“I’m very glad of it. You’ve been a fine footman.”
“Thank you, mum. But that’s not why I came here.” He seemed torn between options, as if he’d made a decision yet feared to start the round. But then he straightened, holding out his right hand, palm up. “With this hand, I burned the Holy Card and made blood oath to the Spadros Family. Jacob did the same.”
Burned a Holy Card? Blood oath? What blasphemy was this?
He dropped his hand to his side. “We didn’t understand why you were betrothed to Mr. Anthony. Why you were married to him. But when you put my Jacob at table with you, mum. After Mr. Anthony was attacked.” His eyes reddened. “Making him your equal … I — in my heart I became your man.” He took my hands, dropped to one knee. “We’ve decided to swear to you.”
“What does that mean?”
