Free Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] by Crystal Flame

with in the future. I should get to know their ways; be accepted among them."
    Ridge's mouth tightened. "Your aunt is a respectable Healer. I am sure she would not approve of your
    plans for tomorrow evening."
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    Kalena managed to resist pointing out that her aunt was the one who had contracted for the trade
    marriage in the first place. "I expect you're right. My aunt has extremely restrictive notions," Kalena
    allowed diplomatically.
    "Not half as restrictive as a husband's notions." Ridge clattered his goblet warningly as he set it down on
    the table.
    Kalena chose to ignore the gesture. "I haven't got a husband. Not yet," she said softly.
    "Two nights from now that particular detail will be corrected," Ridge informed her meaningfully. "In the
    meantime you will behave yourself in a proper manner."
    "I will behave myself in a proper trade wifemanner," Kalena agreed politely. "But since I don't yet know
    exactly how trade wives behave, I shall first have to learn something about the subject, won't I?"
    "Not from Arrisa and her friends," Ridge said coldly.
    Aware of Quintel's amused attention, Kalena decided to drop her end of the argument. She had no need
    to quarrel over the matter. She fully intended to join Arrisa and her friends the following evening and
    nothing Ridge could do would change that. She would gain nothing by making a spectacle of herself at
    the trade baron's table. Meekly, Kalena went back to her columa berries.
    They weren't quite as good as the ones she was accustomed to getting back in Interlock, she decided.
    Ridge watched her broodingly for a short time and then apparently decided he had successfully handled
    the situation. He appeared relieved, and proud of his first attempt at exercising husbandly responsibility.
    "Did you remember to buy riding clothes?"
    "Yes, Ridge. I remembered the riding garments. The shopkeeper said they would be ready tomorrow
    afternoon."
    "Boots?"
    "I ordered boots. They'll be delivered tomorrow also." He nodded, satisfied. "I'll take care of everything
    else." "I assumed you would."
    He ignored that, turning to Quintel. "We'll leave at dawn the morning after the wedding. There's no
    reason to delay any longer."
    "I quite agree," Quintel said. He took a small bite of the meat and vegetable mixture on his plate. Quintel
    ate sparingly at all meals. "Tell me, Kalena, did your aunt encourage you to train as a Healer?"
    Kalena shook her head, knowing that the art of Healer was the last path down which Olara would have
    sent her. Such a calling would have made the goal for which Kalena had been raised impossible. Healers
    found it impossible to kill except in self-defense. Furthermore, Olara had always told Kalena in no
    uncertain terms that she saw no evidence of the Talent in her niece, anyway. That fact had always made
    Kalena strangely sad. She would have liked very much to have been born with the Talent. But it was
    unlikely Olara was wrong in her opinion on Kalena's lack of ability. Olara was a very gifted Healer.
    Some said she could have been a High Healer if she had chosen to join the women of the Variance
    valley. She was almost never wrong. "No. My aunt had other ambitions for me."
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    "I see. Does your aunt think you might have inherited some of her Talent?"
    Kalena looked at him, sensing a question behind the question.
    "Don't worry, my lord, my aunt is certain I can accomplish my role in this venture."
    "Then I must be satisfied with her certainty. You say your aunt handled your education. Did she teach
    you about the Stones?"
    "I know the legend of the Stones of Contrast as well as the tales of the Keys to the Stones," Kalena said
    carefully. "I have also been instructed in the Philosophy of Contrast."
    "But you do believe the tales?"
    "My aunt believes in the Keys," Kalena said thoughtfully. "It