“Well, she was. She was really put out when you and Risciter disappeared, because we all had to leave Hallon, and she couldn’t see the valet again, and I think she fancied him quite a bit.”
Ariana managed to roll her eyes. “I’m sorry that I put such a crimp in your maid’s lifestyle.”
“No,” said Aunt Tildy. “That’s not important.”
Wonderful. So what was the important part, then? It wasn’t that Ariana wasn’t grateful that Aunt Tildy was visiting. After all, no one else in her family had stopped by. But this was classic Aunt Tildy. She was half-drunk and talking about things that really had no bearing on the situation.
“I didn’t say anything about it when you and Risciter were courting,” said Aunt Tildy. “You seemed quite taken with him, and you can’t really put stock in what the servants say anyway, you know? But Tira did tell me all kinds of things when she was doing my hair or helping me get dressed. Tira is quite a talker, let me tell you. I know that girl’s entire life story, from the moment she was born, I could swear it.”
“Say anything about what?” Ariana sat up a little further on the bed.
“Well, Tira said that Risciter’s valet... I can’t be sure of his name. I think it might be Herry or Henric or something. It’s definitely an ‘H’ name. I’m sure of that. Maybe Harild?”
“Does it matter?” Ariana sat up completely.
“We’ll call him Henric. I think that’s right. Henric told Tira about all of the strange things that Risciter did. He reported all kinds of sordid activity in Rilla Alley. Risciter apparently liked to visit prostitutes a good deal. Naturally, dear, you can see why I wouldn’t have wanted to bring that up to you. You seemed so happy, and your father thought it was such a good match, and no one listens to me anyway, because they think I’m bitter about not having a husband when the truth is that I simply never wanted one. Men are always hiding things, that’s what I say. And a good, honest man of noble birth in the sector? Why, you’ll never find one.”
Ariana had to smile. She’d missed Aunt Tildy, she realized. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“I’m not finished.”
“Sorry.” Ariana tried to force her smile into a more serious expression.
“Henric also told Tira that on more than one occasion, Risciter had come back from these trips to prostitutes with blood on his clothing. Not a lot, mind you, but some. Risciter would have Henric take the bloody clothes and incinerate them.” Aunt Tildy bit her lip. “I really should have told you about that. But honestly, Ariana, how would I have known that she wasn’t making it up for a little spot of entertainment? And it wasn’t as if Henric had seen him actually hurt anybody, you know? Tira can stretch the truth sometimes, and she babbles on about all kinds of nonsense.” Aunt Tildy put her hand on Ariana’s. “I’m sorry I never said anything. Maybe if I had you would have questioned him about it or broken it off with him. Maybe you wouldn’t have ended up following that bastard across the galaxy.”
“It’s okay, Aunt Tildy. You couldn’t have known.” Ariana’s head was still full of drugs, so she realized that she was grasping the full meaning of this little confession a bit slowly, but it was coming to her. “You believe me. You don’t think Keirth did those things. You think it was Risciter.”
Aunt Tildy nodded. “It all fits, doesn’t it? Going to see prostitutes, coming back covered in blood? And then a whole brothel dead? It’s a buzz amongst the servants, Ariana. All of them believe you too. And the whole sector’s been talking about what you said. It’s all over the nets. People are asking questions.”
She’d managed to do something right then. “Good.”
“Not that it’ll be any help to your boy, of course.” Aunt Tildy shook her head.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he went into trial the night they caught him,” she said. “He was sentenced for hanging the following morning.”
Ariana felt as if an iron band had suddenly gripped her insides. “He’s dead?” she choked. No. It couldn’t be. While she’d been drugged and imprisoned, they’d already killed her Keirth?
“No,” said Aunt Tildy. “The prince wants to see the execution himself, so they’ve issued a stay until the prince arrives tomorrow.”
Ariana felt at once elated that Keirth was still alive and flooded with dread because he was still sentenced to die in a day. “I can’t let them kill him.”