A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (8 page)

Chloe nodded, although inside she felt anything but. She was so filled with anger for their
good master,
she nearly choked on her breath. “Thank you, madam, for calming my nerves, and for your hospitality.”

Maude smiled at her and then looked at her horse. Chloe could see the woman calculating something in her mind. Her eyes flickered around the room. Chloe abhorred that she was at Maude’s mercy. The woman kept glancing at James and patting him on the hand.

“Chloe, we would be happy if ye wanted to stay with us. I’m sure yer horse here would pay yer way,” Maude said pointing at the horse.

James nodded emphatically and gave her a wide grin as his gaze perused her bosom. She suppressed a shudder.

She didn’t want to take Maude up on her offer, and instead preferred—however awful it would be—to see what Lord Hardwyck asked of her the next day. Hopefully, he’d let her work in the kitchens and she could lace his food with an herbal laxative… Or maybe something worse? No, she may loathe him to the core, but she wasn’t evil, and killing wasn’t something she could do.

“Thank you, Maude, but I think I will wait to speak with Lord Hardwyck. I would very much like to pay my own way. And I may need the horse,” she said.

“’Tis probably the best idea,” Maude answered trying to hide her disappointment.

The rest of their dinner was filled with talk of Maude and James and their life. James was an apprentice for the local blacksmith and spent most of his days working and training. His father had also been a blacksmith before he’d died a few years prior. They had once lived a richer life, but when George Smith died, James and his mother were forced to make do with what little they could, and James was not yet ready to be smithy himself.

Chloe tried to concentrate on the conversation but her mind kept turning back to Lord Hardwyck and how she might take subtle revenge and still keep her identity secret. She also needed to figure out how she could get word to her people without letting Lord Hardwyck find out. Lord, she didn’t want to get thrown in the dungeon.

“In two years time I’ll be done with my apprenticeship, and then I can buy into the guild to become a blacksmith myself,” James admonished to Chloe, pride showing on his face. Turning to his mother, he placed his hand on her arm, and then gave Chloe a meaningful look. “Then we’ll expand the house to three rooms with a sturdy wooden door. I’ll build a larger garden for ma’s vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Mayhap even be able to buy a pig, sheep and a cow.”

“That sounds wonderful, James. I’m sure your mother will be pleased.” She tried to smile but ended up yawning instead, hastily covering her mouth with her hand. “Pardon me, I am suddenly so exhausted.”

Her eyes felt heavy, and her shoulders slumped no matter how hard she forced them to stay straight. All she could think of was curling into her own feather mattress and falling into a peaceful sleep. She knew her prior life was now just a dream, but perhaps she could imagine she was home, as she lay on whatever grimy mattress Maude offered, if there were one to be had at all.

“Let me show ye where yer to sleep then,” Maude said getting up from the table. She must have seen the look of pure exhaustion on Chloe’s face.

“Again, thank you,” Chloe said, lifting her bowl from the table. She took a rag and wiped it down as Maude had done, and placed it on the shelf along with the other bowls.

She followed Maude into the little room that served as a sleeping chamber along with storage.

“You’ll sleep over there. It’s James’s bed, but he can sleep in the main room for tonight.” Maude pointed to a filthy mattress on the dirt floor.

“Oh, I couldn’t take his bed, I will sleep on the floor in the main room,” Chloe said, not really wanting to do so, but she certainly didn’t want to remove James from his bed either.

“I wouldn’t think of it,” Maude said, dismissing her. She reached into a trunk in the room and pulled out a pallet made of straw and handed it to James.

Too tired to argue further, Chloe nodded and headed for the bed. Fleeting thoughts of fleas, lice and other bed bugs crossed her mind, but she pushed them aside. She needed to get some sleep. Maybe somehow she’d be able to switch out Lord Hardwyck’s, no doubt opulent, mattress with a flea ridden one… Her body and her mind were exhausted, but the thought made her smile.

In the morning she was to appear before Lord Hardwyck, and she didn’t want to be too tired and slip up when talking to him. It was imperative to her safety she not reveal who she was, especially to him. He would surely toss her in the highest tower. She’d known before she and her family were in danger, but here she was dumped on the enemy’s very door. The heavy hand of fate had slammed down hard on her.

