A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (12 page)

“Thank you, please also take measurements. She will need at least three others to wear, as well as the usual undergarments, shoes and head-dress.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll make sure to give the shoemaker her measurements.” Jack snapped his fingers to his assistants, who turned Chloe about, taking measure of her arms, chest, waist, hips, legs and feet.

The women ran about gathering all the appropriate attire.

Chloe was happy at the way things were turning in her favor. They fairly fawned over her. She hoped their interactions with her would taper some of the stern looks and gaping glances she was getting about the village. Her fears from before about how she would fit in and be welcomed changed to happier thoughts. This would be easier for her now. She had worried they wouldn’t accept her, that they would shun her, now with a few words from Harold and her own kind offerings the atmosphere was less intimidating.

Once they had her measurements and she held the pre-made gown, undergarments, and even a new cloak, she followed Harold back to the keep.

“His lordship has made preparations for you to have your own chamber in the keep,” Harold told her.

She bit her lip, trying to gauge Harold’s reaction. Being as discreet as a steward should be, if he was in the least surprised, he didn’t show it.

“’Tis not often a servant gets their own quarters, however since you are being given such a high position within the keep, you will be allowed this luxury. Do not think however, that because you have been afforded your own chamber, you will not be expected to continue with your duties.”

Harold’s rebuke of behavior she had not yet exhibited, offended her. However, remembering her place as he saw her, she knew this must be said. For if she were a peasant, perhaps she would think she was being offered such a luxury, because naught was expected of her.

She knew it was more than a little odd she had her own chamber, but chose to ignore this minor detail. She was too ecstatic over the idea. Chloe tried hard to harbor her excitement from Harold as she followed him into the keep and through the great hall. Living within the keep would give her greater access to Lord Hardwyck. She’d be able to keep an eye on him, and she couldn’t help but think it would make the few tricks she had up her sleeve a little easier.

Many of the servants were busy preparing the room for the mid-day meal. Harold stopped in the middle of the hall and clapped his hands.

“Attention!” he said in a loud voice but not quite a shout, the severe look on his face did not waver. Did the man ever smile? “This is Miss Chloe. She is to be the chatelaine here at Hardwyck. All are to treat her with the respect and to follow any orders she may issue. Any who disobey her instructions will have to deal with me.” After his harsh words were spoken, the staff didn’t dare turn and whisper as she was sure they yearned to do.

Offering this set of staff the same kind smiles as she’d shown the tailor’s staff, she was a little stunned that they were not as willing to return her kindness. Some gave half hearted smiles, but other than that, she saw blank eyes staring back at her. Having lived in a chateau herself, she knew all this must be quite unseemly to the people within, and her heart went out to their confusion. She was only too glad Maude was not in attendance. Not wanting to turn away her newfound hope that life in Hardwyck could be pleasant, she kept her cheerful smile, and turned with Harold to go up the steep winding staircase in the main entry hall.

They arrived on the third floor of the keep, for the great hall was on the second.

“Your chamber is on this floor, along with Sir Edward, Lord Hardwyck’s captain of the guard, and his lady wife, Anne. The master’s chamber is on the next level up, and should his lordship ever marry and beget heirs, the floor above that would be the nursery.” He paused a moment as if contemplating what he would say. “Lady Anne, would be allowed to accompany such a mistress, as one of her ladies-in-waiting.”

Chloe nodded her understanding and tried to keep her face blank. She didn’t want to give away any indication that she more than understood the living situations in a noble home.

“This level has two additional chambers, both of which are for noble guests who are visiting. Lord Hardwyck’s main solar and study is on the floor above, attached to his chamber.” He continued down the long corridor. “Let us see if Lady Anne is free, and I shall introduce you her.”

She followed in silence as Harold issued instructions for her. She was nervous about meeting Lady Anne. Would keeping her identity a secret from Lady Anne be more difficult than with Lord Hardwyck?

