The Discarded Countess

an

tle had been swift.

her servants to begin

the warden of Carrigan

find suitable servan

e servants she had at

ings were icy but amic

n to spies when and i

ind a reason to shut he

vants who would be

E

f what was offered to

save up as much of her

aking these things wi

w ones. In the end s

luggage to set out wi

om Llyn to

re

and simple gray dress

an left at dawn. She h

een signed. She suspect

ad spent very little t

sadness at the end o

ays since it had harde

e did not have to see

o look at his miserable

ed tone he wore so w

him, and pitied whatev

She would be shackled

ontinued to haunt the

e a fre

E

l look at what had bee

castle stood tall an

to the ladscape like a

rape the clouds above.

h her brother-in-law h

an could still remem

g her from her sleep t

had caught of his mangl

erwards and Elan decide

not realize how barren

til the entourage had

o

T

alive the further and

le. They had a certain

ely unsettled, wild and

around their path, s

grasses were a rough g

e flowers. There were

Thankfully the only on

ng were the songbirds

of the horses hooves

on. It had been too lo

ace she thought, and n

some her own vitality

e first time in years

rgatory

E

ed along this path unt

ky. Unfortunately the

her to see out the hos

ls. She had planned th

the least likely to

t her. The first stop

nning. A woman who Ela

o her situati

as

ome structure, chisele

th beautiful stained

legends. Unusually t

rge window that greete

t Margaret and her sla

vividly colored gla

the darken

T

greeted by Lady Glend

arty cordially. He sum

an to the Great Hall w

had spared nothing i

been brought out, also

d heroines. The rushes

and Elan caught the sc

ining hall promising

s no less impressive.

but she still was stri

crimson ribbons, and

imson with golden vine

the bodice, and the sl

ailty, and looking int

locking eyes with

E

ady Isobel of Glendenn

baronetcy. Unfortuna

ord had been very unw

neighboring baron had g

t deal of restitution a

es he'd hired to try

aptain of the mercenary

what was ow

O

they stormed the cas

the guards and any ser

rd Glendenning was p

eat hall. He tried to

ut this only infuriat

the man's throat from

he cold stone floor. A

the castle taking any

violating any unfortun

he lady had only esca

herself in the great n

s locked door they

nd raping. The baron h

d that the murder of hi

and the nobleman's cou

lling the lord, and n

g the rest of the fami

giv

S

in ruins, the lord de

ed to the widowed count

obody expected success

g had managed. She r

's tarnished honor,

she had also revenge

sband's death. Since h

owner of the castle, t

considered to be cur

to visit her and nev

to prosper under her c

ars as a haven for tro

t too different from

she did need a place

e regarded as a falle

i

"

hospitality Lady Gl

t bow to the older wom

trouble

"

ndenning replied with

et many visitors it

here f

S

ok Elan by the arm and

must be hungry and ti

them prepare

T

hall, which was decked

nd not merely a minor

figured were Lady Gle

erchant class, dresse

eemed that she had al

ven the village folk.

the far table, pleased

endenning led Elan to

it alone. It was a ra

alone, but it seemed t

to things being diffe

nd carried on with the

T

dy Glendenning signale

s of wine and br

"

ad you chose to come

heard about the annul

inju

"

Elan began, but she

"

t a wife," Lady Glende

have seen many of them

t she is likely to pro

the

E

ing that Lady Glendenni

de in she replied: "I

glad to be

Go

th a smile. "I don't

I think you will find

he at least had the de

f

"

i

We

t a little better than

nwanted wives into conv

aga

T

ew moments, then Lady

not wish to discuss Hy

rt

"

bring any maids with yo

and g

"

p once I reach my ne

family near Llyn and

o far

S

em. Their husband's a

nd she didn't put it a

p

"

dy Glendenning said i

the real reason none

eems improper not to

in this regard. I hav

t mind leaving this p

but you seem like the

sympat

Wh

," Elan asked, she di

wish to attract attent

llied rep

"

is a good girl, she w

Lady Glendenning expl

r unfortunately and fo

se of

"

what kind of trouble

n

"

be marked by this one

ore and her child a ba

endenning sighed. "H

age. She can make a new

a widow with a child.

uestions. It would be

the

E

ring the offer, it was

outside of Glendennin

Annes and h

"

uld not seek to burden

ve enough troubles as

to t

Ve

will take on Annes

us though, Lord Hywe

I cannot delay my jo

ely nec

"

enning replied. "I

repared to leave with

and some coin to pay

rne

Th

am grateful for your

o well in ou

ft

d into the bed that had

pure exhaustion. In th

t he place she had cal

ed a new maid with a q

fat had in store for

arly laid out of her,

no idea where she was

uneasy feeling, and i

ght and for ma