lecturing her about that outrageous deed. “Be at ease,” he told her. “Since you know who I am, shall we confirm that you’re the newest maid of honor, Rebecca Marshall?”
She would have liked to deny it. A maid of honor snooping, lying, caught attempting to steal! The queen might even hear of it.
He waited for her reluctant nod before he continued, “I was led to believe that you did me a service.”
Incredulous that he could view her misdeeds in that light, she asked, “How so?”
“In keeping St. John’s identity to yourself. Lady Sarah doesn’t know of our association and we would prefer to keep it that way.”
“I see,” she replied carefully. “And that association would be—?”
He chuckled. “None of your business, young lady. But I applaud your attempt to gather information. I can only hope it is for yourself and not for Sarah.”
Rebecca sighed. “I thank you for not mentioning what occurred, but I really must apologize. I was told next to nothing about the task Sarah sent me on, merely that it was important. So considering how highly improper it was, I convinced myself that it was of great importance to the crown, that you were a suspected traitor of some sort.”
“Let me guess,” he said in an amused tone. “You were being heroic?”
She nodded. “But I began to feel terrible about entering your room and looking around it. And the bad feeling remained, so I lied to Sarah about who entered your room, and—”
“He had that much effect on you?” Nigel cut in curiously.
“Effect?” She frowned, then chuckled as she guessed, “Oh, you mean because of his angelic looks? No, it was because I know he’s the nephew of my neighbor the Duke of Norford. To think that any relative of the duke would do something treasonous is ludicrous.”
“Quite so. Pray tell me, are you here at Sarah’s behest today, or merely satisfying your own curiosity?”
Rebecca managed not to blush this time, but she didn’t want to own up to her interest in Rupert, either. Fortunately, she came up with a ready excuse, “Yes, I’m keeping an eye on my roommate who’s been rather difficult. I merely wanted to find out why Elizabeth was so excited earlier today. You needn’t worry that I will be doing any more snooping for Lady Sarah. I warned her last night not to use me like that again, that I would take the matter to a higher authority if necessary.”
“That’s too bad.”
She blinked. “It is?”
“Yes, I was hoping an intelligent girl like you could keep meapprised of anything unusual that Sarah might ask of you again.”
He said it so nonchalantly, yet she didn’t doubt he was serious. “You mean spy for you?”
“No, my dear. I’m not talking about eavesdropping or peeking through keyholes—or sneaking into places where you don’t belong. Nothing of the sort. But if Sarah asks you to do anything else out of the ordinary, I would appreciate a warning beforehand. Just a note, sent by your maid or a trusted servant, to myself or even to Rupert, since business sometimes takes me away from the palace and he usually knows where I can be found.” Nigel paused and shook his head. “Sarah’s antics are usually harmless, but she really has no interest in helping the crown, you know. I had her investigated so I’m sure of that. Everything she does here at court is to better her own position. And the day may come when she goes too far.”
Had he not mentioned Rupert, Rebecca would probably have flatly refused and walked away, no further discussion. But she was intrigued by the idea that she might occasionally have a reason to seek Rupert out. It really was too bad that, as Nigel had put it, she had pretty much burned her bridges with Sarah.
“She’s not going to ask me to undertake another of her ‘errands.’ The way she greeted me this morning pretty much confirms that she now views me as a useless member of the duchess’s entourage.”
“Useless to her,” Nigel agreed, giving
She would have liked to deny it. A maid of honor snooping, lying, caught attempting to steal! The queen might even hear of it.
He waited for her reluctant nod before he continued, “I was led to believe that you did me a service.”
Incredulous that he could view her misdeeds in that light, she asked, “How so?”
“In keeping St. John’s identity to yourself. Lady Sarah doesn’t know of our association and we would prefer to keep it that way.”
“I see,” she replied carefully. “And that association would be—?”
He chuckled. “None of your business, young lady. But I applaud your attempt to gather information. I can only hope it is for yourself and not for Sarah.”
Rebecca sighed. “I thank you for not mentioning what occurred, but I really must apologize. I was told next to nothing about the task Sarah sent me on, merely that it was important. So considering how highly improper it was, I convinced myself that it was of great importance to the crown, that you were a suspected traitor of some sort.”
“Let me guess,” he said in an amused tone. “You were being heroic?”
She nodded. “But I began to feel terrible about entering your room and looking around it. And the bad feeling remained, so I lied to Sarah about who entered your room, and—”
“He had that much effect on you?” Nigel cut in curiously.
“Effect?” She frowned, then chuckled as she guessed, “Oh, you mean because of his angelic looks? No, it was because I know he’s the nephew of my neighbor the Duke of Norford. To think that any relative of the duke would do something treasonous is ludicrous.”
“Quite so. Pray tell me, are you here at Sarah’s behest today, or merely satisfying your own curiosity?”
Rebecca managed not to blush this time, but she didn’t want to own up to her interest in Rupert, either. Fortunately, she came up with a ready excuse, “Yes, I’m keeping an eye on my roommate who’s been rather difficult. I merely wanted to find out why Elizabeth was so excited earlier today. You needn’t worry that I will be doing any more snooping for Lady Sarah. I warned her last night not to use me like that again, that I would take the matter to a higher authority if necessary.”
“That’s too bad.”
She blinked. “It is?”
“Yes, I was hoping an intelligent girl like you could keep meapprised of anything unusual that Sarah might ask of you again.”
He said it so nonchalantly, yet she didn’t doubt he was serious. “You mean spy for you?”
“No, my dear. I’m not talking about eavesdropping or peeking through keyholes—or sneaking into places where you don’t belong. Nothing of the sort. But if Sarah asks you to do anything else out of the ordinary, I would appreciate a warning beforehand. Just a note, sent by your maid or a trusted servant, to myself or even to Rupert, since business sometimes takes me away from the palace and he usually knows where I can be found.” Nigel paused and shook his head. “Sarah’s antics are usually harmless, but she really has no interest in helping the crown, you know. I had her investigated so I’m sure of that. Everything she does here at court is to better her own position. And the day may come when she goes too far.”
Had he not mentioned Rupert, Rebecca would probably have flatly refused and walked away, no further discussion. But she was intrigued by the idea that she might occasionally have a reason to seek Rupert out. It really was too bad that, as Nigel had put it, she had pretty much burned her bridges with Sarah.
“She’s not going to ask me to undertake another of her ‘errands.’ The way she greeted me this morning pretty much confirms that she now views me as a useless member of the duchess’s entourage.”
“Useless to her,” Nigel agreed, giving
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