“Iolande!” Alienor shouted at the older woman’s departing figure. She knew that if she lost sight of Iolande she would never find her again in Paris.
“Alienor!” Jordan was snared in the crowd somewhere behind her, but Alienor ignored his cries. They both fought against a seemingly endless press of people, all bent on reaching Dagobert.
Her path cleared and Alienor hastened onward when she spotted Iolande ahead.
The older woman’s lips softened at the sight of her. “I thought ’twas you,” she confessed, an uncharacteristic quiver in her voice. She gathered Alienor into a tight hug as soon as she could. Alienor was surprised to feel the older woman trembling slightly and she returned her embrace tightly. Iolande pulled back and glanced downward when the fullness of Alienor’s belly pressed a