Harold knocked lightly on a chamber door. A soft call came from behind its wooden expanse. He opened the door slowly to reveal a lovely lady sitting by the fire. Her back was straight as an arrow as she sat in a grand chair. Her fingers nimbly worked on the beginnings of a tapestry from what Chloe could discern. A lady’s maid sat in the corner of the room also working on some sewing.

“Lady Anne, may I present Miss Chloe, the new chatelaine,” Harold said with a bow.

Chloe curtsied to Lady Anne. Now that she was in front of the elegant woman, she was even more aware and ashamed of her getup. “My lady,” she said, rising.

“How do you do, Miss Chloe? I welcome you to Hardwyck,” Lady Anne said with a slight Scottish burr in her voice. Her smile was genuine. Her kind eyes swept over Chloe’s appearance, but did not register disgust.

Lady Anne had a lovely shade of auburn hair that peeked below a pale yellow headdress adorned with pearls. She wore a gown of the same shade of yellow, which complemented her hair and ivory skin.

“Thank you, my lady, I am well,” Chloe said unsure if she should add anything else.

“Miss Chloe will be at your disposal should you be in need of anything and I am not about,” Harold said, indicating he was not completely forsaking all his duties to Chloe.

“I should be glad for the company. Perhaps after the evening meal, you could help me with this tapestry?” She smiled and lifted the corner of her work for Chloe to see.

Excited for the offer of company and needlework, which she did enjoy, Chloe nodded. “Yes, my lady.” She would have to remember to ask Anne what part of Scotland she was from.

Anne inclined her head and looked back down at her work, dismissing them with her gesture. Harold quietly backed out of the room, and beckoned for Chloe to follow. He led her back down the corridor to a closed door at the end of the hall. He opened the chamber door and entered. Chloe took a deep breath and followed.

“This will be your chamber. I have ordered a bath to be brought for you. You may wait here, and once completed, I will see you in the great hall prior to the mid-day meal for further instructions.” At that he turned and left without another word.

Chloe dropped the packages of her new clothes onto the bed, taking in her surroundings. A tapestry on the wall showed a lady riding hard through a field atop a white horse. As if placed there as a reminder, her head snapped up. “Oh, no!”

She’d forgotten to ask about her horse. Hurrying out the door she easily caught sight of Harold. He walked a slow steady walk, as if counting his paces.

“Harold?” she called to him.

“Yes?” he asked, turning, his lips pursed, obviously holding back biting words.

“I have left my horse within Maude’s home and I was hoping to be able to fetch him. He is not as grand by any means as Lord Hardwyck’s horses, but all the same, he is all I have.” She hoped her explanation would excuse her behavior which appeared to have offended him.

“I will send one of the groomsmen to fetch him,” was all he said before turning his back again, dismissing her.

“One more question?” she asked.

Harold turned toward her, his irritation showing, and she hurried forward to speak to him in low tones. “Sir, when I was in the forest, I came across…a woman. She told me there were Scots running wild about the country. Something about a border castle and fighting. Are we in danger here?” Chloe cared little if they were in danger. She hoped and prayed that Lord Hardwyck had given Harold some information about her family.

Harold snorted. “You are safe behind these thick stone walls. Lord Hardwyck shan’t allow any Scots barbarians to permeate his lands. And truth be told, the—
woman
—you ran into, is full of lies. The only Scots anywhere near Hardwyck, are you and Lady Anne.”

With that he frowned and walked away.

Chloe sighed resolutely. The man had no information. She would have to be content for now that she would have her horse. Baby steps. She too turned to go back to her room. The satchel she’d hidden still posed a problem. Although well hidden, it was only a matter of time before it was discovered. She would have to go soon to fetch it, and during the day when neither Maude nor James were about. With her new position, there would be errands she would have to run, and she could easily sneak away for the time it would take her to fetch the satchel and hide it safely within her new chamber.

