For a moment, I kept myself submerged and then soundlessly surfaced. While the tub wasn’t as enormous as the one Pitt used, I’d been given a good-sized one, and it covered me entirely while still allowing some room to move around.
In fact, Pitt had been more than generous, giving me one of the largest chambers among the guest rooms to live in rather than relegating me to the barracks where the majority of knights and squires bunked. Although the furnishings were simple, I had a large canopied bed, a writing table and chair, a wardrobe, and several other smaller pieces of furniture. The walls were whitewashed and without décor, but the simplicity suited me.
My squires slept among the rushes on the floor, ready to serve me at a moment’s notice, all good men who worked and fought hard.
The door closed softly. A soft tread told me someone was in the room. Someone light and lithe. Certainly not one of my squires. Most likely a young servant.
I started to lift my head to alert the servant to my presence. But I suddenly had the feeling the young servant was an intruder, sneaking through my room.
I held myself motionless and listened as the footsteps crossed in the direction of one of the chests where I stored my share of the treasures I took during the raids. The two I kept in my chamber were nearly full, which meant I was due for a trip home sometime in the near future so I could add to Maidstone’s coffers.
Bennet and Sabine were still living there, but Bennet had let me know on my last visit that he planned to travel at summer’s end to Sabine’s home and stay there with her grandmother during the winter months. In the most recent missive, I’d detected Bennet’s desire that I return to my place as Baron of Hampton so he and Sabine could move to her home permanently. But I hadn’t replied to Bennet. I didn’t want to tell him I wasn’t ready to live at Maidstone, that maybe I never would be. I hoped over time, he’d figure that out on his own.
I remained silent and still, breathing quietly and listening to the intruder reach one of the chests. The quiet rattle of the chain and lock told me the intruder was attempting to steal from me.
I poked my head up, but before I could see over the rim, I sank back into the water. The thief could try all he wanted to open the chests, but the keys were well hidden, secure. He wouldn’t find treasure here in my chambers, rather only disappointment.
Was it one of the guests? Or perhaps one of Pitt’s servants?
My squires had taken away my clothing, wet and sour with sweat. My clean garments for the evening were folded neatly on the floor with a towel next to my weapons. They’d polished my sword and dagger and had placed them on the floor within easy reach. I’d have to jump from the tub, grab my weapons, and attack all in one move, preferably before the intruder realized I was in the room.
Another clanking of the chain informed me the thief was still meddling with the lock. Was he attempting to pick it open? At a decisive click and the moan of the chest lid rising, I stiffened in surprise.
The thief was skilled.
My plan of attack suddenly required more caution than I’d anticipated.
Carefully, I lifted my head and peeked over the edge of the tub.
A woman with long red hair stood at the chest with her back facing me. However, I didn’t need to see her face to recognize her at once.
Olivia. Handling her would require a different tactic altogether.
Chapter
10
I grazed my fingers over the mounds of jewels and silver coins. The chest was filled to the brim with countless items—tasseled pillows, silk blankets, embroidered tapestries, parchment manuscripts, and even a number of paintings.
How had Sir Aldric gained such wealth? Was this his payment? His share of the profits from ransacking Lord Pitt’s enemies?
I dug my fingers through the jewels but stilled at the sight of a circular gold brooch studded with emeralds. My mother’s brooch, the one I’d knelt to retrieve from my jewelry chest before we’d been captured. In my haste to defend Cecil from Sir Aldric and his men, I’d neglected to hide the key again.
My stomach roiled at the foolishness of my mistake. But the bitter acid rapidly changed to anger. Although Aldric and his men had every right to take my jewelry as the spoils of war, my indignation swelled anyway.
At the slight whisper of a sound, I glanced toward the door. I didn’t know how long I had before anyone suspected I hadn’t gone to the great hall with the other women. And I didn’t know if Sir Aldric would be returning to his room before the feast.
Before entering his chambers, I’d waited a short distance away in a small alcove until I’d heard the men leave. I’d chanced a glance at their retreating forms and had waited several minutes to make sure everyone was gone before braving entry into Sir Aldric’s chambers.
After searching almost every other room in the castle during the past two weeks, I’d yet to look into his. I hadn’t investigated Lord Pitt’s private chambers either. And time was running out. The month was half over, and I hadn’t seen the Holy Chalice anywhere.
What if Father had been wrong about Lord Pitt having the sacred relic?
I returned my attention to the chest in front of me. I wouldn’t know if he’d been wrong until I completed my exploration, which meant taking advantage of the few minutes I had to scour Sir Aldric’s chambers.
I grabbed the brooch and shoved it through the layers of my skirt to my pocket when a voice from behind stopped me.
“My lady,” said a calm but calculated voice. “What a pleasant surprise.”
Sir Aldric?
My pulse startled, tripping and tumbling within my chest. When I’d peeked into his chambers, I’d been careful to scan the entirety before entering. Had he been hiding somewhere?
With heated resolve, I spun to face him. On the opposite side of his bed, he reclined in a large wooden tub. When I’d glanced at the tub before, I’d assumed it was empty.
However, from the way his wet hair was plastered to his face and neck along with the water droplets on his bare shoulders, I guessed he’d been there all along, likely submerged.
“I did not realize you were here, sir.” I said the first thing that came to mind.
“Clearly.” He reclined casually. His bronzed arms were stretched in relaxed fashion over the back of the tub revealing not only his bare shoulders but also the upper half of his chest.
His very bare chest.
I was paralyzed and could only stare at his glistening flesh, the sculpted muscles that rippled with restrained power. I’d never seen a man in a state of undress, not even in the least form. Though I should have been scandalized, I was more fascinated than afraid.
“I’m always relieved to discover I’m pleasant to look upon.” He combed his fingers through his wet hair, causing his bicep to bulge.
I swallowed hard, knowing I should look away, but unable to tear my gaze from him.
“Even though you’re enjoying the show, I cannot indulge you any longer.” He unfolded a nearby towel and started to rise.
I gasped and spun around so rapidly I tangled in my skirt, tripped, and fell against the open chest. Heat spilled into my face and mortification seeped into every pore. I wanted nothing more than to run from the room and hide in embarrassment.
But at the sloshing of water followed by the slap of feet against the floor, I gasped again, gripped the edge of the chest, and closed my eyes tightly. Although he was well behind me and I couldn’t see anything now, just the knowledge that he was clad only in a towel made me want to slink through the cracks into the floorboards.
As he padded away from the tub, I held myself motionless, hardly daring to breathe. The rub of wool against flesh told me he was drying himself. A second later, the rasp of linen over damp skin was the sign he was dressing himself.
I waited, praying he would hurry.
“So, my lady.” He finally broke the silence. The clank of metal indicated he was donning his weapon belt. “If you aren’t in my chamber to watch me finish my bath, then why are you here?”