Liana was stunned by his animosity. She looked at Rogan, half expecting him to leap at his brother. But Rogan didn’t seem to have heard.
“I meant no insult to you,” Liana said, “nor do I mean to interfere. I just thought—”
“Didn’t mean to interfere!” Severn mocked. “That’s all you’ve done since you arrived. You’ve changed everything: the castle, the grounds, the men, the peasants, my brother. Let me tell you, woman, you keep your nose out of my business and you leave Iolanthe alone. I don’t want her corrupted.”
Liana leaned back in her chair, astounded at this attack. Again she looked at Rogan. Why wasn’t he defending her? He was looking at her with interest and she suddenly realized that she was being tested by him. She may be only a Peregrine by marriage, but she had to prove herself to be a Peregrine.
“All right,” she said calmly to Severn. “You may have everything you had before I came.” She stood and went to the fireplace, where there were cold ashes from that morning, picked up the big scoop nearby, and filled it with ashes. She walked across the room to Severn, with all eyes on her, then dumped the ashes on his food and clothes. “There,” she said. “Now you are filthy and so is your food. From now on I will see that you have what you’ve always had.”
Severn, soot on his chin and clothes, stood up, enraged. His hands made claws as he went for her throat.
Liana paled and stepped backward.
Severn never reached her because Rogan, while never looking up from gnawing on a beef joint, stuck his foot out and tripped his brother, sending Severn sprawling.
When Severn caught his breath, he bellowed, “You better do something about that woman.”
Rogan ran his sleeve across his mouth. “She looks like she can take care of herself.”
Liana had never felt so proud of herself in her life. She’d passed!
“But I wouldn’t like it if you laid a hand on her,” Rogan continued.
Severn stood, slapping soot from his clothes, which had been clean a few minutes before (Liana had directed the maids to wash his garments). He glared at Liana again. “Stay away from Io,” he muttered, then left the room.
Liana felt jubilant. These Peregrines had their own rules of conduct, but she was beginning to understand them. Best of all, Rogan had defended her. Not from hateful words, but when his brother might have physically harmed her, he had stepped in.
Smiling—not only visibly, but also deep inside herself—she sat back down at the table. “More peas, Zared?” she asked.
“Clean peas?” Zared asked in mock fright. “The way I like my peas? Clean, the way I like my clothes and room and the peasants and the men and my brother?”
Liana laughed and looked at her husband, and the dear lovely man winked at her.
Later that night, Rogan held her in his arms and kissed her and made sweet love to her. Whatever had been bothering him seemed to have solved itself.
Afterward, he didn’t turn away but held her close to him and Liana heard his soft, slow breathing as he fell asleep.
“Iolanthe isn’t the Lady,” she said sleepily.
“What lady?” he murmured.
“The Lady who lives above the solar, who told me about Jeanne Howard. She’s not Iolanthe, so who is she?”
“No one lives above the solar, not until you came.”
“But—” Liana said.
“Stop talking and go to sleep or I’ll let Severn have you.”
“Oh?” she replied, faking interest. “He’s awfully good-looking. Maybe—”
“I’ll tell Iolanthe you said that.”
“I’m asleep,” Liana answered quickly. She’d rather face Severn than the frightening Iolanthe.
As she drifted into sleep, she wondered again who the Lady was.
Chapter