handed it over to the other woman, hoping she was not about to be disappointed.

Justine reached for the letter with a slightly trembling hand, not because she was nervous or afraid of Alys, but because she wasn't sure what was written in the letter, though it bode well that word of her brother had finally caught up to them. She carefully unfolded the letter, letting her eyes move over the words. Like Joslin, she had been taught to read and write, which was not only unusual but aided her in her position as one of Alys' inner circle. As she read the words written there, her eyes filled with tears, which she quickly swiped away with graceful fingers. "It is from Jos. I recognize his hand." She frowned as she read the news he had written there. "He has been injured, but he's all right. All of his party was killed. He says not to worry, that the lady of the keep there is caring for him and keeping him safe and that he will return as soon as he can. He says that her brother is being held prisoner here," she said, looking up from the letter to look at Alys. "Is that true?"

As Justine read the letter, Alys endeavored not to watch her, only handing her friend a clean handkerchief when the tears showed themselves. "We believe it is," she assured Justine gently. "The lady's brother is currently a guest of Arindale, having been taken during the battle at Berynsford. He has offered to stay here, as surety for your brother's return, and has assured me that his sister is quite a skilled healer. We have no reason to disbelieve him, especially since word arrived this morning that his father is within a day's ride of the castle, come to petition for the release of his son."

"This keep is in the borderlands?" Justine asked, looking worried. If Joslin was being held there in exchange for this other lady's brother, then what would happen to Joslin if he wasn't returned safely' "How can we know he is safe there" What assurance do we have that they will not harm him?" she asked, feeling her questions were justified, considering the circumstances. Her thoughts were for her brother first and politics second.

"Justine, do you believe your brother would have written such a letter under duress?" Alys asked her calmly. "Would he even have admitted to having a sister, if he believed himself to be in danger" Of course the borderlands are dangerous at the moment, but given the treatment of Darroch and Dunfayre by the Coimbran army as they passed through, we have every reason to believe their lord's son when he says there is a great deal of anti-Coimbran feeling among his people."

"No," Justine replied after a moment, clasping the letter close to her heart, as she dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief. "No, if Joslin were in danger, he would have found some way to tell us," she admitted, pausing a moment in thought before continuing. "I should like to meet this man and judge for myself whether he is trustworthy or not." Though she trusted her lord and lady's judgment, she needed to know for herself where her brother's life was involved.

"And you will meet him, in just a little while," Alys assured her with a low chuckle. "He was removed from the gaol and given rooms in the castle yesterday, and he will be joining us at court this morning. Under guard, naturally, but I doubt there will be any difficulties. He is rather charming company, once you get your ear in to understand him through his accent."

"Charming company, but he is not my brother," Justine replied stubbornly, already taking a dislike to this man without having met him yet, just because without him, she might never see her brother again - or so she thought.

"No, he is not your brother," the duchess agreed. "He is, however, a guest, Justine. As much as you might want to knock his teeth out, I really would rather you didn't. The lords and ladies here are having enough trouble adjusting to having me around; they might have collective apoplexy if I start letting you punch them." She flashed her mischievous smile in her friend's direction. "I'm sure he will tell you everything you want to know. Just be polite."

"Polite," Justine echoed with a sigh. "You and I both know I do not do polite very well, but I am trying." She was, in fact, fitting in rather well at court - better than she expected - but there was a fire inside her that was sometimes difficult to squelch. Perhaps that was what endeared her to Alys, as the other woman was not afraid to speak her mind either.

"I have no objection to your speaking your mind, you know that," Alys assured her. "But wrapping it up in politically correct language makes it far easier to smooth things over, not to mention far funnier when the person you're insulting hasn't realized it." She chuckled, having played this game far too often purely for her own amusement. "Now ....after the lord of Darroch has come to an agreement with His Grace, he will be returning to his own lands. Will you want to send a message with them, to your brother?"

"I would prefer to accompany him and make sure my brother is safe," Justine replied, though she knew that was most likely impossible, not to mention dangerous. She sighed again, laying the letter in her lap, her fingers wrapped around it possessively. "Yes, I would like to send a message, if I may."

Allowed to turn his attention to the lovely woman at Alys' side, Bryce bowed to Justine. "M'lady, it is a rare honor," he greeted her cordially. "And I must extend to you my thanks for your brother's presence at our keep. I'm assured he will protect my sister in our father's absence."

Justine wanted to roll her eyes at his courtly manners, knowing they were mostly put on by necessity, rather than choice, but she knew her place, and offered her hand to the man while she dipped into a curtsy, a practiced smile on her face. "The honor is all mine, my lord. I thank you, as well, for the courtesy extended my brother and for your family's help in coming to his aid. I can assure you my brother is a good man and will do all he can to keep your sister safe." She just hoped he didn't do all he could to find his way up her skirts, as well.

"And will he marry her, if he gets too enthusiastic with it?" Bryce asked her, his voice just low enough for the ladies' ears only.

