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You may tell her she may return north if she wishes, but I hope she will attend your masquerade before she leaves. It would be a shame to miss it, especially living in the house."

"I think so, sire. But with that event in mind, I must return."

The king nodded, but when Rothgar was at the door he said, "I hope you came here well guarded, my lord."

Rothgar smiled ruefully. "In a coach with armed outriders, sire. A folly that seemed wise."

"Good, good. We would not want to lose you."

Chapter 31

Bryght Malloren was looking for his brother. After checking the obvious places, he tapped on the door of his mother's old boudoir. Inside, however, he found only Elf and the countess, and no useful information.

"You are concerned about him, Lord Bryght?" the countess asked, looking somewhat anxious. He wished he could ask her directly what had happened here last night.

"Yes."

"Why, Bryght?" asked Elf. "Did something go amiss with the king?"

"I don't know since he's gone into hiding."

"Hiding?" Elf echoed. "Bey?"

The countess didn't scoff. She half rose, but then sat again. A woman of intelligence and self-control. "Might he be involved in the final details of the masquerade?" she asked.

"No one has seen him, and there are some details still to be settled."

"Oh dear." Elf did rise at that. "I must go and see if I can help. This is very strange. Diana, do you wish to come with me?"

The countess disappeared into thought, then said, "No. I must stay here." To Bryght, she said, "I believe there is an automaton here, my lord. Your brother might be attending to it."

Bryght stared at her. "Of course. He finds them soothing. Any idea, Lady Arradale, why he might need to be soothed?"

Her gaze was steady, strong, and clear. "He has devils to fight. And angels. The angels are doubtless the most difficult."

Bryght nodded, and left the room with Elf. As soon as the door was shut, Elf whispered, "Will he? At last?"

"With God's help and ours. I wish to hell Brand were here, but as it is, I'll have to play second in the unholy battle with the angels."

He left her and went swiftly along the corridor, down stairs, to the small room at the back. Beyond the plain door, he heard birdsong and a drum. He entered without knocking, not knowing what he'd find, just as song and drumming stopped.

Rothgar, still in court dress, was sitting at the workbench. He wasn't using the tools there, however, merely gazing at an automaton. It was the figure of a boy in a blue suit with a drum hung around his neck and drumsticks in his hands. Rothgar's eyes flicked immediately to Bryght. "Is something wrong?"

"You're hiding."

"Is that so wicked?"

"It worries those of us who are unused to it. But we'll learn to survive."

"Then why are you here?"

"Where else would I be when you are fighting angels?"

"Fighting angels?" Bey asked quizzically.

Bryght sat in a simple chair near the automaton, feeling as if he was indeed going into battle. "That's how Lady Arradale described it. You should marry her."

Bey's eyes moved to the automaton. "Behold Lady Arradale as a child, transmuted to male. A loving gift turned unconsciously into a weapon aimed straight at the heart of a man's wife and beloved daughter."

Bryght looked at the child's winsome face and saw a hint of the countess's stubborn chin and clear gaze. He could see immediately what Bey meant, but was floundering in the other layers. Dammit, he loved the complexity of numbers, but had no gift for these human labyrinths.

He kept it simple. "After last night, I can see a hundred reasons for you to marry Lady Arradale. Give me one why you shouldn't. And forget the madness in your blood."

Bey's eyes moved back to his. "Convenient if possible."

"That's your angel, Bey. You think it's a holy angel, but it's Lucifer in all his proud glory."

His brother leaned back. "Or you are."And the devil taketh him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee...' Wanting is no excuse for taking, Bryght."

"She loves you. Have you thought what this does to her?"

"Constantly."

"Have you made love to her?" Rothgar didn't answer, of course, but that was answer in a way. "Then you cannot walk away from her."

"We have an understanding about these things."

"Understanding doesn't heal a broken heart." God help him, he didn't have