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n's glance follow hers in that direction。 She saw him look away。
And realized in that instant； with a surge of unexpected discovery； that he was not nearly so assured as he seemed。 That it might actually be true what he'd just said； what was so often spun in the troubadours' songs： that hers； as the highborn woman； the long…desired； was the true mastery in this room。 Even the birds above the lake 。。。
〃What will they do with Ariane and the corans？〃 she asked； aware that unmixed wine and excitement were doing dangerous things to her。 His hair was tousled from the confining mask and his smooth…shaven face looked clever and young and a little bit reckless。 Whatever the rules of the courtly game； this would not be a man easily or always controlled。 She had known that from the first。
As if to bear witness to that； he arched his brows； posed and poised again。 〃They will be continuing on their way to Talair soon enough。 My men will have removed their masks by now and declared themselves。 We brought wine and food for a meal on the grass。 Ramir was there； did you recognize him？ He has his harp； and I wrote a ballad last week about a play…acting escapade by the arch。 My parents will disapprove； and your husband I rather imagine； but no one has been hurt； except Valery by you； and no one will really be able to imagine or suggest I would do you any harm or dishonour。 We will give Arbonne a story to be shocked about for a month or so； no more than that。 This was fairly carefully thought out；〃 he said。 She could hear the note of pride。
〃Evidently；〃 she murmured。 A month or so； no more than that？ Not so swiftly； my lord。 She was trying to guess how her mother would have handled this。 〃How did you arrange for Brette in Miraval to help you？〃 she temporized。
He smiled。 〃Brette de Vaux and I were fostered together。 We have had various 。。。 adventures with each other。 I thought he could be trusted to help me with 。。。 〃
〃With another adventure； my lord？〃 She had her opening now。 She stood。 It seemed she didn't need to think of her mother after all。 She knew exactly what to do。 What she had dreamt of doing through the long nights of the winter just past。 〃With the easy matter of another tavern song？〃
He rose as well； awkwardly； spilling some of his wine。 He laid the goblet down on the table； and she could see that his hand was trembling。
〃Aelis；〃 he said； his voice low and fierce； 〃what I wrote last winter was true。 You need never undervalue yourself。 Not with me； not with anyone alive。 This is no adventure； I am afraid 。。。 〃 He hesitated and then went on； 〃I am greatly afraid that this is the consummation of my heart's desire。〃
〃What is？〃 she said then； forcing herself to remain calm despite what his words were doing to her。 〃Having a cup of wine with me？ How delicate。 How modest a desire for your heart。〃
He blinked in astonishment； but then the quality of his gaze changed； kindled； and his expression made her knees suddenly weak。 She tried not to let that show either。 He had been quick to follow her meaning though； too quick。 She suddenly felt less sure of herself。 She wished she had somewhere to set down her own wine。 Instead； she drained it and let the empty goblet drop among the strewn rushes on the floor。 She was unused to unmixed wine； to standing in a place so entirely alone with a man such as this。
Drawing a breath against the racing of her heart； Aelis said； 〃We are not children； nor lesser people of this land； and I can drink a cup of wine with a great many different men。〃 She forced herself to hold his eyes with her own dark gaze。 She swallowed； and said clearly； 〃We are going to make a child today； you and I。〃
And watched Bertran de Talair as all colour fled from his face。 He is afraid now； she thought。 Of her； of what she was； of the swiftness and the unknown depths of this。
〃Aelis；〃 he began； visibly struggling for self…possession； 〃any child you bear； as duchess of Miraval； and as your father's daughter…〃
He stopped there。 He stopped because she had reached up even as he began to speak and was now； with careful； deliberate motions； unbinding her hair。
Bertran fell silent； desire and wonder and the sharp awareness of implications all written in his face。 It was that last she had to smooth away。 He was too clever a man； for all his youth； he might hold back even now； weighing consequences。 She pulled the last long ivory pin free and shook her head to let the cascade of her hair tumble down her back。 The sheerest encitement to desire。 So all the poets sang。
The poet before her； of a lineage nearly as proud as her own； said； with a certain desperation now； 〃A child。 Are you certain？ How do you know that today； now； that we 。。。〃
Aelis de Miraval； daughter of the count of Arbonne； smiled then； the ancient smile of the goddess； of women centred in their own mysteries。 She said； 〃En Bertran； I spent two years on Rian's Island in the sea。 We may have only a little magic there； but if it lies not in such matters as this； where should it possibly lie？〃
And then knowing…without even having to think of what her mother would have done…knowing as surely as she knew the many…faceted shape of her own need； that it was time for words to cease； Aelis brought her fingers up to the silken ties at the throat of her green gown and tugged at them so that the silk fell away to her hips。 She lowered her arms and stood before him； waiting； trying to control her breathing； though that was suddenly difficult。
There was hunger； a kind of awe and a fully kindled desire in his eyes。 They devoured what she offered to his sight。 He still did not move； though。 Even now； with wine and desire racing through her blood； she understood： just as she was no tavern girl； he in turn was no drunken coran in a furtive corner of some baron's midnight hall。 He too was proud； and intimately versed in power； and it seemed he still had too keen a sense of how far the reverberations of this moment might go。
〃Why do you hate him so much？〃 Bertran de Talair asked softly； his eyes never leaving her pale； smooth skin； the curve of her breasts。 〃Why do you hate your husband so？〃
She knew the answer to that。 Knew it like a charm or spell of Rian's priestesses chanted over and over in the starry； sea…swept darkness of the island nights。
〃Because he doesn't love me；〃 Aelis said。
And held her hands out then； a curiously fragile gesture； as she stood； half…naked before him； her father's daughter； her husband's avenue to power； heiress to Arbonne； but trying to shape her own response today； now； in this room； to the coldness of destiny。
He took a step； the one step necessary； and gathered her in his arms； and lifted her； and then he carried her to the bed that was not the charcoal…burner's； and laid her down where the slanting beam of sunlight fell； warm and bright and transitory。
PART I…SPRING
CHAPTER 1
There was very little wind； which was a blessing。 Pale moonlight fell upon the gently swelling sea around the skiff。 They had chosen a moonlit night。 Despite the risks； they would need to see where they were going when they came to land。 Eight oars； rising and