ALL THE NEXT DAY I waited for dusk to fall. Time passed with agonizing slowness. To make things worse, Baldwin called for me to entertain him while he got new boots measured by a shoemaker.What scum he was. I had to keep him amused while I thought of plunging a dagger into his heart.

Yet all the while I could barely count the time. I kept repeating Bette's words to myself. I went over in my mind what I would do. How I would pull this off. I dreamed of Sophie's face-the face I had known since I was a child. I imagined us back at our inn. Rebuilding it from scratch... Starting our life again. Having another child.

I sat on my bare mat as the afternoon wound down, watching the sun descend. Finally, the light from the slats above my space grew dim.It was dusk.... It was finally time to see Sophie.

I made my way down to the kitchen. Bette was bustling about, complaining to the staff, a damp cloth pressed to her head for effect. I've got to lie down. I've got the duke's meals still to prepare. Who will carry over the soup to the Tavern? Hugh, what luck, she said, spotting me. Will you be a dear?

I am but two hands, I joked to the staff, andone... I wiggled a finger and sniffed with a wrinkled nose.... I use for scratching.

That's all I need. Bette led me away. Just make sure the other stays out of the soup.

She took a covered pot from the hearth and announced, Give it to Armand, the jailer. And give him that jug of wine. You've done me a good turn, fool. Then she gripped me conspiratorially by the arm. I wish you luck, Hugh. Be careful. It's a bad place you go to now. It is hell.

I carried the pot and the jug of wine across the courtyard. My arms trembled a bit. Two guards stood at the door of the keep, different ones than those who had booted me away the other day.

Ding, ding, ding...dinner bell, I announced ceremoniously.

Who the hell are they putting to work in the kitchen now? one of them asked.

I do it all... jokes to dessert. The duke's expenses must be trimmed.

The duke must be bankrupt if he sent you, the other guard said.

To my relief, they didn't question me. One opened the heavy door. If you had nicer tits, I'd carry it down for you. He sniffed.

The door slammed shut behind me. I felt a tremor of relief. I was in!

I stood in a narrow stone............