Outstanding children, all of them, Peto thought-Mihael for his candor, Ilsabet for her bravery, and Marishka simply because of the shape of her lips, the beauty of her green eyes and golden hair. Peto had a weakness for beauty. He thought that ail men did, but only the most honest would ever admit it.

"Would I be violating some custom if I spoke a few words to Marishka?"

Mihael looked at him curiously, then with growing understanding. "It would put her mind at ease."

Peto was aware of the youth watching him as he moved down the table to a vacant chair next to Mar-ishka. Mihael had ambition; that much was certain. From the young man's expression, Peto assumed he was already considering the advantages of a match between them.

With Mihael's last words fixed in his mind, Peto began to speak to the girl. "I want you to know that I have no desire to disrupt your life. Continue to live here with your servants as long as you desire."

She looked at him, her green eyes showing the first tiny spark of happiness. "I had hoped you'd give me leave to stay," she said. "I've never lived anywhere else."

"How do you pass the time?"

She pointed to the bellpull next to the lord's chair. It was a beautiful design of flowers and ferns. "That was my first piece. I've done others as well. Lorena recently started a large tapestry with me, but I've no desire to finish it alone."

"I'm sorry she died. We don't have that custom in my land."

"Nor here," Marishka said. "It was her people who made her take the vow."

"But he released her."

"It was their custom. How could Lorena have gone back to her family with her husband dead?"

"Why did she have to go back at all?"