Page 7 of The Scot’s Secret

Modest, aye, but much more than she’d expected. Lady Juliette had given her the invaluable gift of privacy.

“You can sit beside the arrow slit and see well beyond our borders.”

She walked toward where he stood and peered out of the small opening. Indeed, a most spectacular view lay beyond, though an even more impressive one stood next to her. He filled the room, which had become quite warm, and Clara backed away.

“Shall we return to the meal?”

She needed to separate from him. “I can find my way back, my lord.”

She placed the small sack of her belongings on the bed.

“Then I shall see you there. I don’t require personal assistance, except on the training yard. Despite your size, you’ll be treated the same as the others, so be sure to eat. You’ll need the energy.” He turned to leave. “Should you require anything, I am just above.”

He pointed to the high, wood-beamed ceiling as he walked back through the door, and Clara’s shoulders sank. Just above? She’d assumed his bedchamber was in the great hall. How could she possibly endure living so close to him?

You are his squire, Clara. What did you believe, that you’d never see the man?

“And Alfred,” he called back from the other side of the entrance. “Take a bath.”

3

A bath!

It should not have come as a surprising request. The well-placed smudges had saved her from being discovered, but they did not fit with her newly escalated status. Had she come as a lowly squire of no rank, her filth might have been accepted, even expected, but Lady Juliette’s story indicated that she was a visiting knight, not a typical servant. She could even request a maidservant of her own, which, of course, she would not do. Clara could not possibly have someone attend to her; it was too dangerous. Which meant she’d need to find bed coverings and something to clean the cobwebs from this clearly unused bedchamber.

A bath.

She imagined her handmaiden at Barrington, who had oft chided her for taking so many baths that a tub had been permanently positioned in her bedchamber. If only she could see Clara now. . .

Of course, she would need to keep the dirt, however it antagonized her new master. “Master Alfred,” a small voice called from behind the door.

It would seem her wish to remain without a maid was not to be granted.

“I am Ansley,” the young girl said. No more than ten and two, she was well-kept and neatly presented. “My lady asked that I see to your needs.”

From lady to servant to squire. Clara sighed.

She could do this.

“I’ve none, Ansley, save bed coverings and a clean chamber,” she said. “And a basin of water, if you please.”

She could not ask for a bath to be brought unless she wanted the servants to speak about her, which she did not. Filling a tub was no small matter, and until she learned how Alex cleaned himself, she’d not presume to request such a thing. And though they’d crossed a river not far from the castle before arriving, Clara was not yet prepared to follow it into the forest. She must first ensure it was, indeed, private.

With a small bow, Ansley left her. A short time later, she returned, and the two of them set to putting the chamber in order. It was only when she received a strange glance from the maid that Clara remember her newly altered status.

God’s blood, this was going to be difficult.

“So this is where the new squire sleeps.” Lady Juliette’s voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

When her patroness entered the room, Ansley bowed deeply. “That will be all. Thank you, Ansley.”

The servant startled, likely for being thanked for doing her duty. Or mayhap she was merely surprised that Lady Juliette, who had only just arrived to Brockburg, knew her name. Clara was not. Had circumstances been different, the new lady of the house was exactly the kind of woman whom she would have befriended.

Placing a small wooden tray on the bed, she closed the door behind her. Lady Juliette sat in the solo wooden chair against the circular stone wall and gestured for Clara to sit on the newly made bed. She did so, folding her hands on her lap.

“You’ve not yet eaten.” Lady Juliette pointed to the tray, which was piled with bread and cheese. Clara eyed it hungrily, but she would wait for the lady to leave before partaking of the food.

“You only just arrived at your new home and have no need to care for me, my lady. Although I thank you for doing so.”