Hastur Lord

Bettany had been partnered by Valdir, who escorted her back to her new husband. Rinaldo was talking with the cristoforopriest with such absorption that he gave his wife only a cursory nod. Danilo felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. How could Rinaldo fail to see that she craved attention as a drowning man craved air? Moved, Danilo bowed to each of them in turn, including the priest, and then asked if he might request the next dance.

Bettany’s fingers felt cold as they rested lightly on Danilo’s. The musicians played the opening measures of the next dance, a passolentoin two lines. Danilo handed Bettany into the position of honor among the other ladies and took his place opposite her. The two lines bowed to one another, moving through the stylized courtly display. Bettany brightened as the two of them swept down the center with all eyes upon her. There was an artless enjoyment in the way she skipped through the close-steps. Her eyes sparkled, and her lips parted. The melody was very old and familiar, and she hummed along like any young woman at her first fancy ball. In that moment of simple pleasure, Danilo saw the girl she had been before the Ghost Wind and might yet be again, given care and understanding, gentle guidance, and, most of all, affection. CouldRinaldo love her?

The passolentoclosed with another formal salute. Danilo offered Bettany his arm. “It’s good to see you happy, damisela—p ardon me, Domna.”

“Happy? Am I happy?” She hesitated, and he slowed his step to give them more time before he must return her to Rinaldo. “I do so love dancing and pretty dresses, but these are things of the moment. At night, in the dark, I am alone with my thoughts. I suppose that will be different now—the being alone. Perhaps hewill talk to me.”

Danilo’s heart ached for her poignant hope. “Bettany— Domna—if you ever need someone to listen to you, to give you counsel—”

She looked up at him, eyes full of questions. “ Youwould be such a friend to me?”

“I doubt your husband would permit it. I meant you might seek out DomnaLi

He saw from Bettany’s reaction that he had gone too far. Her face, which had softened like a flower in the sun, closed. “I do not need anyone to be kindto me. And there is nothing wrong with my mind! I require you to take me to my husband with no more unseemly delay!”

Afterward, Danilo waited out several dances and then, seeing Li

“I have a message for you,” he said as the musicians played the opening bars. “From Darilyn n’ha Miriam.”

“Who—oh, the Free Amazon. I remember her. How did you—” Li

“I hired her to escort Damisela—a h, DomnaBettany—from Serrais.”

Li

“You could not have done better. How does Darilyn fare?”

“She is well and sends her thoughts of you. And her thanks—” they drew back as the second couple moved into the center of the set to circle, “—for your kindness to her.”

“Kindness—” Li

With a conspiratorial wink, Li

Li

“I didn’t think—I’ve been such a fool!”

“You? No! Regis thought Rinaldo had reneged on his bargain.”

“Bargain?”

“You didn’t know?” Li

“Regis set me aside. Got married like a proper Comyn lord.” Although he knew it was unfair, Danilo could not keep himself from adding, “So what Danvan Hastur and half the Comyn Council could not force Regis to do, Rinaldo has now done.”

Listen to me!Li

Danilo had been bending over Li

“Danilo . . .”

He had never heard that note of alarm in Li

“I really must lie down, and you had best send for a midwife and let Regis know.” It was unthinkable for a telepath to not attend the mother of his children in labor.

She paused, gulping air. “Our little Danilo has chosen a most inopportune time to make his appearance.”

Discreetly, Danilo arranged for women to help Li

Regis flashed Danilo a brilliant smile before he hurried after his wife. In the swirl of the festivities, there was no possibility of anything more.

Only when they were gone, when the music faded into a hum, did Danilo realize what Li

Our Danilo.

25

The next morning, Danilo attended Rinaldo in the library, standing in his usual place behind his lord’s chair. Rinaldo’s marriage had not altered his daily routine. Poor Bettany,Danilo thought, to be paraded about one day and ignored the next.

One of the Guardsmen brought news that Lady Li

He intends that I should be next.Danilo set his teeth together. It isn’t enough that Rinaldo keeps me at his side, making it impossible for me to have a private word with Regis, but he would see me saddled with as loveless a union as his own.

Now that Danilo understood the true state of affairs with Li

Something in Danilo’s expression must have betrayed his resistance, for Rinaldo responded with a half-smile that, while tolerant and good-humored, indicated he had no intention of relenting.