The maid stood there, shuffling her feet but refusing to speak.
"Out with it!" Celia barked. "I don't have time to waste today."
"My ring!" Herleve finally burst out. She sounded not only upset but also angry.
That was unexpected, Celia blinked. "What ring is that?"
"My betrothal ring!" The maid's voice caught on a little sob.
Celia glanced at Herleve's left hand and noticed it was completely unadorned. She knew the maid had gotten married within the last year or so, and had been wearing a slender gold band on her ring finger since her betrothal.
"What happened? Do you think you lost your ring while cleaning in here?" Celia asked, crossing her arms and leaning one shoulder against the door frame. Her erratic heartbeat slowed a little at the hope that maybe, just maybe, the maid wasn't snooping after all.
Herleve ducked her head and mumbled something very softly, too softly for Celia to hear.