Alys hadn't been expecting that, abruptly fumbling for her handkerchief as she spluttered her way through trying to turn a very unexpected cackle of laughter into a cough for propriety's sake. Justine might well have her hands full here.

Justine did not share in her lady's amusement, especially at the sake of her brother's honor. "Are you insinuating that my brother might behave unhonorably where your sister is concerned, Lord Bryce?" she asked, with an emphasis on the word "Lord".

"Och, no, m'lady," he assured her. "Only that a lady as pretty as yourself should not greet a fellow with such a sour look about her unless she's expecting to be teased about it. I'll not ask you to smile; you may bite me."

Beside Justine, Alys was biting her own lips to try and compose herself. "Well, I can see you two are going to get along just splendidly," she declared, knowing full well that her friend was not going to thank her for this. "Please keep one another company, would you? There are a few people I must speak with."

It wasn't often that Justine showed her ire, but the look she gave Alys was clearly asking her not to leave her here with this insufferable excuse for a man. Knowing it was useless, she turned back to the man with a scowl, just for his sake. "I can assure you my bark is far worse than my bite, my lord. Since my lady had designated me to keep you company, I shall try to entertain you with pithy remarks and barely repressed insults, if that is what you so desire."

Bryce actually grinned at that, bowing to Alys as she abandoned them to one another and his guard, who was having a little difficulty keeping a straight face himself. "Be mindful, m'lady," Bryce warned Justine through his grin. "If you've the mind to be pithy, you may find yourself biting off more than you can chew. I have a sister who speaks her mind, and I'm not practiced at this court nonsense."

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at tittering giggles or am terribly impressed by masculine jocularity. I would sooner slap your face if you become too familiar than blush like coquette. However, for the sake of my brother, I shall try to forgive your ignorance of courtly manners," she retorted, following that with a charming smile and another courtly curtsy. To anyone nearby, but the guard, they appeared to be having a pleasant conversation.

"Then I shall try to forgive you your shrewish bad manners and sour disposition, m'lady," he countered, his grin settling into a rather fixed smile. "If you are hoping that your unpleasantness will convince me to take you behind this curtain and kiss you, you're to be sorely disappointed. Even the lowest born borderwoman knows better than to be a shrew to a man she knows nothing of. I've known horses with better manners, myself."

"Shrewish?" she echoed, just a tad louder than she'd realized, turning a few heads. "Perhaps you should have considered your words more carefully before you insinuated that my brother is anything but an honorable gentleman ....sir," she put an emphasis on the last word, which she added belatedly, turning the blame on him. She had been nothing but perfectly polite until he had mentioned that, teasing or not. "If you will excuse me, I will take my shrewish self elsewhere," she added, not bothering to curtsy this time before storming off and weaving her way through the onlookers to head for the garden to compose herself. Not bothering to wait for him to excuse her either. He might be a guest here, but she was a lady of the court. If this was how he intended to make friends, he was going about it entirely the wrong way.

Bryce's jaw clenched as Justine took her leave of him, aware that he hadn't exactly been pleasant to her but equally aware that neither had she been particularly prepared to even try and be pleasant to him. The guard keeping an eye on him was trying very hard not to smirk, knowing a little more about the Lady Justine than their borderland guest, but didn't say anything, leaving Bryce to steam in silence, his glare putting off anyone who might try to talk to him after that. And yet after a while, the guilt of having upset the lady that much started to bother him. With a sigh, he turned to seek her out, ignoring the curious glances from those he passed by.

Equally, no one bothered to chase after Justine, knowing the young woman was not likely to be pleasant company at the moment. A quiet murmur rustled through the court at the exchange of words between the pair, neither of whom were very well known or liked, except by the duke and duchess. There were those who were even a little happy to see the pair show what they thought were their true colors, hoping they would fail miserably and be banished from court, but that was not for them to say. As it happened, she wasn't too difficult to locate, sitting alone in the garden where the flowers had long since stopped blooming, and the trees had lost their leaves. It was cold and she was without a cloak or even a wrap, but she didn't seem to care, head bowed over a piece of parchment she held tightly in her hand.

It only took a moment for Bryce to ask his guard to stay back for a while, to use his discretion when it came to giving the lady a little privacy to decide whether or not to accept his apology. He had brought his own cloak out into the cold with him, carrying it over his arm. "Lady de La Roche," he said, just loud enough to be heard as he approached where she sat.

Startled by his unexpected intrusion - just as she would be by anyone who bothered to follow her - she jerked her head up, blue eyes glittering with tears, a look of infinite sadness on her face, if only for a moment, before she tried - and failed - to hide her feelings behind the practiced, dull expression of a courtier. Shrewish, he had called her, but what did he know" "I am no lady, sir. Just a simple commoner pretending to be someone I'm not." In truth, she did not owe him any explanation, but perhaps she had been a little harsh in her judgment of him. It was not so much him that had upset her as her brother's continued absence and the loneliness she felt at court. If it wasn't for the friendship of the duchess, she would have hated it here.

