I explained Cat’s marriage dilemma and described the arguments between her and her mother. My intuition whispered that something was not right, but there was no evidence that Cat was in actual danger nor that her time with me had played any role in her delayed visit. It was more likely that I was projecting fears borne from my own experiences. I had been forced to watch as Hilde was beheaded by the queen’s guard. She died merely because she had loved the wrong man, and that guilt colored my perceptions. I was not sure I could support the burden of knowing I had played a role in harming yet another woman I cared for. Rebecca listened earnestly to every word, her brows deeply creased. “She never said anything to me about her mother or marriage. I knew her mom was strict, but telling Cat who
