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man's unsuspecting hands and clambered atop his mount's back.

"Hey! That's my horse!" the man cried, moving to stop her, but Murie was not willing to be stopped. Pulling hard on the reins, she turned the animal toward the gates and dug in her heels. The horse was very responsive and charged forward at once.

Murie heard the shouts and commotion behind her but did not slow. Her husband needed her.

Chapter Sixteen

"Are you sure it was Murie?" Balan asked as they rode toward the row of empty buildings that made up the village. They'd waited at the bend where the road to the castle split off toward the village to be sure the wagon train made it to the drawbridge unmolested before continuing on to meet his wife. It had been a relatively short but hard journey, and he'd spent too much money for very little return to risk bandits, or even the armed guards he'd paid to accompany them, running off with either the servants he'd managed to hire or the items he'd purchased - even for the sake of meeting his wife.

"Aye. She had on that black and burgundy gown she favors," Osgoode answered, but he was frowning as he added, "I wonder why she is in the village? You do not think she believed we would be putting the servants up there, do you?"

Balan frowned at the suggestion. It had never occurred to him that she might make such an assumption. In fact, it had never occurred to him to put up the new servants in the village, but that was a perfectly fine idea. It was close enough that they could walk up in the mornings to attend their duties, as well as walk home at night when they were finished. But at the same time, they'd have their own homes, with their own bit of gardens to work come spring. That might prevent their being lured away by another lord.

It also would have the added benefit of preventing the village from falling into complete ruin.

Balan smiled to himself and shook his head. Wasn't his wife a clever puss to think of such a thing?

"Or mayhap she arranged a special welcome home for you after your journey," Osgoode suggested with a grin. "Mayhap she has a picnic set out by a cozy little fire for the two of you."

"Oh, aye." Balan chuckled. "Fish cakes and rotten ale, in a cottage filthy with neglect and us sweltering from a fire that is not needed on such a fine day."

"You are right, cousin," Osgoode agreed with a frown. "It is far too warm today to be bothered with a fire. Whatever can she be doing in there?"

Balan shook his head, beginning to frown as he pondered. Why would she have a fire going in the cottage?

"Perhaps she is burning something sweet smelling to remove a bad stench," Osgoode suggested. He was silent for a moment before offering with amusement, "Or perhaps it is another one of her superstitions."

Balan grimaced. His wife did seem to have far too many superstitions: It was something he would have to work on. He would not have Murie going around throwing herself to the ground every time a cuckoo called or worrying that something ill was going to happen every time a curlew sang.

"I hope she has got past the ridiculous idea that I am trying to kill you," Osgoode said suddenly, drawing Balan's attention. He peered at his cousin curiously. "Have you ever considered it?"

"What? Killing you?" Osgoode asked, looking shocked. Balan shrugged. "You would inherit everything." Osgoode burst out laughing. "Oh, aye. I would inherit a castle with fields full of rotting vegetation, no coins to repair it and too few servants to work it - and all the headaches involved in returning it to some semblance of its former glory. Delightful! Let me just find my dagger, Balan, and I shall gut you where you sit." Balan smiled faintly. " 'Tis not so bad. 'Twill be a year or two of hard work and expense, but then we should be fine."

"Aye, but you have Murie and her dower to help. Both equally valuable I think."

"Nay," Balan assured him. "The dower is useful and will help Gaynor recover more quickly, but Murie is definitely more valuable."

He was aware of the way Osgoode stared at him, but was still unprepared when the man said, "You love her!" Balan nodded solemnly, not willing to deny it.

Osgoode smiled and then began to laugh.

"What is so