“You won, Charlotte! Congratulations, Sister.” Claude scooped her up, causing her egg to drop to the ground and break. “You should be proud to be a Montague.” He looked at Evelina as he said it.
“Harry crossed the line at the same time as Charlotte. Just like I told you, the race was a tie.” Evelina picked the boy up in her arms and held him to her chest.
“My brother said I won,” shouted Charlotte.
“Nay, I won.” Harry looked like he was about to cry.
“It’s all right, Harry. Better luck next time.” Claude reached out and ruffled the little boy’s hair. Harry opened his mouth and let out a wail.
“Harry doesn’t like anyone ruffling his hair,” Evelina told Claude.
“It’s just my way of showing affection,” said Claude. “There is no harm done.”
“Then, mayhap, you’d let Harry return the same affection by ruffling your hair as well. Unless that would bother you.”
“Why would it bother me?” asked Claude. “As I said, it is all done in fun. Go ahead, Harry. Ruffle my hair.” Claude leaned over. Evelina urged the little boy to do the same to Claude as he had done to Harry.
With tears in his eyes, Harry slapped his hand atop Claude’s head. However, the egg was in his hand and it broke on Claude’s head. Slimy egg white and yolk slid down Claude’s hair and face.
Evelina giggled while Claude clenched his jaw, not saying a word.
“Oh, Harry, what did you do?” Rose rushed over with Toft, eying up the antics of her little brother. Isobel hurried over with Claude’s mother as well.
“Claude, you have egg on your face,” said Celestine.
Suddenly, all the children were crowding around, and everyone, including Rose, laughed at Claude. Claude wiped the egg out of his eyes and licked his lips.
“I’ll have a tub of water sent up to your solar for you, Claude,” said Rose. “I’m sorry that Harry did that.”
“Harry was only ruffling Claude’s hair as Claude did to him,” stated Evelina. As everyone continued to laugh, Claude’s gaze met with Evelina’s. The anguish and despair in his eyes told her that this situation had hurt him deeply.
“Excuse me, my lady,” Claude said, bowing to Rose with egg still dripping down his face. “I think I will retire for the evening.”
Claude hurried through the great hall with his squire at his heels. No one but Evelina seemed to notice the turmoil on Claude’s face. Her heart went out to him. It was her fault since she’d told Harry to ruffle his hair. Now, she regretted her action. It wasn’t anger she viewed in Claude’s eyes as he hurried away. It was pain. A more profound pain than she’d ever seen in anyone’s eyes before. She wanted to run after him and tell him she was sorry, but couldn’t. She was only a servant, she reminded herself. She couldn’t step out of line again or her secret might be revealed.
Every part of her wanted to comfort Claude and make him smile. Why did she feel this way when everything the man had done so far had been nothing but belittling to her? Then again, his actions were typical for a nobleman and the way they treated servants. Her actions were not normal for a servant, just like Claude had told his squire. Pretending she was someone that she was not was becoming more difficult all the time.
Chapter 4
Claude dipped his head under the water of the tub and broke the surface with a sigh. The hot bath felt inviting but was doing nothing to make him feel better. The nursemaid had made him look like a fool in front of everyone, especially Rose. It brought back too many hurtful memories of the past.
He was a knight now and wanted to leave the past buried of the days he was a frightened, angry, skinny boy with long hair in his eyes. He wanted his father to be proud of him. Hell, he wanted to look good in Rose’s eyes now that he could measure up to someone like her husband. But Rose laughed at him, and that only made him want to try harder to make her like him more.
Was he really unlikable? He scooped up some soft soap from a small dish hanging from the edge of the tub and scrubbed his body hard. He wanted people to like him. Too much of his life was spent feeling lonely, and he didn’t ever want to feel that way again.
A knock sounded at the door. He figured it was either his squire coming back with more wine or a servant bringing the towel they had forgotten to leave.
“Enter,” he called out, scrubbing the soap into his scalp and closing his eyes, dipping back under the water to rinse it.
