Page 85 of The Beautiful Pretender

“Especially since Gerhaws was the only witness to who actually killed my brother.”

“The king would not have accepted the word of a servant anyway.” Avelina continued cleaning her face and neck. “I was terrified Geitbart would seize you. Why do you think he did not? I don’t suppose he expected you to be putting out the fire.”

“No, and Geitbart would not risk his life by going anywhere near a fire.” Lord Thornbeck rubbed his sooty neck with the cloth. “And only a few of his guards were nearby, while my own guards were there helping to fight the fire. But he will hear that I was there.”

“Yes, he will be looking for you. You must escape the castle as quickly as you can.”

“May I have some more water?”

Avelina poured him another goblet. He took it and drank it. His stomach immediately growled.

“I’m famished too,” she said. “I’ll go down to the kitchen and get some food. You can take it with you as you leave.”

“Wait. It may not be safe for you to be seen.”

“Me? Why not? Do you think someone knows I warned you?”

“They may suspect it since you disappeared the same time I did.”

“I don’t think so. Frau Schwitzer was aware that I was spying last evening. She would have covered up my disappearance to Geitbart’s guards.”

He pointed behind her. “Why is your candle still burning?”

The candle was in a candlestick, but it was strange that it had not burned out yet. A piece of paper on the desk caught her eye. “Magdalen must have been here. She left me a note.”

“What does it say?”

“ ‘Avelina, my mother’s guards have come to escort me back to Mallin. I have no choice but to leave with them early in the morning. If you get this note, please come and say farewell to me.’ ”

Lord Thornbeck went to the window, opened the shutter, and looked out. “I should have just enough time to write a letter to the Duke of Pomerania to send with Lady Magdalen and her guards.”

He sat at the desk, then looked up at her. “You should lie down. Let me see your ankle.”

She opened the bed curtains. “But first I should go change my clothes. I think I have rat droppings on this dress.” She grabbed a clean cotehardie and went into the little servant’s closet and closed the door to undress, which she did quickly.

When she was done and came out, Lord Thornbeck was still sitting at the desk, writing.

She came across the room and he looked up at her. “You don’tlook at all like someone who spent the night hiding in a tiny storage room.”

“Thank you, my lord.” She curtsied. “And neither do you.” His jaw and chin were covered in dark stubble. Was this how he had looked when he was once a rough knight, fighting in battles and commanding other rough men? But he was too appealing to dwell on.

While he was focused on his letter, she pulled her skirts up just enough to be able to see her bandage. Blood had soaked through in a few places, but it was much less bloody than before. She quickly dropped her skirt to cover it before Lord Thornbeck could see.

He took a stick of rose-colored wax from his pocket and held it over the candle flame, then quickly rubbed the hot end of the wax onto the folded paper. He took off his ring and sealed the letter, pressing the seal into the blob of wax.

Avelina’s eyes were gritty and her whole body was heavy with exhaustion, but she could not think about that. “I shall go fetch Lady Magdalen so you can ask her to take your letter.”

“Stop.”

She halted halfway to the door.

“You should not be running around on that ankle. I’ll go get Lady Magdalen.” He started toward the door.

“No, you won’t.” Avelina practically leapt to throw her body in front of the door. “You cannot. If a guard sees you—” She stared up into his eyes. The way he was looking down at her made her heart flutter. “Please. I will go.”

He pulled her hand to his chest. She was suddenly flooded by the oh-so-recent memory of lying against his chest, his strong arms around her, the warmth of his breath in her ear as he whispered to her.

“You are already on your ankle, so go.”