"One would think they could have waited until after the feast, at the very least."

"Dessert was already served." Yehudit shrugged. "They have left dinners and other get-togethers early before. Uncle Nelek seemed prone to after dinner headaches but was always giving Aunt Ais looks. I used to think that look meant 'we are getting out of washing the dishes' until I learned where babies come from."

Wulfsen was learning more about his bride-to-be's family than he ever wanted to know.

"Hmm. How'd I not ever notice that?" Though to be truthful, until her first kiss, she had been fairly oblivious to anything dealing with romance.

"Because they didn't live next door to you." Yehudit asked. "I probably remember Uncle Nelek's after dinner headaches better than you because usually when he got a headache his kids wound up staying with us... Our apartment got crowded with eleven kids..."

"True." She turned to Wulfsen. "Let's get back to the hall before we miss the dancing. Bad enough we missed out on the cake."

Wulfsen smiled and offered Sileas his arm.

Sileas hooked her arm around his. "Are you coming?" Sileas asked of her cousin.

"Eventually." Yehudit limped.

"All right." Sileas quietly slowed her step so they wouldn't leave Yehudit behind.

Yehudit's bad ankle was killing her, but she limped behind Sileas and did her best to keep pace.

Sileas leaned slightly against Wulfsen's shoulder.

Wulfsen felt like they were moving at a crawl. He glanced at hte limping YEhudit, then back to Sileas.

"Should I just carry her?" He whispered to Sileas.

"It would be quicker. But be prepared, you'll be facing the wrath of Aunt Lia when we get there." She sighed. "Of course, she'll be angry either way."

"You're not chaperone enough?" Wulfsen asked hopefully. He did not want to be killed tonight.

"Aunt Lia despises me. She says I keep leading Yehudit into danger. Never mind all the times I told Yehudit to stay behind and she didn't listen. If I said the sky is blue, she'd swear it's orange."

"I don't want to die before our wedding night." Wulfsen said. But he was afraid that everyone would leave before they got back at this rate.

"I know. We'll have to risk her believing my word."

"Here's hoping Aron can calm her." Wulfsen said and turned to Yehudit. "Here Yehudit, I'll carry you."

Yehudit blinked. "Sileas?"

"Just how long have you been on that ankle tonight? It's much better for you if Wulfsen carries you to the hall."

"It doesn't hurt too bad." Yehudit lied. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to think I was seducing Wulfsen or something."

Sileas gave her an I-know-better-than-that look. "No, I won't believe you're seducing him."

"Okay, but even if he keeps his shirt on Mama will probably kill him." Yehudit said, letting Wulfsen pick her up.

Sileas frowned. "She better hadn't."