"Aye, and I'm a borderman no better at it than you are," Bryce admitted ruefully. "I should not have spoken as I did. I'm sorry for it, for it has harmed your spirits. I did not mean to suggest that your brother is no man of honor, but you must understand, m'lady, my sister is very dear to me. It was for her that I left my home, though I'd appreciate it if you didn't admit to such a thing to the duke. There were other reasons, but her honor and safety were my highest concern."

She accepted his explanation, but wondered if he had any idea what it was she was feeling regarding her own missing sibling. "I, too, apologize for my harsh words, but have you stopped to consider my own feelings regarding my brother" I have been worried for him these last weeks, fearing him dead, only to receive word from his just today that he is alive and well, though injured and under your sister's care. It is not comforting to know that my brother - a Knight of Francia - lingers so close to the border of Coimbra with no one there to see to his protection but himself. His friends and comrades were ambushed while on patrol and he, himself, was left for dead, so forgive me if I am not feeling like verbally sparring where my brother's honor is concerned," she said, lifting the letter in her lap as proof of her claim. While her brother had written, he had not given her many details as to his health, other than that he was healing.

She arched a blond brow at him, wondering just what he'd heard said about her. "I would sooner give him the back of my own hand, but I appreciate the offer, my lord," she told him, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow. She could feel the warmth of him beneath his shirt and the firm curve of muscle that told her he wasn't afraid of hard work. It would have been so easy to rest her cheek against his shoulder and savor that bit of warmth, but she resisted the temptation, rather than give him - or anyone else - the wrong idea. Yes, she found him attractive and even pleasant company now that they'd made friends, but she was sure there were far better prospects for him than her.

"Och, if you want to hit him, I'll hold him steady for you," he offered then, flashing her the briefest glimpse of a bright grin before his expression smoothed once more. No, bordermen were definitely not like the court men of Francia, and if Justine wanted to throw a punch at an insulting comment, Bryce would stand by and let that happen. He wasn't as firm as his father in the belief that all women should be delicate flowers, despite his insistence on trying to keep his sister one. "I'm not so good with words, but actions do speak louder."

"Oh, I think you do just fine with words," she told him. At least, once he actually made an effort to be civil, rather than snarky. "Much better than most of these fluffed up nobles who think they're better than we are," she said, keeping her voice low so no one overheard, even as she flashed a polite and slightly fake smile at one of them. Not all of them were like that, she knew - certainly not the duke and duchess - but a few too many of them for her liking.

"Maybe you should come to Darroch with me," Bryce suggested, somehow managing to keep his voice from carrying far. With his accent, it was easy to pick his voice from the babble around them. "No flutterbys there to annoy you. Just me."

She blinked at him in surprise, wondering if he was just teasing her again. She was still holding onto his arm and wearing his cloak and looked in no hurry to be rid of either just yet. "What exactly are you asking me, Lord Bryce?" she said, turning slowly to face him. He knew she couldn't just pack her bags and go with him to Darroch without a very good reason, and he wasn't leaving Arindale until her brother was returned to them, so what was it he was getting at exactly"

He looked down at her, the barest sparkle of warmth hidden just for her to find in the depths of his eyes. He liked her, for all their bad beginning, and she did not fit here with the primping and preening ones. She would fit perfectly in the borders, he was sure of that. "Fair warning, m'lady," he offered, his lips quirking into a grin. "If we're still on speaking terms when your brother returns, I may be asking for your hand. And when you've beaten me up for doing it, I'll be wanting an answer from you."

"Shall I take it that you intend to court me, then?" she asked, amusement lighting her blue eyes that only a few minutes earlier were wet with tears. She did not bother to flutter her lashes or act coy, like so many of the other women at court might. She liked a man who was forthright and honest and unafraid to speak his mind, and she preferred to do the same. Life was too short for such games.

For a moment, Bryce suddenly looked absolutely lost. "Court you?" he repeated, confused by the turn of phrase. "I mean to know you well enough to ask for marriage, m'lady, not turn you into one of these airy fairies here. Unless you wish to say yes now, and save me the bother of asking later. I don't know how it works in Francia, but in the borders, it isn't so strange to find a man and woman wed on the day they met fifty years later still happy together." If they'd been in the borderlands, he would have chucked her chin, or kissed her nose, in retaliation for the lit up look she was giving him, but he didn't dare here in this formal setting. Who knew what they might take it to mean"

Though she didn't know what he was thinking, she might not have minded so much if he did just that. It would certainly give the courtiers something to talk about, but she could not only think of herself in this instance. Here at court, there was a certain propriety that had to be followed and she owed it to Alys to follow those rules, rather than make things difficult for her. Still, she couldn't help but smile in amusement at the realization that she had somehow unintentionally confused him. "If you still feel the same by the time my brother arrives in Arindale, ask me again and I will give you my answer. Until then, I suggest we try to get better acquainted, so that we can make those decisions wisely. That is what I mean by courting, Lord Bryce."

