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Eden sat brooding over the fact Roland had been forced to marrying a dowerless girl when he needed to make his own way in life. If he had wed Lenora as planned, no doubt Uncle Leofric would have awarded him a handsome sum. She frowned a moment, as her uncle’s outraged countenance swam into her mind’s eye. She didn’t want to dwell on how much disgrace she must be in with her family. If she thought about her uncle, then her cousin and her grandmother would surely follow.

A sudden weight on her knee made her look up. The black and white dog’s large head was lying there, his eyes gazing up at her soulfully. “Seth?” she said in surprise. His tail wagged. Eden cast a furtive look around the room. Cuthbert was crouched over his pot again, adding the dairy mixture to his concoction. She reached out and stroked Seth’s ears as she had seen Roland do to Hector earlier. He huffed out a breath and leaned against her legs. Eden smirked. “I have your measure, dog. If Castor were here, you would not fraternize with me.” He wagged his tail harder. Eden lightly tweaked his ears. Somewhere above them a door banged shut. There was a heavy thud of boots on floorboards. Seth sprang back from her guiltily and they both looked up as they heard Roland’s voice conversing with Fulco. It sounded like they were coming down the steps together.

“… You cannot keep them for love nor money!” Fulco boomed. “They say the place is haunted. No maid will stay here after dark.”

“Haunted?” repeated Roland in surprise. “By who?” There was an awkward silence. “My Father?” suggested Roland when Fulco did not speak. “He’d be more likely choose Cadwallader to haunt in death, like he did in life!”

“Not the old Baron,” admitted Fulco. He had arrived at the bottom of the steps now, and cast a startled look at Eden as if he’d forgotten her very existence. Or maybe, he just did not expect to see her there.

“Who then?” demanded Roland clattering down behind him. They both stood in the kitchen now. “Answer me, damn you!”

“His wives,” said Fulco, scratching the back of his neck and looking a picture of abject misery.

“What?” Roland was visibly taken aback.

“You know how superstitious country folk can be,” mumbled Fulco red-faced. He darted an embarrassed glance at Eden.

“Bloody fools!” Roland swore. “I notice they didn’t start with this horse shit while he was alive.”

Then he too seemed to notice Eden sat perched on her seat and fell silent, though he was still scowling. Seth skulked over to the hearth, and with a rather ostentatious yawn, settled himself down in front of the fire.

“Posset’s ready,” said Cuthbert cheerfully. He poured some into a large cup and brought it over to Eden.

She took it from him and took a tentative sip. “Delicious!” she exclaimed with surprise. “Truly.” She turned to Roland. “You should try some. Apparently, it has restorative powers.”

He ignored her words, but gave a start. “Which reminds me,” he said accusingly, turning back to Fulco. “There is barely any bedding above stairs!”

Fulco shrugged helplessly. “It all fell into disrepair and we’ve had no need of it.”

“Well, we have need of it now,” said Roland pointedly. “I’m newly-wed.”

Eden bristled. Did he have to be so obvious?

“I could ride to the village,” said Fulco uncertainly. “But new bedding would likely have to come from somewhere like Pryors Naunton, not Sitchmarsh!”

Again, Eden felt her lack of dowry keenly. Most brides would bring such things with them as embroidered sheets and coverlets to their marriage bed. She had never prepared a trousseau like girls with expectations did.

“I can re-stuff an old mattress,” offered Cuthbert. “In the meantime.”

Roland grunted. “We’re going to have to use the one on the box bed, in the second largest bedroom. What will you stuff it with?”

“I’ll go take a look in the out-houses, and see what there is. Maybe fresh grasses or feathers?”

“There’s nothing like that out there,” said Fulco shaking his head. “Though we can likely get some materials such as those in the village.”

“Let’s for the village then,” said Cuthbert. He looked at Roland, who nodded.

“Aye. No time like the present,” he agreed. “Fulco, you take Cuthbert in with you to Sitchmarsh for provisions.” He reached into his tunic for his purse and tossed it to Cuthbert. “Get whatever is needed.”

Cuthbert nodded and made for the stairs. On the bottom step he hesitated and turned back toward Eden. “Milady?” he said. Eden looked up. “Have you any commission for me?”

“None,” said Eden simply. “I’m sure you will think of everything.” She listened to their steps ringing out as they headed up the staircase.

Roland walked to the fire and threw some more logs on it. “I want you to stay in here where it’s warm for now.”

“Very well.”

He came over to her. “Hold up your cup.” She looked up in surprise to find he’d brought the rest of the posset over to her.