The door to their room at the inn shook as if there were Huns outside knocking with a battering ram. Unless Splendor was mistaken, the entire panel shook.

Topaz clutched her wrist with icy fingers. "Whot if it's the earl come back?" What indeed? And her needing to get out of these sodden clothes, dry her hair, stop her teeth chattering. Topaz was huddling in the bed for God's sake. Anyway, Stillmore had made his position crystal clear. Why would it change? What was wrong with ...