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page carry it around the table to her。 〃Have you been at sea before？ It is a long way from Cellodshire to what we in Nabban call the Veir Maynis…the Great Green。〃
Miriamele silently cursed herself。 Perhaps Cadrach was right。 She should have thought of a simpler story to tell。 〃Yes I mean； no； I haven't。 Not really。〃 She took a long； studied sip of wine； forcing herself to smile back at the earl despite its sourness。 〃We traveled on shipboard down the Gleniwent several times。 I have been on the Kynslagh as well。 〃 She took another long sip and realized she had emptied the goblet。 She set it down； embarrassed。 What would this man think of her？ 〃
〃Who is we？〃
〃I beg your pardon？〃 She guiltily pushed the goblet away； but Aspitis took this as a sign and refilled it； pushing it back to her side of the rimmed table with an understanding smile。 As the cabin pitched with the boat's motion； the wine threatened to overtop the edge of the goblet。 Miriamele picked it up； holding it very gingerly。
〃I said； who is 'we'； Lady Marya； if I may ask？ You and your guardian？ You and your family？ You mentioned your father； Baron。。。 Baron 。。。〃 He frowned。 〃A thousand apologies； I've forgotten his name。〃
Miriamele had forgotten also。 She covered her moment of panic with another sip of wine； it became rather a long sip as she struggled with her memory。 The name she had chosen came back at last。 She swallowed。
〃Baron Seoman。〃
〃Of course…Baron Seoman。 Was that who took you down the Gleniwent？〃
She nodded her head； hoping not to get into any further trouble。
〃And your mother？〃
〃Dead。〃
〃Ah。〃 Aspitis' golden face became somber as a cloud…curtained sun。 〃Forgive me。 I am being rude； asking so many questions。 I am terribly sorry to hear that。〃
Miriamele had a moment of inspiration。 〃She died in the plague last year。〃
The earl nodded。 〃So many did。 Tell me； Lady Marya…if you will allow me one last and quite forward question…is there a special man to whom you are promised？
〃No；〃 she answered quickly； then wondered if she could have given a better and less potentially troublesome answer。 She took a deep breath； holding the earl's gaze。 The pomander that scented the cabin air was rich in her nostrils。 〃No；〃 she repeated。 He was very handsome。
〃Ah。〃 Aspilis nodded gravely。 With his youthful face and head of brilliant curls； he seemed almost a child play…acting as an adult。 〃But see； you have not eaten anything； Lady。 Does the fare displease you？〃
〃Oh； no； Earl Aspitis！〃 she said breathlessly； looking for a spot to put her wine goblet down so she could pick up her knife。 She noticed that the cup was empty。 Aspitis saw her look and leaned forward with the ewer。
As she picked at her food； Apitis talked。 As if in apology for his earlier interrogation； he kept his conversation airy as swansdown； speaking mostly of odd or silly things that happened at the Nabbanai court。 To hear him talk； it was quite a glittering place。 He told stones well and soon had her laughing…in fact； with the rocking of the ship and the walls of the small； lamplit cabin pressing in upon her； she began to wonder if she was laughing too much。 The whole thing felt rather dreamlike。 She was having difficulty keeping her eyes squarely on Aspitis' smiling face。
As she suddenly realized that she could no longer see the earl at all； a hand came to rest lightly upon her shoulder： Aspitis was behind her； still talking about the ladies of the court。 Through the wine fumes that filled her head； she could feel his touch； weighty and hot。
〃。。。But of course their beauty is that rather 。。。arranged beauty； if you know what I mean； Marya。 I do not mean to be cruel； but sometimes when Duchess Nessalanta is caught in a breeze； the powder flies off her like snow from a mountaintop！〃 Aspitis' hand squeezed gently； then moved to her other shoulder as he altered his stance。 On the way； his fingers trailed gently across the nape of her neck。 She shuddered。 〃Do not misunderstand me；〃 he said； 〃I would defend to the death the honor and beauty of our courtly Nabbanai women…but in my heart there is nothing so fine as the unimproved loveliness of a country girl。〃 His hand moved to her neck again； the touch delicate as a thrush's wing。 〃You are such a beauty。 Lady Marya I am so pleased to have met you。 I had forgotten what it was to see a face that needed no embellishment 。。。〃
The room spun。 Miriamele abruptly straightened and her elbow toppled the wine cup。 A few drops like blood pooled on her hand towel。 〃I must go outside；〃 she said。 〃1 must have some air。〃
〃My lady；〃 Aspitis said； concern plain in his voice； 〃are you ill？ I hope it is not my poor table that has offended your gentle constitution。〃
She waved a hand； trying to placate him； wanting only to be out of the glaring lamplight and the stiflingly warm； perfumed air。 〃No； no。 I just want to go outside。〃
〃But there is a storm； my lady。 You would be soaked。 I can't allow it。〃
She stumbled a few steps toward the door。 〃Please。 I'm ill。〃
The earl shrugged helplessly。 〃Let me at least get you a warm cloak that will keep out most of the damp。〃 He clapped for his pages； who were trapped with the unpleasant squire in the tiny room that served as both larder and kitchen。 One of the pages began to go through a large chest in search of an appropriate garment while Miriamele stood by miserably。 She was at last outfitted in a musty…smelling wool cloak with a hood； Aspitis； similarly dressed； took her elbow and guided her up onto the deck。
The wind was blowing in earnest。 Torrents of rain sliced down； turning to cascades of sparkling gold as they passed through the guttering lamplight； then vanishing back into blackness。 Thunder drummed。
〃Let us at least sit beneath the canopy； Lady Marya；〃 Aspitis cried； 〃or we will both of us catch some terrible ague！〃 He led her aft； where a red…striped sailcloth awning stretched between the wales； humming as it vibrated in the strong wind。。 A steersman in a flapping cloak bowed his head as they ducked beneath the cloth； but kept his hands firmly clasped on the tiller。 The pair sat down on a pile of dampened rugs。
〃Thank you；〃 Miriamele said。 〃You are kind。 I feel very foolish to trouble you。〃
〃I only worry that this is a cure worse than the illness；〃 Aspitis said； smiling。 〃If my physician were to hear of this； he would be leeching me for brain fever before I could blink。〃
Miriamele laughed and shivered in quick succession。 Despite the chill； the tangy sea air had vastly improved her outlook。 She no longer felt as though she might faint…in fact； she felt so much better that she did not object when the Earl of Eadne and Drina slipped a solicitous arm around her shoulders。
〃You are a strange but fascinating young woman； Lady Marya；〃 Aspitis whispered； barely audible above the moan of the wind。 His breath was warm against the chilled flesh of her ear。 〃I feel there is some mystery about you。 Are all country girls so full of moods？〃
Miriamele was very definitely of two minds about the tingling that was running right through her。 Fear and excitement seemed dangerously intermixed。 〃Don't；〃 s