Page 29 of A Court Bright and Broken

Having lain awake half the night, staring at the thatched roof and fretting over the lost locket, I had come up with a plan in the wee hours—and it involved Katricia.

I rapped on the wooden door to her cottage, feeling guilty already for the favor I was about to ask.

“Good morning,” she sang as she threw the door open wide. “I’ll put the kettle on. I can’t wait to hear about your visit to the Rough Market.”

I’d clearly caught her in the middle of baking because her dark hair was dusted with bread flour, and the apron she wore was damp and wrinkled. Her eyes danced with anticipation as she stepped back, inviting me to enter.

“Well? How much did you get? Did the necklace fetch a high price?”

My own gaze dropped to the floor in shame. “It didn’t fetch any price–I lost it.”

“What?”

Katricia’s merry expression shifted into one of deep concern. She understood how devastating the loss was for my family. Once I stepped inside the cozy abode, she turned to face me.

“How?”

“I’m not sure. It might have been stolen,” I said. “But just in case it wasn’t and I only dropped it, I plan to go back there today and search for it. I came to ask if you’d look after the girls and Papa today. Not all day–just check on them occasionally while I’m gone?”

Katricia handed me a cup of hot tea and urged me to sit in a chair at the small wooden table. Taking the one opposite me, she blew into her teacup to cool it.

“Of course, you know I will. But if there are thieves there, do you think it’s a good idea to go back?”

No, my mind screamed at me.

No doubt the burned thief and his followers would remember me and perhaps hand me the same punishment they’d given Sam for the offense of trying to protect me.

“Probably not,” I admitted. “But I don’t see another choice. Unless I want to go to the pleasure houses.”

My friend shook her head and wrinkled her nose at the distasteful prospect. A poor girl herself, she knew how close that fate always lurked for the both of us.

Katricia had no younger siblings as I did, but as she was the youngest of six daughters, there had been no dowry left for her. And she had two elderly parents to care for.

Based on the regularity with which Harrell, the village cobbler, had been visiting her, it seemed she might beat the oddsand marriage might be in the cards for her after all. He wasn’t wealthy, but he could afford to support a wife and children when they came eventually.

“We willnotlet that happen,” Katricia said. “A pleasure house is no place for you.”

“It might be the only place left for me if I don’t find the locket.” I groaned.

She took a sip of her tea. “Do you really think there’s a chance it’s still there somewhere?”

I sipped from my own cup before answering in a sullen tone.

“No. It’s probably a lost cause, but I have to at least try.”

Katricia nodded and looked thoughtful. “If you did drop it, and it wasn’t stolen… wouldn’t it have been trampled underfoot all day? The lanes at the larger markets are usually thick muck by end of day.”

Sticking out my foot, I twisted it side to side, observing the remnants of dried mud on my boot.

“True. And they threw fresh straw over the walking paths throughout the day to shore them up.” I let out a long sigh. “It’s hopeless isn’t it? I’ll never find it.”

Katricia reached out and patted my hand on the tabletop. Then she gripped it with a sharp intake of breath.

“I have an idea.” She wore a wide smile.

My heart leapt, though I couldn’t imagine what possible solution there could be.

“I saw Harrell last night,” she said. Her face lit up with the mention of her beau’s name.

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