"So strange, this Frankish court," he muttered, almost offended by how stoic he was going to have to be. "We must play nice and be friendly, and over there is a man halfway up his lady's skirts." His gaze scanned the group, and he snorted with laughter suddenly. "Seems your duke and duchess are no better, either." He nodded toward one of the wide windows, where Alys was taking great pleasure in scandalizing the men and and women around her by showing Charles very enthusiastically just how pleased she was that he'd managed to join them this morning.

Justine swung her gaze to take in the other couples surrounding them, some chatting amicably, while others were clearing flirting, including the duke and duchess, whose affection for each other was no secret. "Well, they have loved each other since they were children ....and they are married," she said, excusing their hosts for their behavior. "In truth, I envy them," she added, with a small sigh as she led him through the crowd of courtiers toward a quiet corner where they could talk in peace and yet not be whispered about for disappearing.

"If you like, I could do the same to you, but I think I may come away with scratches," Bryce offered with a low chuckle, allowing her to steer him about. She knew this room and these people better than he did, after all. "What is it you envy, m'lady' The freedom, or the love?"

That was a good question and one she hadn't considered. "Both, I think. There are no games between them. They have known each other too long for that. They can be completely honest and open with each other without worry they might scare the other away." Of course, there was the physical affection, as well, but she did not feel the need to mention that.

"Och, Lady Justine," Bryce sighed softly. "You should have been born in the borderlands. There isn't a man or woman there I've ever known be less than honest in their dealings. A man who doesn't have his word has nothing; a woman who cannot be trusted will not catch a man to hold her lands with her. We've no time for playing games or pretending to be what we're not. You're wasted here."

There went that brow of hers again, surprised at his assessment of her, though he barely knew her, not to mention her surprise at his description of life in the borderlands - at least, as it was between men and women. At first, she took offense, thinking he was insulting her, but then she sighed, realizing he was right. She didn't belong here among all these primped up peacocks. She was so far from home here, she felt almost lonely. Without Alys' friendship, she would have hated it here, and yet, she could not just up and leave her ladyship behind, and there was her brother's wishes to think of. "You are right, of course, but I do not think my time here is entirely wasted," she said, looking toward the duchess, as if to make a point.

He followed her gaze, fighting to conceal his smirk. "Aye, well, if you were to transplant yourself to the borderlands, his grace would have to make the ways safe," he mused rather cheekily. "I don't think there's a force in this world could stop your lady there from visiting you, no matter the danger, and no matter how much she tries to keep you from it here. She's an odd sort of princess - I was always told they were delicate and quiet and perfectly well behaved."

Justine laughed out loud at his description of princesses, turning a few heads, but she didn't much care. She was tired of restricting herself and pretending to be someone she wasn't because of the expectations of those around her, and Bryce wasn't doing much to discourage such behavior. "Our Alys is not your ordinary fairytale princess, my lord. She is as brave and intelligent as any man, and yet, she has a soft, caring side about her. You do know she was a prisoner of Cardinal Bereth?" she asked, lowering her voice for his ears alone. She was not fond of gossip, but these were the facts, as she knew them. She did not yet comment on whether or not His Grace would be more inclined to make the borderlands safe were she to relocate there, but she did know he would move heaven and earth to keep his beloved Alys safe.

"Hmm, nimble fingers fully capable of nocking an arrow, as opposed to unlacing a lady's corset, I presume," she teased, relaxing a little in his presence now that they were getting a little acquainted. She swung a glance to the duke and duchess, a thoughtful frown lighting her lips. There was something she knew that few others were aware of, but she didn't think it was her place to share such news without the lady's permission. "We can invite them, if you wish, but I am not sure they will want to attend." She glanced to his shadow with a further frown. "Regardless, we will not be alone."

"Aye, then perhaps they will join us when the hunt is done," Bryce agreed easily enough. He wasn't daft enough to have assumed the loose gown and high waist were fashionable; women wore them like that in the borders when there was something brewing that wouldn't take well to being squashed by a bodice. He followed her glance to the guard once again. "We may yet be," he considered. "If all goes well with my father."

"Shall we wait until your father arrives, then?" she asked, knowing the man was due in Arindale in another day or so. She vaguely wondered what the man would think of her, though that was putting the cart before the horse a bit. "You will return to Darroch then, in exchange for my brother," she mused aloud, though that went without saying. And it was likely she'd never see him again, unless he kept his promise and asked for her hand once again before leaving.

"He'll be here on the morrow," Bryce told her. "If all goes well, he will be leaving again two days from thence, with the men his grace has promised. Should take them about two weeks to reach Darroch, and then another two weeks for your brother to reach here. You've to put up with me for near enough a month or more, m'lady. Waiting a day or two for a hunt seems wise."