Evelina clutched the towel in her hand, glancing down the corridor, hoping no one was watching. She had intercepted the servant and told the young boy she’d take the towel to Lord Claude. She wanted to talk to him alone and try to find out if he had any suspicion of whom she really was. This was the only way to do it.
Hearing Claude call out to enter, she nervously reached out for the door handle, hesitating a second, and pulling her hand back. He might already be in the tub. If so, she would be in the room with a naked man. Then again, perhaps he was fully dressed and waiting for the towel and hadn’t even entered the tub yet.
She heard voices down the corridor and quickly reached out and turned the handle, slipping into the darkened room so she wouldn’t be discovered. Silently closing the door, she took a minute for her eyes to get accustomed to the dark. There was a fire on the hearth and one small candle burning on a table near the bed.
Evelina scanned the room, seeing the tub of water, but not seeing Claude anywhere. She thought that mayhap she had imagined him telling her to enter and perhaps he wasn’t here at all. She turned around to leave and heard the sound of water splashing over the edge of the tub onto the floor.
“Bring me the towel quickly, servant. I have soap in my eyes.”
She spun around to see Claude standing up in the tub, rubbing his closed eyes. His naked, toned body glistened in the firelight as rivulets of water trailed down his sturdy chest, disappearing into the thatch of dark, curly hair at his groin. She lifted her hand to block her eyes from looking any further. She shouldn’t have entered the room after all.
“Hurry, give me the drying cloth,” said Claude, holding out one hand.
With her eyes turned downward, she slowly walked toward the tub, stretching to give it to him.
“Where is it?” he asked, his hand grasping at thin air.
“It’s right here,” she said, pushing it into his grip.
His fingers closed over her wrist and he pulled her to his chest. The air whooshed from her lungs and she crashed up against his naked, wet body.
“I might have soap in my eyes, but I would know that voice anywhere,” he growled. With one hand, he wiped the water from his eyes, still holding her wrist with the other.
“Let go of me,” she demanded, feeling her heart racing in her chest.
“Are you sure that is what you want, Nursemaid?” He put his mouth right next to her ear, causing her to shiver. “After all, the only reason I can see that a nursemaid would enter my chamber when I’m naked is that she wants to give me more than just a towel, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she said, struggling against his hold, looking at the ground rather than looking at his naked body.
He ripped the towel from her hand and released her, sending her stumbling backward.
“Don’t worry; I am not interested in bedding you.” She heard the splash of water and then the rustling of the cloth. When she daringly looked up, he had stepped from the tub and had the towel tied around his waist. “So, don’t waste your time trying to get my attention because you are the last person I would ever take to my bed.”
That infuriated her. It was bad enough that he assumed she was there to throw herself at him. But now, he had to insult her by saying he didn’t want her?
“I assure you, having a tryst with you was the furthest thing from my mind when I entered the room.”
“Really?” He lifted a brow and cocked a lopsided grin. “Then what did you come here for, Nursemaid? To help scrub my back?”
“Nay!” she shouted. “I came here to apologize for what happened in the great hall.”
“Why should you apologize?” he asked. “It was the boy who did it.”
“Harry was only acting on my suggestion. If I had never told him to ruffle your hair, none of this would have happened.”
“Aye, that’s true.” He picked up a wooden goblet on the table, trying to get the last drop of wine from the vessel. “Where is that squire of mine?” he spat. “Mayhap, you should have brought wine along with the towel. Why didn’t you?”
That took her by surprise. “Mayhap, I shouldn’t have ventured into your room at all. You sound so ungrateful.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He put down the cup and took a few slow steps toward her. “Am I being . . . unlikable?”
She swallowed deeply, not liking the way he almost seemed to stalk her. By the rood, he knew what she’d told the squire. “Nay, my lord. Not at all,” she said, dropping her gaze to the floor.
“If I’m not unlikable, then why don’t you look at me, Nursemaid?” He lifted her chin with his palm and, ever so slowly, she raised her eyes until she was gazing right into his swirling blue orbs. The sadness she’d seen earlier was gone. Replacing it was mischief and if she wasn’t mistaken, a bit of lust as well. “What was the real reason you came here tonight?” he asked her.
