As I sat and took up my quill, the rain struck. My thoughts strayed back to the night Dairnan had ridden out into the darkness. We had exchanged letters every day since then and I was settling to reply to his latest. He had decided to join the army against invasion from the east. Really it would only have been a matter of time before an escort came to “ask” him to join. We had a very comfortable home in the city with our kind cousin. Occasionally he took me to court when he went rather than leave me in the large house alone. Yesterday he had told me he would do so today. With my thoughts wandering so over the past I couldn’t concentrate on my letter. I stood and rang the bell for my maid.

“Andrea,” I said. “Could you help me on with my gown?”

“Certainly my lady.” Was all the response I received.

Our cousin had many servants, but he was easily upset if he found out that I – a young gentlewoman—had been conversing with servants. I did my best to be friendly, but for their own good was not too intimate with the servants. Whenever he was upset it was they who received punishment. Sometimes I wondered why they stayed, but after consideration I always realized that they didn’t have anywhere else to go.

“Estriana are you yet prepared?” called an impatient voice. “Would you have me made a laughing stock by being late to my own caucus?”

“I’ll be down momentarily.” I called back. Realizing not for the first time that my position in this household was nearly as precarious as the servants’.
I heard a loud banging just as I started down the stairs. I hurried the rest of the way down. Not having anything that I could easily do alone that morning until I had something to write Dairnan about, I didn’t want to be left behind and miss the chance of speaking with some of my intimates from the court.

Yes, I haven't thought of a name for him yet.