Chloe looked around the room. It was a simple chamber, with a bed in the center, a wardrobe along the wall, and a small window beside the hearth. Next to her bed was a table, a bowl and pitcher on top of it. In front of the hearth was a delicate wooden chair. The floor had a lush woven carpet in front of the hearth. Three other carpets littered the room, one on each side of the bed and one in front. She was glad for the hearth. The night she’d spent in Maude’s house was cold, although she’d been too exhausted to think on it at the time. She was relieved she would not have to go back.
For more than just the warmth this chamber will provide…

Chloe lay down on the bed while waiting for her bath. Sinking into the softness, she tried hard to keep herself awake. It was not as comfortable as her bed at home, but it certainly was an improvement on the dirty straw stuffed mattress she’d slept on the night before, and the many nights on the cold ground before that.

Why was she being treated so highly? She was a stranger, and for all they knew a commoner, come from a poor home. How was it she had been given her own chamber and such responsibility within the keep? How was Lord Hardwyck even sure she’d be able to handle such a position? Could it be all of her fears and worries of Lord Hardwyck knowing who she was were rightly placed? If that were the case why wasn’t she shivering in a cold dungeon or tower?

Mayhap he didn’t know, and her imaginations were running away with her. Lord knew her mind had been working in overdrive lately. Perhaps he was just being a good master and truly believed her when she said she’d been considered for a chatelaine position before arriving.

Part of her didn’t want to worry about his suspicions. Chloe wouldn’t reveal her true identity, and she was happy for her new situation. The other part of her warned danger.

A scratch on the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in,” she called, sitting up on the bed.

Several servants entered carrying with them a wooden tub they placed in front of the hearth, and several steaming buckets of water. One of the servants went to work lighting the fire in the hearth, while the others filled the linen lined tub. A young woman came in carrying with her a linen cloth for drying, a brush, sweet smelling herbs and balls of soap. Chloe smelled the sweet scent of jasmine as it floated through the air. Her old self reveled in the thought of the bath with the sweet smelling soap, but her new self stared at the spectacle with dismay.

He knows.

There was no reason for her to have such a treat were she just a servant to the house. Was he toying with her?

“Thank you,” she said as she smiled to the servants leaving her to her needs. They nodded politely and left. Some with questioning looks on their face, others kept their feelings hidden. Were their questioning looks all in her mind, or were they too trying to figure out why she was being treated so favorably?

Not wanting to dwell too long on her thoughts and allow the water to cool, she quickly undressed and sank into the steaming water. Her eyes closed and a low moan escaped her lips. Opening her eyes, she assured herself she was the only one in the room, and laughed at her childish fear. She soaked in the tub for awhile, letting the warm water soothe her aching muscles, and drain the stress from her body. Taking one of the balls of soap, she began to scrub the grime of almost a month’s worth of dirt from her body. When her skin was smooth and fresh, she dunked her head and began to massage the soap into her hair.

She was coming back to life with the simple pleasure of a bath. Oh, the things she’d taken for granted in her privileged life. Never before would she have thought a bath would make her feel so good.

****

Alexander stood in the darkness of the hall listening to all that went on beyond the closed door to Chloe’s bedchamber. He heard the sloshing of water as she sat in the tub, and the moan that escaped her lips. His body stiffened at the sound of it and he had to hold himself back from slamming open the door, pulling her from the tub and throwing her onto the bed.

He thought the bath would please her. Why did he care? She was deceiving him. Alexander smiled and raked his hands through his hair. He was going to great lengths to win the battle. Slow and agonizing he’d decided. She would realize he knew and he couldn’t wait to see her response.

He’d ordered the soaps himself, when he thought he would be bringing home a wife. The sweet smell of jasmine wafted through the crack at the bottom of the door and he inhaled deeply. The overwhelming need to bury his face into her hair and smell the floral scents within it was too much.

Raging hard, his cock throbbed against the confines of his clothes. He took in a deep breath, lips parted as he imagined the naked lush body of the lady in disguise. His thick flesh pulsed, and twitched. He reached a hand to his middle, stroking himself, before a sound down the hall pulled him back to reality.