"Do you think we won't kill each other before then?" she asked, a hint of mischief in her own eyes. Once she got to know him better, he might be surprised to find her sense of humor closely matched his.

"I'd rather a kiss than a killing," he countered, his smirk flickering into sight before disappearing once again. "You've a beautiful smile, m'lady. Echoes the mind behind it." Patting her hand, he looked up to scan the court, taking note of who had left and who had arrived.

"Perhaps you will have your wish," she teased back, a smile curling her lips, as if to prove his point, though she did not want him to think her too simple or easy a catch. "You are a hunter then, my lord?" she asked. "I wonder ....is it the chase or the catch you enjoy more?"

"Och, m'lady, there's more than one answer to that question," he warned her laughingly. "Were my quarry a boar or deer, 'tis the chase I enjoy and the knowledge that I've put food on my table for the night. Were my quarry a fine woman with hair the color of spun gold and eyes as blue as a stormy sky, with a spirit to match my own and a strength rare in these parts ....well, I'll enjoy the chase, but the willing capture would be the pinnacle of my wish."

"I wonder ....Do you say that to all the pretty young ladies you take a fancy to?" she asked. She wasn't trying to be coy, but she knew he had drawn the eye of more than one admiring female while they'd been chatting, and it was likely he was popular with the ladies back home. He was rather handsome, after all, with his dark eyes and roguish grin. She only hoped she did not anger him with her question.

He blinked, surprised to be challenged quite so soon in his attempt at a courtship. "Can't say as there have been many that have taken my fancy," he heard himself admit honestly, and inwardly cringed, hoping she didn't take that the wrong way. "I won't say there haven't been any, you know well enough it would be a lie. But I can say with all honesty that there's only one I've ever wished to wed, and she is standing before me."

"You have a sweet tongue, Lord Bryce," she countered, smiling in amusement, a little relieved by his reply, though she couldn't help but wonder if the flattery was entirely sincere. She had never managed to capture a man's attention so quickly and so entirely as she had with him, and she had little to offer such a man but herself and her companionship. "I wonder if it tastes as sweet as it sounds," she whispered back in a teasing tone, but before he could reply, they were interrupted by a voice that they both recognized as belonging to the Duke of Lonnare.

"Ah, Bryce," he said, whacking the man on the back fondly. "I see you have met Lady Justine."

Bryce had been about to respond when a hearty hand slapped onto his back, together with the rousing greeting offered to them by the Duke himself. Straightening himself, he turned about to find Alys and Charles very close to, the duchess in particular grinning widely. "Aye, your grace, we've met," he agreed. "The lady and I were just discussing fancies. Seems she has a mind to treat herself with a sweet tongue."

Charles glanced between the pair, not quite getting the implication just yet. "I believe you mean sweet tooth, do you not?" he asked, thinking perhaps there was some misunderstanding due to the difference in language.

"No, Your Grace, he means a sweet tongue," Justine interjected. "It seems Lord Bryce is pining for a kiss, and I am curious if his tongue tastes as sweet as his words."

"I would save the experiment for this afternoon, at the earliest," Alys suggested with a smile. She'd witnessed the initial conflagration between them, and seen them come back in together, and on the whole, was very glad indeed to see that her friend had caught the eye of the handsome border lord. "Justine, would you mind terribly amusing yourself this afternoon' I have a little sweet tonguing of my own to see to." The look she threw to Charles was enough to set Bryce chuckling, though he made a valiant effort to turn the sound into a cough for decency's sake.

"Oh, I think he should have to work a little harder for such a reward," Justine replied, with an impish grin of her own before offering a curtsy to the lady. "Of course, My Lady," she replied, fully understanding her friend's desire to spend the afternoon with her husband. It was the duke and duchess' habit to take advantage of every free moment they had together, as rare as they were.

"Perhaps you would like to show Lord Bryce around the castle and gardens while we are detained and then join us for a private dinner later," Charles suggested, noticing the obvious attraction between the pair.

"Actually, your grace, if I may be so bold," Bryce asked politely. "Would it be within your grace's remit to allow the lady and myself to take a ride" We wouldn't go far, I assure you."

Alys' smile deepened briefly as she squeezed her husband's arm. "If my husband agrees, I do not see the harm," she said, looking to Justine. Yes, there was definitely a light in her friend's eyes that hadn't been there before. "So long as you do not keep her out in the cold for too long, my lord."

Though Charles was hoping the man was sincere in his interest in his wife's young friend, he was no fool and could not risk the man taking her hostage or some other such foolishness. Still, so long as they were accompanied by the guard, he saw no harm in it, and who was he to stand in the way of a budding romance" "Very well, so long as the guard accompanies you. I apologize, Bryce, but until I speak with your father, I'm afraid that's the best I can do."

"I would like to show you the borderlands," Bryce told her, reaching out to open the door and allow her through first, always aware of his shadow thumping along behind them. "Green hills and tender woodland. Silent as a whisper in the deep of winter when the snow lies thick on the ground; alive with the chatter of birds and animals when summer comes again and paints the land with green."

