Marriette climbed into Baron FitzHalten's coach. Joan watched nervously from the door.

"It is what I came to do." Marriette had hugged the younger woman. "He won't dare try anything to give the King legitimate reason to slap him down. He's within his legal rights, if narrowly interpreted. If I don't speak with him, nothing else I do will matter."

Joan still didn't look convinced. The flutter beneath Marriette's heart suggested she didn't quite believe her own words. Angry men ...