recalled from her playtime with her friends. Exhausted by her failure, she finally fell to sleep. But it was fitful, her dreams vivid, lurid ones of a man taking her in sweet abandon. Awakening often through the night, she noted ruefully that when she had Geoffrey in her bed, she did not dream but slept the oblivion of the protected.
* * * *
The next day when the two maids appeared once more to fill her tub anew with steaming water, Kat was ready to stare down the resentful one and smile at the other.
They both did their duty quickly and left as silently as they had come. But when Geoffrey did not appear soon after, Kat cursed and went in search of him.
She found him in a small room behind the great hall’s dais. He sat at a table where stood one large ledger and two short stacks of silver coins. That was more precious mint than she had seen anyone possess in many years. The thought comforted, even if his absence from her side did not. “Where have you been?” she accused him like a badgering wife. “I need to talk with you.”
Looking up from the ledger, he arched a long ginger eyebrow at her. His eyes were puffed and bloodshot, as if he had worked late into the night. But a smile teased his lips as he raised both hands in surrender. “Very well. You have found me. Begin.”
“You did not come to bed last night. Where were you? Here? Counting your silver?”
“Counting our supporters who arrive by the hour. When I was done greeting them, it was late and I did not want to disturb your slumber.” He tipped his head, his eyes full of molten desire as they rushed over her linen shift and hastily tied gown. “I assume you missed my company.”
She lifted her nose. Of course she had pined for him. “You flatter yourself.”
“Shouldn’t I?” When she scolded him with a sideways glance, he pushed his ledger away. Then his gaze skimmed the bare skin of the tops of her breasts. “What else?”
She wanted him to elaborate on what she had heard him discuss with his two young retainers last night. The more she knew of his plans, the better she could tell about their prospects for success. “How long do we stay here?”
“Until you are able to devour a pigeon pie by yourself.”
He would avoid her with humour? She could play that game while urging him to leave here. She held her head high. “Get me a plump one.”
He examined her head to toe, then, seemingly convinced, he smiled. “I’ll order the cook to prepare one for your supper.”
“I’ll have wine, too. And a horse.”
His eyebrows shot high. “You intend to eat a horse, do you?”
“First, I will gallop with him.” I must determine my own ability to endure a long ride.
“I see,” he said with caution in his tone. “I will have a gelding saddled.”
“Good. Let me know when he is ready.”
“We will both ride out,” he told her, insistent. “Shall I say this afternoon?”
She grabbed up hands full of her skirts, her demeanour gay and light. “You may. I need to be out of here and doing! Make certain you give me a spirited creature and a man’s saddle.”
“You wish others to know that you dare ride astride?”
“If it proves my hardiness, so be it. After all, servants talk. We know not to whom.”
He looked askance. “You have witnessed this?”
“No. But you know such things occur.”
“And?”
“One maid gives me the evil eye, although she has done nothing to provoke me.”
“Dismiss her then to the kitchen.”
“I do not wish to insult the good graces of my Lord Marshall by impugning his servants.”
“But she irritates you. Why?”
Kat bit her lower lip, ashamed of herself for an unfounded jealousy. Had Geoffrey not come to her often and proven his devotion in myriad ways? “I was wrong to intimate. Forgive me.”
“Nonetheless, my Lord Marshall would not want you unhappy. He would wish the maid banned from your presence if she is a nuisance. He demands, as we all do, a loyal service.”
She grimaced.
* * * *
The next day when the two maids appeared once more to fill her tub anew with steaming water, Kat was ready to stare down the resentful one and smile at the other.
They both did their duty quickly and left as silently as they had come. But when Geoffrey did not appear soon after, Kat cursed and went in search of him.
She found him in a small room behind the great hall’s dais. He sat at a table where stood one large ledger and two short stacks of silver coins. That was more precious mint than she had seen anyone possess in many years. The thought comforted, even if his absence from her side did not. “Where have you been?” she accused him like a badgering wife. “I need to talk with you.”
Looking up from the ledger, he arched a long ginger eyebrow at her. His eyes were puffed and bloodshot, as if he had worked late into the night. But a smile teased his lips as he raised both hands in surrender. “Very well. You have found me. Begin.”
“You did not come to bed last night. Where were you? Here? Counting your silver?”
“Counting our supporters who arrive by the hour. When I was done greeting them, it was late and I did not want to disturb your slumber.” He tipped his head, his eyes full of molten desire as they rushed over her linen shift and hastily tied gown. “I assume you missed my company.”
She lifted her nose. Of course she had pined for him. “You flatter yourself.”
“Shouldn’t I?” When she scolded him with a sideways glance, he pushed his ledger away. Then his gaze skimmed the bare skin of the tops of her breasts. “What else?”
She wanted him to elaborate on what she had heard him discuss with his two young retainers last night. The more she knew of his plans, the better she could tell about their prospects for success. “How long do we stay here?”
“Until you are able to devour a pigeon pie by yourself.”
He would avoid her with humour? She could play that game while urging him to leave here. She held her head high. “Get me a plump one.”
He examined her head to toe, then, seemingly convinced, he smiled. “I’ll order the cook to prepare one for your supper.”
“I’ll have wine, too. And a horse.”
His eyebrows shot high. “You intend to eat a horse, do you?”
“First, I will gallop with him.” I must determine my own ability to endure a long ride.
“I see,” he said with caution in his tone. “I will have a gelding saddled.”
“Good. Let me know when he is ready.”
“We will both ride out,” he told her, insistent. “Shall I say this afternoon?”
She grabbed up hands full of her skirts, her demeanour gay and light. “You may. I need to be out of here and doing! Make certain you give me a spirited creature and a man’s saddle.”
“You wish others to know that you dare ride astride?”
“If it proves my hardiness, so be it. After all, servants talk. We know not to whom.”
He looked askance. “You have witnessed this?”
“No. But you know such things occur.”
“And?”
“One maid gives me the evil eye, although she has done nothing to provoke me.”
“Dismiss her then to the kitchen.”
“I do not wish to insult the good graces of my Lord Marshall by impugning his servants.”
“But she irritates you. Why?”
Kat bit her lower lip, ashamed of herself for an unfounded jealousy. Had Geoffrey not come to her often and proven his devotion in myriad ways? “I was wrong to intimate. Forgive me.”
“Nonetheless, my Lord Marshall would not want you unhappy. He would wish the maid banned from your presence if she is a nuisance. He demands, as we all do, a loyal service.”
She grimaced.