She closed her eyes a moment, imagining it in her mind as he painted her a picture. "It sounds lovely," she admitted, opening her eyes again as she followed along at his side. Should she warn him that she was not the kind of woman who was content to spend the winter sewing near the fire" What would happen if they did marry and she became pregnant' Would she be content with such a life, or would she always crave more" Would he be happy with a woman who needed to do more than just bake bread and raise children"

If Bryce had known these were her worries, he would have been quick to reassure her, but then, perhaps he would not need to. A few days in the company of his sister at Darroch would teach her soon enough that any wife of his would not be expected to sit around and brew babies, and nothing else. "Aye, it is a beautiful land," he said with a gusty sigh. "Watered with blood, and blooms with joy. I would not change the borders for anything." He paused as they approached the stables, looking down at her. "Though I can see one bloom here I would not trade for anything."

"You describe your homeland beautifully, my lord," she told him, almost wishing she could see it for herself and not have to wait another month to see if he still felt the same. She would have stopped and turned to face him, if not for the shadow that followed close behind, watching and listening to every word. "One moment, my lord," she said, coming to a halt and pressing a gloved hand against his chest to stop him.

She turned to the guard who the duke had ordered trail them on their ride. "I appreciate your need to follow His Grace's orders, but do you think you could give us a little space and follow from a distance" I do not think his lordship is going to kidnap me and escape to the forest with his father due to visit on the morrow."

The guard considered her request for a long moment, torn between his duty and common sense. "Well ....yes, my lady," he said finally. "I know Lord Bryce is not armed, and he doesn't know the land around here anyways. Stay in my sight, and I'll say my duty is done, my lady."

"Tres bien!" she exclaimed, delighted with his reply and tossing a cheeky wink at Bryce before sauntering onward toward the stables. If a flower was what he thought she was, he was about to find out the woman he was courting was more like a wildflower.

Noting the wink, Bryce exchanged a look with the guard, both men fighting to conceal smirks as they turned to follow the young lady into the stable yard. Three horses had been saddled - two were obviously of a better class than the third, which was intended for the guard, who sighed and swung himself up into the saddle smartly. "Do you require a boost, m'lady?" Bryce asked Justine, more curious about which horse she would choose than whether or not she needed help.

"I can manage, thank you," she replied, with another cheeky smile. Let him see just what she was capable of. As might be expected, Justine choose the smaller of the two beasts, more for his sake than hers, swinging herself up into the saddle as easily as a man might. Without a skirt, there would be no sidesaddle riding for this lady.

"As you wish." He admired her form as she swung up into the saddle, impressed that she was so practiced at it, and turned to swing up onto the larger stallion himself, shaking his cloak out so that it did not get trapped beneath him. "After you, m'lady. I didn't get all the way up here not to enjoy the view, after all."

"Should I have asked if you needed help, my lord?" she teased, blue eyes bright with amusement, as the groom made to lead her horse from the stable. She spread her cloak behind her, and tossed the long braid behind her, as she settled herself atop the smaller of the two horses.

"M'lady, if you wish to get your hands on me, all you need do is ask," he countered with a low chuckle, practiced hands taking the reins lightly in his grip as he urged the stallion to walk toward her where she was mounted.

"My lord, if you wish to do the same, I'm afraid you'll have to catch me first," she warned, with that cheeky grin of hers, before kicking her horse and taking off into a run, away from the confines of the castle and stables and the eyes that always seemed to be watching, her cloak blowing in the breeze behind her.

Bryce laughed aloud, nudging his heels into the stallion's sides to give the creature his head, allowing the horse to make the most of a warming canter before galloping to catch up with the woman and horse already several meters ahead of them. He just vaguely heard the guard doing the same, but soon those hoofbeats fell out of his hearing range, and he knew his shadow was honoring his promise to Justine.

She gave the horse the freedom to run at his own pace, gripping the reins tightly, nudging him to go a little bit faster in hopes of leaving their shadow behind, at least for a little while. She didn't chose an easy path, but one that only an experienced rider could navigate with speed, trusting that Bryce was sure enough in the saddle to follow with ease. Her heart soared at the feeling of freedom and excitement she always felt when she rode like this, alone or accompanied, here in Arindale or back home in her own village.

As for Bryce, this was the first taste of freedom he had felt since the height of the summer, when the Coimbrans had marched across his land and forced him to go with them. It was a slap in the face to feel the cold air, the strong muscle bunching beneath him, and know that it was not the last he would ever have of this experience. To be sharing it with a woman as unique as Justine was the icing on the cake, and he was eager to be sure she knew he was enjoying himself, giving the horse his head to catch up. He drew level with Justine a few minutes later, throwing her a wide grin.