Chloe sat heavily on the bed, and waved away the cloud of dust that flew into her face. She needed to mentally prepare for the meeting with her enemy, and she certainly would keep in mind trading his bedding for this one…

Chapter Six

Early the next morning, Maude’s firm shake on Chloe’s shoulder woke her with a start. Her eyes popped open, only to see the room was still dark. Why had Maude woken her in the middle of the night? Chloe gasped with fright that she may have been found out. She stifled an oath and sat up.

“What has happened?” she asked nervously.

“It is morning now. You must wake, and get ready to meet with his lordship,” Maude said gruffly.

Chloe stared at the elderly woman. Did Maude hold a grudge against her for not wanting to give her the horse in exchange for housing? She couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to wake up when the moon and stars were still out.

“Oh, I understand,” Chloe said, not really comprehending at all. She sat up and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Light filtered in from the main room, where Maude must have lit a fire.

The woman briefly left the room and then came back with a pot and a wet cloth. Chloe eyed the objects. She knew what the pot was for, and thought back nostalgically of the privy she’d been able to use in France. How she had abhorred it at the time, but now she would have much preferred the cold stone seat to the messy pot.

“Ye can use the pot to relieve yerself, just make sure you dump it out back, and this cloth here’s to clean yer face.”

“Thank you,” Chloe said, trying to hide her embarrassment. She was used to her maid providing things for her to complete her daily ablutions, but she was supposed to be on equal level with Maude.

She decided not to think on it, and quickly completed her morning ritual as best she could. With the cloth, she was able to scrub away a lot of the dirt, but she still felt grimy and filthy. A bath would have been heavenly. She undid the braid she’d fashioned at the croft, and brushed her fingers through the tangles in her hair, wincing as they snagged in the jumbled mess. It felt so much better down, but it was so tangled and in desperate need of washing. But that would have to wait. She quickly braided her hair and wrapped it in a tight bun at the nape of her neck.

When she emerged from the chamber, she felt much more refreshed than the day before, although a sneaking sense of fear tingled at the base of her spine. She hoped she did well meeting with the fierce lord today. Keeping her tongue in check was going to be a real test of fortitude.

Chloe let out a sigh of relief. Only Maude was in the main room. She certainly didn’t want to deal with James and his silly glances this morning. Her mind was already full with what was to come.

“There’s some bread there fer ye, if yer hungry,” Maude said.

Chloe nodded and headed to the table. She was too nervous to eat, but managed to get down a few dry bites.

“Where is James this morning?”

“He’s gone about his duties now,” Maude answered without looking up.

Chloe never realized how early the peasants and servants around her woke. She was always allowed to sleep at least until the sun had fully risen. This was something she was going to have a hard time getting used to.

“Well if yer done then, we best be getting up to the keep. I’ve got me own work to do there, and we needn’t dilly dally.”

“Yes, of course,” Chloe said, somehow managing not to choke on the dry remains of crust. “What do you do at the keep?” Would they be working together? She smoothed her shift, wishing she had a change of clothes. Despite her wash this morning, she could still smell the stench of a few weeks worth of wear, coming from her rags.

“I’m a chambermaid. I am responsible for cleaning the bedchambers. If there was a mistress at the keep, I would be one of her maids.” Her chin lifted a little when she said it.

Although Chloe didn’t know much about the social order and classes among the commoners, she knew to be a chambermaid put you at a higher status than if she were a scullery maid or kitchen aid. She frowned. What type of position would Lord Hardwyck offer her?

A fleeting look of despair crossed Maude’s face. “The way people talk the lord will never marry. He’s a loner. But at some point he’s got to get an heir.”

Chloe had to look away. His possessive and commanding words resounded in her ears.
You are mine!
Had he come to take her as a wife? She would have refused him if he had. Perhaps he would have taken her by force. She shuddered at the vision of the warrior pointing at her from afar. She was only comforted in the knowledge he wasn’t aware of her true identity. She could just picture the man picking her up, throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her off to the nearest priest. That just wouldn’t do. She didn’t want to turn into her mother, who’d suffered a loveless marriage.

