The Brat Page 0,72

she hurried forward. "Wait! I should like to remove the curtains before you put the frame back up."

"We'll do it for you, my lady," one of the men said, and proceeded to rip off the curtains nearest him. The other men immediately began removing the rest of the tattered cloth, dropping it in piles on the floor. They managed the task much more quickly than she would have, Murie noted and was grateful for it. There were enough other things for her to do.

Leaving them to their work, she bustled out of the chamber and to the stairs, encountering Cecily on her way back up, broom in hand.

"Do you know what they did with the furs and pillows from the wagon?" Murie asked. Emilie had kindly left the items in the wagon for her journey from Reynard to Gaynor, claiming she'd no need of the items at the moment and was happy to loan them to her for the trip home. While they would have to be sent back with the wagon driver the next day, she and Balan could at least use them this night.

"I believe they are still in the wagon," Cecily said. Nodding, Murie moved past the girl. "I shall go find them. You start sweeping up the rushes."

The great hall was empty as Murie moved through it; no doubt the servants and soldiers had all returned to those vital tasks their lord's arrival had interrupted. Murie didn't encounter anyone until she was halfway across the bailey, when two of the men came rushing up.

"Are you looking for your husband, my lady?" one of the men asked. He added, "I am Erol, my lady."

"Good eve, Erol." Murie flashed him a smile, then said, "Nay. I am not looking for my husband."

"What are you looking for then, my lady?" the other man asked. "Mayhap we can help you. Oh, and I am Godart."

"Good eve, Godart. I am looking for the wagon my chests were on. I presume I will find it by the stables?"

"Aye," both men said.

"Was there something you needed from the wagon? Mayhap we could fetch it for you," Erol suggested.

"Oh, nay," Murie replied. "I would not trouble you or take you away from your work. I can manage."

" 'Tis no trouble," Godart assured her.

"Nay, no trouble at all," Erol agreed.

Murie simply smiled and shook her head. It was obvious the men were eager to please, but she suspected this had more to do with the fact that they had few women around than anything else. As far as she knew, Gatty's two daughters were the only single females. She supposed they must be very popular with the men. They had reached the stables, and Murie bustled inside, eager to find the items she sought. Instead, she found Balan's sister seated on a stall post next to Gatty's son, Frederick, watching Habbie brush down Balan's stallion. The girl was busy chattering away to the stable master, so she did not notice Murie and the men enter. By the time Juliana realized Murie's presence and slipped off the post to make a run for it, Murie was close enough to catch her by the arm and draw her to a halt.

"My lady!" Habbie said with surprise. His gaze slid from her to the squirming child she held and back before he said uncertainly,

"Can I help you?"

"Aye." Murie smiled pleasantly and ignored Juliana's struggles. Her hold on the girl was firm. "There were some furs and pillows in the wagon that rode in with us. I intended to fetch them myself, but mayhap you can show these gentlemen where they are to bring them to the lord's bedchamber for me, as I think my new sister and I have some things to discuss."

"Oh ... er ... aye. Of course, my lady," Habbie murmured, his concerned gaze returning to the child.

"Very good," Murie said with a smile. She turned to leave the stables, pulling Juliana with her.

"I ain't going with you," the girl snarled, trying to kick her. Unfortunately, it was difficult to kick when she was racing to stay on her feet with Murie dragging her out of the stables.

"Of course you are," Murie said. "Surely you wish to get to know your new sister?"

"Yer not my sister," the girl snapped.

"I am married to your brother, Juliana. That makes me your sister."

"My lady, we have the things you asked for," Godart said, gasping as he hurried to her side.

Murie glanced around to see all three men now trailing