The Heir by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marion Press
Published: 2018-10-26T16:36:48+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

When Leofred entered his room hours after first leaving for dinner, he found the maid waiting for him. This time, she laid his bed, a smile of invitation stretched across her face.

He faltered in the doorway, shock gripping him at her blatant invitation. In his experience, rejected maids often sought succor with other guests. He’d never known one to return and act with such boldness. He did not have time to deal with a wench’s injured feelings. Soon, the castle would go quiet for the night, and he must reunite with his men to open the castle gates. Jarin would approach at midnight with their entire host, depending upon them in order to gain entry.

Recovering quickly, he slammed the door behind him and strode into the room, prepared to eject her so he could don his armor and ready his weapons. Before he could speak, she left the bed and flew across the room toward him, her eyes wide.

“Shhh,” she whispered, pressing a finger to his lips. “Please, you cannot send me away yet. He is watching.”

He raised his eyebrows and glanced down at her, noticing the fear in her eyes for the first time. She shivered, though not from the cold. Even though she wore just a thin scrap of silk tied above her bust, the hearth and several braziers permeated the room with warmth. It was terror that caused her to tremble.

Nodding his understanding, he put his arms around her and lowered his head as if to kiss her. He paused before making contact, his face a few bare inches from hers.

“Who is watching?” he whispered. “Why?”

Following his lead, she wrapped her arms around him and stood on tiptoe, burying her face in his neck.

“Behind you, there is a mirror,” she murmured.

“Aye,” he replied. “I see it.”

“It has two sides ... he can see us through his side, but we cannot see him. This is the room he places people in when he wants to watch.”

“He ... Lord Waleran?”

She nodded. “He is testing your loyalty.”

He did not need to ask why. The man wished to put his indifference concerning Emery to the test.

“Go back to the bed,” he said, raising his voice. “I will join you there in a moment.”

Nodding, she backed away, heading toward the large bed she had awaited him in. Leofred took his time disrobing, removing everything save his breeches, before joining the wench. Turning to his side, he shielded her body from the mirror with his. All Lord Waleran would be able to detect was his broad, naked back. He pulled the coverlet over them for good measure, leaving their exact actions a mystery. Yet, what else could Lord Waleran mistake them for?

“I am not going to dishonor my marriage vows,” he murmured. “Instead, I am going to lay here while you tell me the state of Asnor. Do the people here wish to betray their high lord by breaking the peace agreement? How loyal are they to their lord?”

“Lord Waleran rules through fear here,” she said, draping one arm over his shoulders and clutching his back.

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