She smiled over at him when he caught up, a few strands of hair coming loose from the braid. The look on her face was radiant with pure joy, enjoying this taste of freedom as much as he was, it seemed. She, too, had been cooped up at court, worrying for her brother, lonely but for the friendship of the duchess, and bored of books and sewing and courtly gossip. This was just what they'd both needed to remember what it was to feel alive again. She glanced briefly over her shoulder to see how far behind them their shadow was trailing, before looking back at Bryce and nodding her head toward a rise just before them over which was the start of a woods.

As promised, the guard was far enough behind not to intrude, and close enough to be able to intercede if he was needed to. Bryce chuckled, nodding back to Justine as she directed him toward the rise ahead of them. The stallion was fleet and sure-footed beneath him, apparently enjoying the trust of a new rider as well as the freedom to shake the stiffness from his limbs as he bore the borderman to the top of the rise in the lady's wake.

She led him up the rise, only to disappear from view over the top of it as she headed for the woods in hopes of escaping their escort for a short while. She was feeling more alive than ever and the closer she got to those woods, the more she longed to see if his lips were truly as sweet as he claimed them to be.

She was going to get all three of them in trouble, but Bryce had a feeling it wouldn't matter so very much. He spurred his horse on to follow her, his grin wide with the hopeful prospect of even just a few minutes alone with this intriguing woman who had already told him not to ask her to marry him until they ran out of time together. It was a frustrating promise, knowing he shouldn't ask until then, and one he had a feeling he wasn't going to be able to keep.

Her lashes fluttered closed, despite her own attempts to not appear coy, but it was not coyness that was holding her back, but simply fear. Should she listen to her heart or her head" Oh, where was Joslin now that she needed good advice" She dipped her head, a small frown on her face, reluctant to leave his embrace, and yet, afraid to meet his gaze. "You speak pretty words, Bryce. No one has ever said such things to me before. I know men speak such things when they want to bed a woman. I want to trust you, but how am I to know you are not just saying what you think I want to hear?" she asked, lifting her face to him again, unable to hide the longing and loneliness from her eyes.

A brief flash of darkness crossed his face, betraying the hurt and offense he felt at her mistrusting words, but he made an effort to get hold of himself before he frightened her. She had not grown up in the borderlands; she didn't know their ways. She didn't know just how binding it was when a borderman gave his word. "Justine, I wouldn't endanger you for all the jewels in Francia," he told her firmly. "If you were to be mine, I wouldn't bed you until we were married under the Goddess' eyes. I would not treat you so cruel as to take your treasure before swearing to protect you before Her." A thought belatedly occurred to him. "Oh, and, uh ....well, I should like you to meet my father first. Juliana can wait, she's been wanting a sister for years."

It pained her to see the hurt on his face and to know she had caused it, but she had to know he meant what he was saying. He was right about one thing - she was not from the borderlands, and men at court were known for wooing pretty girls only to lure them into their beds. She did not think Bryce was one of those men, but she had to be sure. She touched his cheek with a gloved hand, as if to soothe the pain she had caused him, wishing she knew him better, wishing she knew his heart better.

"I do not wish to hurt you, Bryce. I never wish to hurt you. I would sooner die than do such a thing, but you see, I must be sure, and ....I am afraid." That was the hardest thing in the world for her to admit. She had always considered herself braver than most. What, then, was it exactly she was afraid of? It was not the fear of losing her heart, but the fear of it being broken. "Men have asked for my hand before, and I have always said no." At least, her father and her brother had afforded her the freedom to do that, to choose her own fate.

"They only want a pretty wife to wear on their arm and to bear their children, but I want more than that from a marriage. I want more than a man who will love and cherish me. I want a man who will be my friend and my companion, as well as a lover. I want a man who will treat me as an equal; not as a servant, good only for warming his bed and bearing his children. I want the freedom to do as I will and a man who trusts me enough to allow it. I have been spoiled these many years, and I have come too far to turn back now. I will not be a pretty bird in a gilded cage, Bryce. I need wings to fly, and I need a man who will not be afraid to fly with me." Was he that man' She could only hope he was.

Bryce listened as she spoke, understanding only a very little of just why these things were so important to her. He had never spent any great time away from his own lands; he only knew the way of things there, but it seemed to him that she was describing the borderlands perfectly.

"I hope I shall never give you cause to fear," he told her, his voice gentle beneath the whistle of the breeze in the boughs above them. "When I ask you to be my wife, it is not because I want purely bairns to continue my line, or a warm woman in my bed. Truth be told, if that was all I wanted, I would have married years ago to the first maid who fit such a wish. With my brother gone, I am heir to Darroch, and that is no wee thing, Justine. A wife of mine must be strong and brave; she must be capable of thinking for herself, and doing for herself. I am not simply asking for a womb; I am asking for a companion, a friend, to stand by my side through the years to come and face with me all that comes our way. The last I would ever wish would be to clip your wings or break your spirit, for you are the first woman ever to move me in this way, and though others might say 'tis too soon for love, I say they don't know how to listen to their hearts. For some, love may grow over time; for me, love came in an instant, when you first smiled at me and I saw the woman you are, beneath the woman you were pretending to be."

