Page 31 of Forbidden: Claude

Chapter 9

Claude hurried to the stables, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Evelina was keeping up with him. Bid the devil, why was Rose sending him on errands? That was what servants were for. Servants like the handmaid, but not nobles like him. He was supposed to be there to take care of Rose and protect her. He needed to be there for her when she birthed her baby. He didn’t like the idea of being so far away.

“Squire, do you have those horses saddled yet?” Claude stormed into the stables.

“My lord, we are working on it,” said Felix, saddling two horses with the stable boy helping him. “You just gave me the order not five minutes ago.”

“Well, we’ve got to move fast,” said Claude, reaching out and securing the straps on the saddle himself. “It will take a good part of the day to ride to Dover and back. I need to be here for Rose.”

“She is in good hands with Isobel and your mother,” Evelina told him.

“Rose is my concern,” he said, securing the travel bag to the horse. “I promised her father as well as Toft that I would protect her and watch over her until they returned.”

“Don’t you think you are going a little overboard with all this?” asked Evelina. “After all, Rose is a grown woman. She’s not the young girl you once knew.”

“If you are going to be riding to Dover with me, I must warn you now; I don’t like chatter.”

“She’s coming with us, my lord?” asked the squire. “Shall I saddle another horse, then?”

“There are no more available horses,” the stable boy told him.

“What about that one?” asked Evelina, pointing to the only one left in the stall.

“That one is being used to pull the wagon to town,” said the stable boy. “Lady Isobel told me to have it ready, so I need to hurry.” The stable boy ran over to take care of the horse and cart.

“I suppose I could stay here,” said the squire.

“Nay,” said Claude, not sure he wanted to travel alone with Evelina. “Your place is at my side, Squire.”

“But there are only two horses, my lord,” said Felix. “Did you want me to run alongside as you ride?”

Claude shook his head. “Nay. That will take too long. The handmaid will have to ride with you.”

“Evelina is going to ride with me?” Felix sounded much too excited at the suggestion. “I will hold you tight so you don’t fall off the horse, Evelina.” He leaned lazily on the stable door and smiled.

Claude didn’t like the idea of Evelina riding with Felix now. He thought back to the other day when Felix and Evelina sat on the back of the cart together talking and laughing. He wanted Evelina to laugh and be lighthearted around him. Nay, this would never do.

“Get on your horse and stop gawking.” He kicked the gate. When it swung, Felix fell to the ground. “The girl will ride with me.”

“My lord?” Felix jumped up and brushed off his clothing. “But I thought you just said she was riding with me.”

“I can see now that having her on your horse will only be a distraction. The way the two of you will be chattering away, it is sure to slow us down.” He mounted the horse and directed it out of the stall. Then, reaching down, he extended his hand to Evelina. “Let’s get a move on,” he said.

Evelina staredat Claude’s hand, not understanding at first what he wanted.

“Give me your hand.”

“Oh,” she said, tying the pouch of coins at her waist and reaching up, letting him help her mount. She plopped down across his lap in the sidesaddle position with both legs on the same side of the horse.

“Not like that,” he grumbled. “Spread your legs.”

“S-spread my legs?” she repeated, feeling that heat rising in her body again. Why had her mind wandered to wanting him to say that in bed?

“Ride like a man,” he told her.

“I don’t think I can.”

“Then let me help you.” He took hold of her gown and hiked it up to her knees.