“I told you,” she said in a soft voice. “I came here to apologize.”
“I don’t believe that is entirely true.” His eyes focused on her lips as he leaned in closer. “Then again, I don’t believe you are who you claim to be, either.”
“Y – you don’t?” Her eyes fell to his mouth as well. “Who do you believe I am, my lord?”
She could feel his hot breath on her when he spoke. Her tongue darted out to wet her parched lips. He was going to kiss her, she was sure of it. This handsome knight was going to give her a sensuous kiss, and she welcomed it. Evelina closed her eyes and let her head fall back, waiting for the feel of his mouth pressed up against hers. Would the kiss be quick or long and drawn out? Would it be filled with lust and hunger or, perhaps, instead, filled with love and passion? She had to know.
He released her, never touching her mouth with his. “I think it is time for you to leave now, Nursemaid.”
When she opened her eyes, he had turned and was walking away. He dropped down on the bed, lounging back, raising his arms behind his head to use as a pillow. Now she was the one who felt like a fool, standing there with her head back and eyes closed waiting for a kiss like a lovelorn adolescent. In worrying about the pain and turmoil she’d caused him, she’d release the wrath of displeasure upon herself. This wasn’t at all what she had expected.
“Why are you still standing there?” he asked. “I told you I don’t want you in my bed, so why don’t you understand that?”
“You are a wretched cur, no different than any other man I’ve ever met.”
He released a deep chuckle. “I’m sorry if I am not living up your expectations, but I am not used to having a woman play the aggressor. I suppose if you are adamant about staying here, I can make an exception. It has been a while since I’ve bedded a servant.”
“How dare you!” she blurted out, no longer caring that she was not acting like a servant. This man made her blood boil, and she was not going to put up with his rudeness. Even if she were a servant, he had the manners of a pig!
His smile disappeared and he pushed up to a sitting position, watching her intently.
“I should report your actions and your brash words to Lady Rose immediately.”
“Your threats don’t frighten me because I know you would never do it.”
“Why would you say that?” He scooted to the edge of the bed.
“Sir Claude, my only reason for coming here tonight was because I felt sorry for you.”
“Sorry for me?” Anger flashed in his eyes. “I don’t need your pity. And neither do I know what you mean.”
“I saw the pain in your eyes when everyone laughed at you in the great hall. I especially noticed your despair when Lady Rose laughed at you as well. It hurt you, didn’t it?”
“Who are you to ask me such a question?”
“You care what she thinks about you and are trying your hardest to leave a good impression.”
“I don’t need to impress anyone,” he scoffed.
“You don’t. Yet it means everything to you that Lady Rose sees you in a light that matches that of her husband. Doesn’t it?”
“Stop it!” he commanded.
“You wouldn’t want her to know I was in your solar while you were naked because she might think you are a cur instead of the honorable knight you want her to believe you are.”
“I am an honorable knight and not you or anyone else can say differently.”
“Really?” It was her turn to raise a brow. “Suppose I go to Lady Rose right now and tell her that I came to apologize to you and you tried to kiss me, seduce me, and take me to your bed?”
“You wouldn’t!”
“You wouldn’t like that, would you? Because if so, you would never get Lady Rose to love you the way she loves her husband, Toft.”
“Bid the devil, I will whip you if you say one more word.” He stood up so quickly that his towel slipped from his hips, falling to the floor and leaving him standing in front of her, naked.
At the same moment, the door opened behind her, and his squire entered the room.
“My lord I have brought wine and – oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in the midst of bedding a woman.”
Evelina turned on her heel and ran from the room.
Claude picked up the towel and wrapped it back around his waist. He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. What had just happened? And what had the nursemaid meant about him wanting Rose to love him the way she loved her husband? She didn’t know what she was talking about. Or did she?
