The Herald of Day by Nancy Northcott

Author:Nancy Northcott [Northcott, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falstaff Books
Published: 2019-05-19T22:00:00+00:00

Escorting his guest over the ice, Richard kept his expression cool. Yet he remained aware of her at his side, her face bright with curiosity as she looked around the fair. He’d come damnably close to kissing her, and that could lead nowhere. She deserved what he couldn’t give her, an honorable courtship.

“I hear Lord Trentford called this morning,” he said.

“Yes, he was very kind.”

“Do you like him?”

She hesitated. “Well enough, I suppose, but if we can undo the changes in history, that likely won’t matter.”

“Still, you shouldn’t pass up a chance to build a better life. After all, the quest may not succeed.”

His next words felt like ground glass in his throat, but he pushed them out. “Should you receive an offer you like, I will gladly dower you.”

Her face paled. Staring straight ahead, she said, “That will not be necessary. Indeed, my lord, I cannot let you do such a thing.”

“Richard, remember.” He shouldn’t sound so abrupt. His pointless attraction to her wasn’t her fault.

“M’lord! Mistress,” a friendly voice called.

Richard craned his neck toward the sound. Lucius picked his way over the ice toward them. A burgundy wool cloak shrouded his lean form, and the white plume on his wide-brimmed, black hat fluttered in the cold breeze.

“Good day, Lucius.” Richard smiled and waved to him as though this were a chance encounter. He and Miranda met Lucius before he reached the crowd around the dancers. They could speak privately if they kept their voices down.

Richard said, “Lucius Balfour, meet our cousin, Miranda Willoughby. Miranda, Lucius heads the Gifted’s Conclave Council.”

Lucius touched his broad hat’s brim. “Good day to you both, cousins.”

“Good day,” Miranda replied. Now that Lucius had arrived, all her attention was on him rather than the frivolous pursuits on the ice behind them.

Lucius glanced from her to Richard. “You wanted to speak with me, cousin?”

“I wanted to make you aware of Mistress Willoughby’s visions,” Richard told him. “I’m certain Wyndon knows more than he admits, and her visions tie him to some of the recent events.”

Lucius turned to her. “You’re a seer, then, cousin?”

“A fledgling one, yes.” She described her dream about the bear following Richard and the one about him dueling Wyndon.

When she finished, Lucius shook his head. “It’s not enough, not with the support Henry has on the Council.”

“But the bear I saw—” she started.

“Not specific enough, I’m afraid,” Lucius told her. He glanced at Richard. “Everyone knows of the enmity between you and Wyndon. We need something so definite as to be almost ironclad, or we’ll never carry a vote to question him.”

Richard answered, “He’s studied necromancy.” Choosing his words with care to avoid revealing Edmund’s existence, he added, “My own studies imply that there’s a realm between life and death that touches various times, as I said at the meeting. What if he has exploited it in some way?”

Lucius shook his head again. “I trust you, Richard, but suspicion alone isn’t enough to sway most of the others. I wish we had more leeway.

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