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on each of them. They wore subtle makeup, expertly applied, and their perfect nails had surely never seen hard labor. Grecian-style gowns of flowing silk adorned perfect bodies, and all of the girls were pretty.
    Wiley disliked them on the spot.
    Smiling in a sweet, demure way that had never come naturally to Wiley, the girl with the light brown hair greeted them. “My lord. It’s good to see you again.” A light shown in her blue eyes as she looked at him. “Who is your guest?”
    Jayems looked at the girl gravely. “Good afternoon, Lady Nilla. May I present Lady Rihlia, daughter of Lady Rhapsody and Lord Crewel Sotra.”
    The light drained out of Lady Nilla’s eyes as the title sunk in. She stared at Wiley for a long moment and said hollowly, “The pleasure is mine, my lady.”
    “Wiley,” Wiley interjected. “My name is Wiley.”
    Jayems ignored her. “This is Lady Carr, Lady Nilla’s mother. Her companions are Lady Stair and Bella, daughter of the chief cook.”
    “Pleasure,” Wiley said politely.
    Lady Carr, a slightly plump woman with too much jewelry, looked Rihlia over quickly and then stared reprovingly at Jayems. “I’m sorry for any discomfort, my lord.
     
    We had no warning.”
    “It happened quickly. Lady Rihlia was only discovered yesterday,” Jayems answered; his tone even.
    Lady Nilla looked down and seemed to be blinking rapidly.
    Wiley was no slouch. Nodding to them all, she said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the ladies room.” She got two strides before Jayems’ hand closed around her elbow.
    She glanced at him. “Don’t you have things to talk about here?”
    He looked back at the women, who were no longer smiling. Lady Nilla looked ready to break down. He spook gently to her. “If you’ll return to your apartments, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I must escort my lady to her room.”
    Wiley shook his grip off as soon as they’d stepped into the Citadel. He wouldn’t turn loose one second sooner. “Hey, if you need protection from a woman, don’t be looking my way. I’m not now, nor will I ever be your lady.”
    “It was a figure of speech.” He looked distracted.
    “Sure it was. Let me guess--Lady Nilla there was in the picture before I turned up.
    No problem. Just tell her that I have no intention of marrying you. She’s welcome to you, with my compliments.” She ignored his silence. She was feeling flippant. It was her best defense against feeling guiltily. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Jayems had messed up his own life by dragging her here. If he’d just left her alone, they’d all be happy now.
    They reached his rooms and he stopped inside, looking at her for a moment. Then he stared out the window, not seeming to focus.
    With a shrug, she tuned him out, went to her room and shut the door, curiosity nipping at her.
    To her surprise, some of her gear from the campsite had been left in her room.
    Thrilled to see her backpack, she rifled through it and came up with her MP player and spare batteries pack. Clutching it like Monty with the Holy Grail, she sent up a prayer of thanks and plugged in.
     

Chapter 5

    Jayems returned to his room feeling pensive, both about the heart he’d just bruised and the explanations he still faced. Expecting to be greeted with either sulks or a tantrum, he was unprepared for the amount of noise he heard as he approached his room.
    The guards at his door, with their more sensitive hearing, looked pained.
    “What’s going on?” Jayems demanded of the guard, shouting to be heard over the music. His steward must have been waiting for him, for he hurried up to the door as Jayems came up, clutching an armful of musical instruments.
    “Sir,” he said respectfully, slightly out of breath. “It seems your lady likes music.”
    The strains of a man’s voice singing, “Bang your head,” came through the door.
    As Jayems prepared to enter, the steward warned him, “You won’t be able to talk in there, milord. May