A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (23 page)

Then he grew suspicious.

Why else could she want to watch over him then to push him to his death?

He knew Maybe even put that thought into his head. When he awoke still feeling feverish and slightly delirious the sight of her swept all the confusion out of his brain instantly.

How could Harold have let her into his room? And alone at that! Harold was aware that Alexander had suspicions about Chloe. What could he have been thinking?

Alexander figured he would have to take care of himself if his loyal servants wouldn’t do it. So he had observed her. He watched her, listened to her, pretended to be asleep when he was really awake.

He’d been confused by how she treated him with care, stroking his cheeks and brow. This was not what someone was supposed to do when they wanted to kill you. Then he came to the realization that she was trying to make him feel comfortable, so that he would trust her, do anything she wanted. Then she would strike.

She was very conniving. He’d witnessed that first hand with the lousy blanket trick.

Whoever had sent her to do him in had taught her well. She had waited until the perfect opportunity to pounce on him.

He’d drank the herbs that she gave him, fully intent on spitting them out, but whatever was in them made him sleep. When he later awoke he had felt much better.

Yet again his feelings of confusion returned, it seemed that mayhap he was wrong and she was trying to help him to get better?

But it couldn’t be.

Maybe she had tried to kill him, and then thought that it wasn’t a good way for a fierce warrior to die. Maybe she thought he needed a more worthy death. The more he assessed her actions, the more absurd his conclusions became.

The thought did enter his mind that she was just a kind woman who wanted to help him. He shook his head. No, that couldn’t be it. It wasn’t possible.

Then she slipped. Admitted that her life would be better without him, that she wished he had died, but she helped him anyway. Why? Did she feel guilty that she would be killing the man she was supposed to marry?

He had to get to the bottom of this. Throwing back the covers he slept under for nearly four days, Alexander gagged when he inhaled his own stench. He needed a bath.

Bathing would have to wait. Perhaps he could use his stench to his advantage. She would most probably be more willing to answer his questions if he threatened to make her smell him at close proximity. He chuckled at his thoughts.

He threw his legs over the side of the bed and began to stand. Then he was jolted to reality when his legs, so weak from lying prone, nearly buckled under his weight. Sitting back on the bed, he turned when a knock resounded on the door.

So she’s come back.

“What’s all this?” he asked, ignoring the fact that his stomach growled loudly when he caught the scent of the food and that he longed to get into the warm bath and wash the stench of sickness away.

“Miss Chloe ordered it for you,” Harold said in his usual monotone.

“Hmm. Where is Chloe?” He tried not to sound too interested.

“Resting. She worked hard these last few days, and I felt she deserved a little retreat.” Harold had taken the liberty of dismissing her on Alexander’s behalf. The stubborn man, stared straight ahead, his expression devoid of any emotion.

Alexander had always admired Harold’s ability to make decisions for him when he was away, and even sometimes when he was indisposed, but lately he was beginning to despise Harold and his ability to handle situations without consulting him. First the satchel and now dismissing her for a break. It was almost as if he were protecting the little wench.

“Harold, in future, when decisions are being made concerning Chloe, I must be informed prior to said decisions being acted upon.” He glared at Harold’s profile.

“Leave me.” If he couldn’t join her in her tub, then he would enjoy a bath himself. Something about the thought of them both in the tub at the same time made Alexander grow hot.

Ah…a world of, if only…

He would have to devise a different tactic with her.

****

A light knock on the door startled Chloe awake and she chided herself for falling asleep in the tub. She could have drowned. And she was freezing. The water had long since cooled down.

“Just one moment,” she yelled to whoever was at the door.

Climbing out of the tub, gooseflesh attacked her skin. Teeth chattering and knees knocking together, she quickly dried herself and donned a night dress. She planned on having her evening meal brought to her and then she would go to sleep. Perhaps her meal had arrived.

“Not intentionally. I seemed to have fallen asleep, in the…in the, uh…” She didn’t want to say tub, because it seemed indecent, although she was standing there in a thin nightgown only covered by a robe.

“Ah…Chloe, I believe our time in the woods, and you having cared for me the last several days, lets us leave off formalities does it not?” He gave her a devilish wink.

She looked at him skeptically. He was up to something. When their last encounter ended, he had been yelling at her back and accusing her of trying to poison him. Now he was inviting her to dine with him? Planting provocative memories in her mind of their heated encounter in the woods. Insinuating more pleasures to come with his wolfish grin.

She ignored his heated gaze and hugged her robe closer to her body.

“My lord, I would request that you give me some privacy,” she said stoically, holding her chin high.

“I will take your request into consideration.” He posed like he was thinking. She waited for what seemed like minutes. “Very well, I will give you a few moments to dress. Then you must come to my room. We have much to discuss.” He turned and shut the door behind him, not even giving her a chance to argue.