He sighed softly, knowing this must be difficult for her to believe. "Och, if only you'd been born in Dunfayre, you'd know me to be true. But of all things, I would ask that you trust me in this ....if ever I cage you, t'will be you who holds the key, and I shall be imprisoned beside you."

She frowned up at him, her gloved fingers caressing his cheek as she looked into his eyes. The window to the soul is in the eyes, her father had always said. You could tell whether a person was lying or telling the truth by studying their eyes, and Bryce's eyes told her he was telling the truth. Her heart ached to hear of a loss she had not known he suffered until this very moment. She knew how devastated she would feel if she ever lost Joslin, how terrified she was when she hadn't received word from him. "If I were born in Dunfayre, I would not be who I am now and we might not be having this conversation," she pointed out, though she understood what he was trying to say.

Though they had not grown up so very far apart, they came from two very different worlds, and it would take time for them to understand each other, but it seemed, in that moment, that she had been made for him, and he for her. Why else would the Goddess have seen fit to put them together today' She realized in that moment that if she let this man walk away from her, she would regret it for the rest of her life. "Very well," she replied at last. "If your father finds me acceptable, and His Grace gives you leave, I will return with you to Dunfayre as your wife, but I must insist you meet my brother first. He is everything to me, and I would do nothing without his knowledge and approval."

"You will?" The change in his expression was stunning to behold - to go from a stern look of concern and hope to a suddenly joyful smile that lit his eyes with that fire peculiar to the borders was something worth witnessing. "Och, Justine, you're a treasure!" Bending his knees, he lifted her up off her feet, spinning about to swing her around as he laughed with delight. There was no fear that his father would not find her acceptable, knowing the old man as he did, and waiting to meet her brother was nothing compared with the knowledge that she had said yes.

She shrieked in surprise as he hoisted her off her feet and swung her around, her laughter echoing his, loud enough to bring their shadow around to find them, though the man was chuckling himself at the view of the two young lovers, and he turned back around to wait with the horses, shaking his head in amusement. "Would that you are still saying that when we are old and gray," she teased him, her fingers sliding through his hair as her feet finally found the ground, and she leaned up to meet his lips once again in yet another tender kiss, one that was more sure of the last, one that spoke of her hopes and her dreams for their future together, not apart.

Unaware that they had been discovered, Bryce's grin found Justine's smile once again, and this time, he let her share her enthusiasm with him, trading kisses back and forth as he wrapped her up in his cloak with him. He would forever be grateful to his mother for teaching him to listen to his heart and not his head, and hoped that Justine's brother would approve of him. Perhaps the man would be so grateful for Juliana's care, he'd give his blessing even if he didn't approve of Bryce. "You're the heather on my hills," he told her again, holding her close. "For even in the depths of winter, you flower and bloom, and paint the world with the color of your soul."

She returned his kisses with a full and open heart that was yearning to love and be loved in return. It was all she'd ever wanted really - to find her true place in the world and a man with whom to share it. She knew she could not hold onto Joslin forever. Sooner or later, he would find a lady of his own and marry, leaving her behind, and despite all her claims about freedom, she could not bear the thought of such loneliness. She laughed as Bryce compared her to a wildflower, once again. Though she was unaware of it, the comparison was not too far from the truth. "It is not quite winter yet. How do you know I won't wither?" she teased, her fingers toying with his hair as she kept her arms tucked tightly about his neck, as though she never wished to let go.

Bryce looked a little dumbfounded by the question, his answer coming slowly from behind his grin. "I'll ....put you in a pot near the fire and in the sunshine, and give you a good soaking every day?" he suggested teasingly, dipping his head to kiss the tip of her nose.

"I believe the proper word for that is bath," she teased back, her cheeks flushing, but not from the chill in the air. Her heart felt happy and light as it ever had, filled with hope and promise for the future, and it was all because of this man the Goddess had decided, for some reason, to put in her path.

"Tease me too much, you wee darling, and I'll bath you in the stream," he threatened her laughingly, stealing another kiss. Goddess knew what the ducal court were going to make of their warmth with one another over the next few weeks, but at least the Duke and Duchess would have fair warning. Alys would not miss the new intimacy between her friend and their guest at dinner that evening, certainly.

Justine laughed, even as he stole another kiss and another, those kisses only becoming sweeter with each one that was shared. Yes, it was sudden and unexpected, and no, she did not know him well enough to love him yet, but she had decided to take a chance and open her heart to him, and that was more than enough of a miracle for one day. Whatever the court thought of their romance, she didn't much care. The only people who truly mattered were standing right there holding onto each other, as if they were afraid to let go, trading kisses as longing as the first breath of winter over the borders that waited for them.

((Bordermen do not waste time when they see what they want, do they' We'll have to see what Joslin has to say about all this when he gets back!))