Page 56 of Dark Rival
She wasn’t going to be able to leave him, she thought. And the moment she realized that, her heart began to dance and sing, rejoicing. Grudgingly she smiled. Man, she was getting in deep!
A knock sounded.
Allie was glad for the interruption. She knew Royce would not knock—it wouldn’t occur to him. She called out to enter, curious.
Ceit came in with a maid Allie hadn’t seen before, a pretty blonde. Ceit smiled at her. “I thought ye might be awake, finally. T’is hard to open yer eyes after a night with his lordship.” She held a trencher in her hand.
Allie stiffened. Some dread niggled as Ceit set the trencher down while the blonde, who was very young, blushed and giggled.
It had sounded as if Ceit knew all about Royce’s lovemaking. Allie told herself to breathe. Ceit was a nice woman, and not the type to catfight. She knew she hadn’t meant anything and she counted to ten. “Did Royce tell you to send that up?”
Ceit looked surprised. “He left hours ago, my lady. He be an early riser. He dinna say a word, really, this morning. He seemed to be considerin’ weighty matters. He dinna seem all that pleased, either.” Ceit gave her a curious look.
Allie felt her smile vanish as the blonde began to start the fire. She folded her arms. “Last night was great.”
Ceit went to the bed and started pulling off the covers.
Allie gave up. “So you have shared Royce’s bed, too?”
Ceit looked at her, eyes wide. “Not in two years.” She added hastily, “Only fer a short time, my lady.”
Allie reminded herself that Royce’s days as Don Juan were over. She knew he was in love with her—she felt a blazing connection between them, even out of bed. He had her in his life now, and that changed everything. Didn’t it?
She hated knowing that he was a medieval lord and pretty much had a castle filled with pretty women to hurry to his beck and call. But he had shown her how much he cared yesterday—and how much he loved her last night.
Knowing she should not ask, she couldn’t stop herself from speaking. “Did he make love to you all night long—as if the world were ending?”
Ceit’s eyes widened. “There be no love at all, my lady. He’s a man with strong needs. Ye dinna need look at me with such fear.”
Allie tried to smile. “What did he do? Tire of you? Find someone younger, prettier?”
Ceit was puzzled. “Of course he tired of me. I knew he would, for he tires of all the maids. Lady, what is this? Dinna be saddened! Ye should enjoy his attentions for the moment.”
“For the moment,” Allie echoed, uneasy now. “But he won’t tire of me.” Royce was falling for her. Why couldn’t Ceit see that?
Ceit glanced at her and quickly looked away.
But Allie had seen pity in her eyes. “I’m different—and you know it!”
“Ye be very different. But that look on yer face—I’ve seen it before—hundreds of times—in this very chamber.”
Allie felt ill. “Okay. He’s had a lot of lovers. And they all fall for him. Great.”
“T’is hard not to think ye love such a man after such a night,” Ceit said softly. “But, my lady, dinna be so foolish. All men tire of their mistresses. T’is the way of the world. Men like young, new sport. He’ll only break yer heart.”
“I am in love with him,” Allie said firmly. “I will love him until I die. And he loves me, too. I am here to stay.”
Ceit smiled kindly, but worry was reflected in her eyes. “So ye think to marry him?”
Allie didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I do, when the time is right.”
“Yer a foreigner, English be my guess?”
Allie hesitated. “Close enough.”
“Are you an heiress?”
Allie was confused. She was about to say yes when it occurred to her that in this world, she had not a dime. “No. I’m dirt poor.” It was weird saying it—and almost meaning it.