Chloe sighed deeply and turned back to her room. She was still shivering and her fire was only embers. Knowing that Lord Hardwyck would no doubt have a roaring fire in his room, as well as some food and wine to warm her up, she dressed quickly, taking care to tuck the portrait back into her stays where it would not be noticed—she had a sinking suspicion while she was with Alexander, he’d have her room looked over thoroughly. After brushing her partially dried hair, she left it down. She didn’t bother to put on a headdress. She was so tired and cold, although it would have only taken a few minutes to pin up her hair, that few minutes was too much.

She left her room quickly and traveled to his chamber. Rapping lightly on the door with numb knuckles. He shouted from within to enter. She opened the door cautiously, afraid to enter, but knowing that she must.

As Chloe suspected, the fire in the hearth was roaring and the chamber was beyond cozy. The warmth immediately wrapped around her body and she hoped that he would ask her to sit by the heavenly heat.

Lord Hardwyck sat in one of the chairs by the hearth sipping on a glass of wine. How she yearned for a glass of the liquid, not only to warm her body, but to soothe her nerves. He must have noticed her eyeing the chair opposite him and his glass of wine, for he motioned her to sit and she watched as he poured her a glass and waited for her reaction.

She wanted to run to the chair and rub her hands in front of the fire. She wanted to hold her feet and to soak up its warmth. Instead she walked slowly and deliberately to the chair and sat down, her back ramrod straight trying as hard as she could to make sure her expression was one of demure placidity. He handed her the glass of wine and she took it carefully. The sensation of her fingers brushing his caused a shiver to race along her limbs.

Taking a small sip, she tried to quell the rising desire in her blood. Briefly she closed her eyes at the heavenly feel of the warm wine as it traveled down her throat and she murmured her thank you to him.

“You said you had something you wished to discuss with me?” Chloe asked, taking another small sip of the wine. Already the heady drink had started to take affect.

He flashed a wicked smile at her. “Yes, Chloe, I want to discuss the satchel.” He looked at her, examined her, he was waiting for her reaction.

She gave him no indication that the topic disturbed her.

“Ah yes, the satchel you were insisting I possessed. I’m sorry to disappoint you my lord, but I am still completely unaware of what you speak.” She pulled out all of her training as a noblewoman at keeping secrets.

He laughed lightly at her and sipped his wine, his gaze drifting over her in an indecent way. His eyes roved her breasts then lower to ogle the space between her legs. She clamped her thighs tighter together. Heat flooded her chest and cheeks, and shamefully wound its way down her belly and in-between her thighs.

“You don’t do you? Somehow I must say that you are not telling me the truth.” Setting down his glass he leaned toward her in his chair, coming inches from her face, his eyes hard as he stared into hers. “I know what was in the satchel.”

Chloe couldn’t help but gasp, and her hand involuntarily rose to her breast, where her portrait was safely hidden. Did Alexander have her family jewels? Quickly coming to her senses she decided not to back down, not now, she couldn’t. She had to keep playing the game.

“My lord, what was in the satchel?” She sat back, gripping her wine tightly. “It must have meant a great deal to you, if you are still questioning me about it.” Something flickered in his eyes, but she couldn’t quite tell what it was.

“You know what was in the satchel, Chloe. Don’t play pretend with me.”

“My lord, I assure you again, that I have no idea what you are talking about.” She sipped casually at her wine, hoping that she was not showing a bit of her inner turmoil.

“Very well. Let me tell you a story.” He stood, facing the fire, his back to her, his hands clasped behind him.

He was going to let her off that easy?

“Once upon a time, there was a handsome, gallant knight, a lord actually, who owned many lands and castles. He worked loyally for King Henry V of England, going to battle whenever needed. Making sure that his lands prospered, and in return offering his king much in the way of food, textiles and manpower. One day the goodly lord was summoned before the king and given a grand task. He was to travel to the borders of Scotland and England to take back England’s castle and gain a wife. In return the king would warrant the lands safely in the hands of a loyal vassal. The extremely fierce lord did not want to take a wife, but since he had been ordered by his king and reassured of the lady’s beauty, he agreed. When he arrived he was shown great insolence from those who should have given him loyalty.”

No, he definitely was not going to let her off that easy. She squirmed uneasily in her chair. This was getting out of hand, he was toying with her.

“When the gracious lord went to claim his bride and new home, he found it deserted. His new bride gone. Naturally he was given the lands owed to him, and new title, but no wife. His bed lay cold. Then one day, he found his bride, along a desolate road, being attacked by a madman. How did she get there? He did not know, but he had to find out. Had she come to kill him? Had she come for revenge? She must have, for a wife whose family had been ruined, stripped down and left for dead would certainly want revenge on the man who had caused it all. Wouldn’t she?” At this he turned to face her, his piercing gaze burning through her.