A maid emerged from the kitchens.Eve flagged her down to take her order.
“An ale, please.”
Before she could receive her cup, the door opened to admit a new visitor.
The man immediately scanned the room.In the dark, his eyes skipped over her.Then he frowned and turned to hang up his cloak.
Was he the one who’d been following her?
She drew in a sharp breath when she saw the insignia on his tabard.It was a red lion rampant on a gold field.The king’s crest.This man was a royal guard.
Was he here for her?
Several dire possibilities raced through Eve’s mind.
Her part in Carenza’s abduction had been revealed.
Someone had discovered the silver she’d given to the outlaws was counterfeit.
She’d been accused of murdering the bairn who’d died in her arms.
The king had found out she possessed the stolen Rivenloch medallion.
Adam had reported her as a fugitive outlaw.
She shrank farther into the corner as the man settled himself at a bench beside the door, a spot where he could survey the whole room.
He looked fierce, just the sort of strong and ruthless bear of a man that a frail ruler like King Malcolm would use to enforce his commands.
“Here ye are, m’lady.”
Eve jumped, startled by the maid as she set a mazer of ale down on the table.
The action drew the man’s attention.When Eve swiftly lifted the cup to her lips, mostly to hide her face, his gaze followed her movements.
With two fingers, he summoned the maid.He motioned her close and murmured something in her ear.Eve was certain he was inquiring about her.The maid glanced her way and shook her head.
He stopped looking in her direction then.But Eve knew better than to assume he was no longer interested in her.He simply knew he no longer needed to keep his eye on her.She couldn’t go anywhere without him noticing.So he could dally over the ale.
What he’d asked the maid, she didn’t know.But she could almost always rely upon the sisterhood of women when she needed a quick escape.
She summoned the maid again and rose on shaky legs, feigning illness.
“Miss,” she gasped, “I fear I’m goin’ to be sick.Do ye have a chamberpot in the kitchens?”
“Och!Come with me then, m’lady.”
Eve didn’t look at him, but she felt the man at the door stiffen as the maid led her from the common room.
Once she passed into the kitchens, Eve turned to the maid with an urgent plea.
“Miss, that man at the door, the one in the king’s colors?”She grasped the maid’s sleeve.“He’s been followin’ me.I fear he’s after my virtue.Prithee let me out the back door.”
The maid’s mouth went round.She blinked in surprise.In that moment, Eve knew they’d found a womanly connection.The maid would usher her out the kitchen door now to escape into the woods.
But then the maid turned her head and screeched, “She’s tryin’ to get away, sir!”
So much for the sisterhood of women.Left no choice and begging God’s forgiveness, Eve bit out a curse and gave the maid a hard shove backwards toward the common room.The lass collided with the king’s man.