“Come in and close the door, Squire,” he spoke into his hands. Ever since he’d arrived in England, things hadn’t been going well at all. Why did every day have to be harder than the one before?
“What was Evelina doing in here?” asked Felix, closing the door.
“That’s what I want to know,” he replied. “She said she came to apologize, but all she did was say horrible things about me instead.”
“Oh,” said Felix, pouring a cup of wine and handing it to Claude. Claude took it and chugged it down, trying to use the alcohol to numb his mental turmoil. “Did she call you unlikable again, my lord?”
Claude didn’t know how to answer. Evelina was right in saying he couldn’t go to Lady Rose and tell her about this. After all, his squire had seen him standing there naked with the girl in the room. Who the hell knew who else saw it as they passed by in the corridor. It wouldn’t paint him in a good light at all.
“Do you think I’m unlikable, Felix?” He held out his cup for more wine.
“Well, on occasion you do come across as, shall I say, grumpy?” Felix filled up the cup with wine and put the decanter on the bedside table.
“I’m not unlikable, and neither am I grumpy.” He felt the frown on his face as he said it. “God’s eyes, who am I fooling? The girl was right. I am unlikable. But she was wrong when she said I wasn’t an honorable knight.”
“She said that about you, my lord?”
“She did.”
“Are you going to tell Lady Rose her servant is speaking out of line?”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not?” Felix scratched his head.
“Nay. Instead, I am going to prove to her, as well as to everyone else, that I am an honorable knight, and I am not a wretched cur nor am I a pig.”
“Cur? Pig? Did Evelina say that about you, too?” Felix’s eyes opened wide.
“It doesn’t matter what she said because it is not true. She is only a servant and knows nothing at all.”
“What are you going to do to prove it to her, my lord?”
“I am going to s
how her that I know how to treat a lady.”
“Oh. Are you going to kiss her?”
“I am talking about a lady, Squire. Evelina is not a lady. She is naught but a servant who needs a good scolding if naught else. But I won’t be the one to give it to her. I am here for Lady Rose at her request. From now on, I am going to be the most likable person in the castle. Lady Rose won’t laugh at me ever again. When she has her baby, I will be at her side. I will be there to walk her to chapel every day and to escort her to the dais for every meal. I will treat her with kindness and respect, and show her the ways of courtly love, like the knights practice in France.”
“Lady Rose? I’m confused. I thought we were talking about the nursemaid, Evelina.”
“Evelina? Why would I care what she thinks? I told you, she is only a servant.”
“But I thought you said you didn’t think she was who she pretends to be. Perhaps, she is not a servant at all.”
“I changed my mind. She might not be a nursemaid, but I assure you if she is anything else it is naught but a peasant or a ragpicker, disguising herself so that she can take up residence at the castle.”
“So, I’m confused, my lord. Is it Lady Rose or Evelina you are trying to impress?”
“Impress? I am not trying to impress anyone,” he said, holding out his cup for more wine. He said the words but, in his heart, he knew they weren’t true. Evelina was right in saying he wanted Rose to love him. But the nursemaid confused him. She had him so disturbed that he couldn’t think straight. After looking into her hazel eyes and getting lost in those little green specks, and smelling the damned rosewater on her skin, he almost kissed her. What was wrong with him? Girls like her were not what he wanted. He was a knight of a castle and lands now. What he needed was a noblewoman for a wife. Someone just like Lady Rose. Tomorrow, he would show everyone just how honorable a knight he could be.
Chapter 5
“My lady, how much longer will we be in England?” Evelina’s guard, Augustin, asked her in the courtyard the next day, speaking French.
“Shh,” said Evelina, looking over her shoulder at the crowd of people gathered around the gate. The lord of the castle and Lady Rose’s husband were leaving along with a good amount of men to pay their service to the king today. “Augustin, ne m’adressez pas en tant que dame,” she said, telling him not to call her lady. “Someone might hear you.” She pulled him into the shadows behind the mews to talk to him in private. They continued to speak in French.
Super Summer Set of Historical Shorts Page 63
