Be wary,a quiet voice inside her whispered.Charles made you happy as well.
“Of course, Randall. My thanks.” The man bowed again and turned to go, but Simone realized her predicament and stepped forward. “Er…Randall?”
He halted, and although his face was a mask of respectful patience, Simone could sense an urgency to be away.
“Yea, my lady?”
“I fear I do not know the location of the accounts chamber.” She felt a blush creep over her cheeks. “Would you be so kind?”
Simone thought she saw the flicker of a grimace touch the man’s face, but then he inclined his head graciously. “’Twould be my honor, my lady.”
“A moment, I pray.” Simone flashed him a smile and then crossed to the small dressing table. She picked up her polished reflecting disc, smoothed her hair, pinched her cheeks. Replacing the mirror, she began a thorough inspection of her kirtle for lint, shaking out the wrinkles, checking for the hem of her underdress.
“Sister,” Didier called to her.
She glanced out the corner of her eye, raising one eyebrow as if to say, “What?”
“Good Sir Randall seems to be in a bit of a rush.”
Simone turned and caught the guard rolling his eyes heavenward. “Am I keeping you from some other business, Randall?”
The soldier started. “Oh, nay, my lady. ’Tis no matter,” he said, shuffling his feet. He hitched the small chest higher under his arm and glanced at it.
“You must tell me,” she urged, stepping toward him. “You are very kind to assist me, and I’d not delay any important task the lord has set you to.”
“’Tis of little import, really.” Randall cleared his throat. “I am to ready some of the men for duty and then dispose of this chest before reporting back to the lord. Er, within the hour.” He winced. “I was unaware that you did not know the way. But ’tis no matter,” he hurried to add once more.
“And I am delaying you.” Simone smiled and reached both hands for the chest. “Allow me to assist you.”
Randall jerked the vessel out of her reach, his face pained. “My lady, Lord Nicholas would have me thrown in the dungeon should I allow you to perform a duty he set me to.”
Simone frowned, her fists on her hips. “Don’t be ridiculous, Randall. You have graciously agreed to aid me, at the lord’srequest,I might add. ’Tis no fault of your own that you are pressed for time. I am fully capable of disposing of…of”—she flapped a hand at the chest—“that.And Lord Nicholas need not know about it, if you so wish.” She smiled then. “Consider it repayment for your kindness.”
Didier’s voice rang out from behind her. “This is a bad idee-aaa.”
Simone ignored her brother and instead hopefully watched the clearly uncomfortable Randall.
“I don’t know, my lady,” he said, wincing.
Didier tsk-ed. “Don’t do it, Randall.”
Simone sent the soldier what she hoped was her most persuasive smile. “I’ll take care of the chest, and you can be about your other duties without delay. I’m certain you are very busy with the lord’s return, being his first man.”
Randall’s chest puffed slightly. “Iama bit harried of late.” He glanced at the chest held to his side, as if debating. Then Randall gave a short sigh. “Alright, then.”
Simone clapped her hands together and beamed even as Didier groaned behind her.
“But you must destroy it completely in fire, my lady,” the soldier warned, handing her the intricately decorated leather box. “There cannot be one splinter remaining.”
“Of course,” Simone promised, taking the chest. Its weight was surprisingly light for its sturdy appearance, and she wondered at its contents, hidden behind the small dangling lock.
As if Randall had read her thoughts, he pressed a tiny key into her palm. “This as well,” he instructed. He paused, winced. “And you won’t open it?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Simone assured him, and now that she had sworn it, she wouldn’t.
Simone turned to face the room, her eyes ignoring Didier’s disapproving frown and searching for a suitable place to hide the chest until her return. Moving to her dressing screen, she tucked the chest and key under yesterday’s discarded clothing. Satisfied with the effect, she returned to Randall’s side.
“There you are,” she said. “And you need not think upon it again.”
