“And why would gossip be of use to us?” Magdalen said.
Avelina stared at her friend, surprised at her speaking up.
“We do not care for gossip, as you seem to.” Magdalen slipped her arm through Avelina’s and turned away from Fronicka and her friends—just as several more people entered the Great Hall, including Lord Thornbeck.
A huge smile on her face, Fronicka hurried toward him. “Lord Thornbeck, do play the first game of chess with me!”
A backgammon board was set up on a nearby table, and as Avelina and Magdalen sat down to play, Magdalen leaned over and whispered, “They behave just like children.”
Avelina rolled her eyes and nodded, then they both laughed.
Lord Thornbeck turned to look at them. What if what Fronicka had said was true, about Lord Thornbeck murdering his brother to become margrave? Lord Plimmwald had mentioned the very same thing. Would Magdalen be safe married to him? Avelina shivered and started setting up the game.
“Ladies,” Lord Thornbeck said, suddenly standing beside them. “The servants found this necklace wrapped up in one of the blankets from the picnic.” He held out a gold chain and locket.
“Oh,” Magdalen said. “I forgot I was wearing it this morning. I should have been very sad to lose it. Thank you, my lord.”
He gave her the necklace. “I hope I will be able to play chess with both of you, but to be honest, it seems unlikely to happen tonight.” He glanced over his shoulder.
All the other ladies were looking his way, waiting for him to come back to the chessboard.
Avelina merely smiled, trying not to say anything, to let Magdalen do the talking.
“We can play chess with you another time,” Magdalen said. “Thank you for returning my necklace.”
He gave a slight nod and walked away to rejoin the others.
“Thank goodness.” Magdalen held the locket close to her chest. “If I had lost this I would have been sad indeed. It belonged to my grandmother.”
“It must have been a very honest servant who found it,” Avelina said. “But I shall have to warn Irma to stay away from Fronicka’s servants.”
“Yes, you had better. Do you think a servant really said you were pregnant and in love with one of your father’s knights?”
Avelina thought for a moment. Irma would not tell about Lady Dorothea, especially since they were both in so much danger if the whole truth came out. “I don’t know, but I do need to warn Irma not to get drunk again, and to be careful not to say anything that could be used against us. Magdalen?”
“Yes?”
Avelina whispered, “Do you think the margrave killed his brother?”
Magdalen whispered back, “Of course people will say that he killed him, but how can he prove it was an accident?”
“I don’t suppose he can.”
“And the king obviously trusts him.”
“Perhaps it is simply easier to believe him than to replace him. And yet, I don’t believe he did it either. Though it is possible.”
The two exchanged glances. “It is impossible to know for sure, I suppose”—Lady Magdalen’s eyes were wide—“but I am inclined to believe him innocent.” Magdalen looked down at their game. “You may go first.”
They played backgammon, but Avelina’s mind wasn’t on her moves and she lost to her friend. They then switched places with two other ladies who were playing Nine Men’s Morris.
Avelina grew tired of playing the games and listening to the other ladies try to flirt with the margrave. Magdalen did not seem to be enjoying herself either.
“Shall we leave and go to our rooms for the night?” Avelina asked.
“I do not think anyone will mind.”
They both stood, caught Lord Thornbeck’s eye as he was sitting across the chessboard from one of the ladies, and curtsied to him. He nodded and they hurried out of the room.
They headed up the stairs and down the corridor to Avelina’s room. As soon as they opened the door, they smelled something foul and put their hands over their noses.
“What is that?” Avelina went over to the bed and pulled back the coverlet. There, smeared all over the sheet, was some kind of filth that smelled of horse manure. Very fresh horse manure.
“Ugh,” Magdalen said, while Avelina gagged and had to turn away.
Avelina ran to the adjacent compartment where Irma slept and yanked open the door. Irma was no longer lying there, as she had been most of the day.
With her arm over her nose, Avelina hurried out of the room, Magdalen leading the way.