My mother, of course, noticed the difference in me since I returned from Tarras Moss. She allowed me a week to think things over, a week in which we lost three cattle to a Veitch raid and the Yorling got to know the men of the valley. A young servant gave me the message that Mother wished to see me.
"Her Ladyship was insistent," the girl said.
"She always is," I told her, sighed, and made my way to my mother"s chamber.
Mother sat by her spinning wheel. She looked deep into my eyes. "You are a woman now," she said.
About to deny it, I knew that would be pointless. "I am," I said.
"So now you know." Mother bent her head to her spinning. "Was it the Tweedie Passion?"
"It was all of that," I said. I expected her to ask who I had bedded, but she did not.
"You will be more ready to bed Ro
