CHAPTER NINEI felt Mark’s brief, respectful touch on my arm. “I’d stay here till they’ve gone,” he breathed, and I obediently stepped further back into the shadows, from where I could still see a good part of the yard. I appeared to be in a tack room.
Mark went out, calling orders to the stable lads, and in the ensuing bustle of dismounting and unsaddling, I hoped Lajos would escape unnoticed. But Mattias Szelényi, no doubt with the best of intentions, put paid to that.
“Evening, Lajos!” he called cheerfully, as he dismounted and gave the reins to one of the boys. From my shadows, I saw several people turn and look at Lajos. István appeared slightly irritated, but not particularly angry, so I presumed he was used to running across Lajos on the castle premises; Baroness Meleki also stared