Chloe squared her shoulders, putting a new resolved strength into her form. She wouldn’t reveal who she was, and she certainly wouldn’t marry the lord or anyone else. She would take care of herself, even if it meant she would have to empty her own chamber pots, eat meager meals and never wear beautiful clothes again. Part of her wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it. For certes, she was strong, but up until now her life had been more or less filled with leisure. How was she going to make it working from sun up to sun down, with little rest?

Chloe straightened her back. She was a noblewoman, had been born and bred to be strong. Pride flowed through her veins. If she put her mind to it, she could accomplish it.

“We’d best be on our way.” Chloe wanted to get up to the keep before her newfound confidence diminished.

Maude nodded, wiping her hands down her apron and smoothing the fabric.

“The lord will want ye to change clothes. I’m sure the tailor and his team of seamstresses at the keep will provide ye with something more than that ragged get up. Here’s a coif to wear over yer hair. This’ll keep all that hair of yers in place.” Maude handed her a simple cap to place on her head.

Chloe placed the cap on, trying to tuck in her hair with some difficulty. She made a muddle of tying the ribbons into place. Why was it so difficult to get these ribbons to cooperate? Her maid had always done such things for her, if and when she was made to wear a headdress. An odd look crossed Maude’s face and then was gone. Finally Chloe was able to secure it.

“I have never worn such a thing before, it wasn’t customary in my village,” Chloe lied. “Have I put it on right?”

Maude nodded, no longer seeming to find it odd that she didn’t know how to secure the silly cap. She must have believed Chloe’s easy lie. Would lying keep coming more naturally to her? As it was, she found it getting easier as she spoke to each person. Chloe pulled on her thin cape.

Maude opened the door to the little house and Chloe followed her out. The bailey was already teaming with people. Knights gathered, their armor on and weapons at the ready for training. Servants ran here and there going about their various duties. Merchants milled about, some with baskets of wares and others with their wagons.

The sun was just barely skimming the horizon. Pink and orange hues touched down on the courtyard. She was shocked so many people were already about, not just starting their day, but working it. This would be her new life, she had to remind herself again. She would be up this early going about the tasks that Lord Hardwyck would assign to her. If he’d assign her work at all. She didn’t have any skills—except managing a household, but with the way she looked he wouldn’t believe that truth for a minute. Ironic, that the one truth she might say would be misconstrued for a lie.

Maude led her through the throngs of people in the bailey up to the courtyard in front of the castle doors. Chloe almost fell backward staring at the tall fortress. The stone walls led almost to the sky. Slit windows sprinkled the walls, but the most impressive sight of all, was the two large carved oak doors. Her eyes tenderly caressed the intricate carvings of ivy and dragons that looked out of place on such a stark building. This castle was built for security. As she stared in speculation of the building, the large wooden doors opened and out walked two giants. Lord Hardwyck was one of them she could tell by the regale dragon on its hind legs, fire shooting from its mouth that was embroidered on his wide leather belt.

Chloe sucked in a breath at the sight of him, her hand instinctively coming to her throat. He looked so different in the light than when she’d seen him before, outside South Hearth in the night, and the previous evening at dusk. Somehow even more menacing.

And yet…

It was hard for her to remember that he was her enemy. Her body reacted of its own accord. Nipples taut, skin dancing, a tingling knot formed in her belly. She sucked in a breath and darted her gaze around. Could anyone tell what their master did to her? How he made her feel?

He walked slightly in front of the other warrior. They were followed by two squires carrying their weapons and shields. She stared in awe at the Herculean men. A tremor ran up her spine. She couldn’t figure out if it was from fear or something else. Her palms became moist as her heart pounded at a rapid pace.

Lord Hardwyck was the same height as the other man, but broader. The air about him exuded strength and power. His strides were long and calculated, accentuating the strength of the muscles in his legs. Obviously, he spent much time in training and riding to keep his physique in such well form. His broad shoulders and expansive chest filled out the linen shirt he wore, the fabric clinging to every curve and contour. Seeing him in such a state made him seem all the more indomitable. Her breath hitched as her body sang to a tune she found all too distracting. He was the type of man a woman dreamed of having. A strong man ready to take on the world. A man that could take her on. What would it be like to touch such sinewy muscle? She had to shake her head at the thought. She hated this man, was bent on secretly making his life miserable, how could she betray herself with such wanton thoughts?