Page 9 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“I see what you mean.” His gaze darted back to Lady Martine sprawled out atop the pallet, looking like a bedraggled, dirty, but beautiful angel. “Yes, the noblewomen should stay here tonight along with you and Cecelia and Matilda. I will tell Uncle Joe and Dirk that we’ll sleep in the tavern tonight by the fire.”

“Nay,” said his mother, shaking her head. “I and your sisters cannot stay in the same room as nobles. It’s not proper. We are only commoners.”

“Yes, you can.” Lady Josefina hurried over to them. “You have done wonders and saved both Lady Sage and her baby. We want you to stay here with us tonight. Please. You and your daughters as well are welcome.”

“Yes, I agree,” Sage chimed in from the bed, smiling and rocking her baby in her arms as the infant started crying. “We would have it no other way. I want to thank each and every one of you because without your help there is a good chance that I and my baby would no longer be here.”

“Oh, but Lady Martine is the one you should be thanking,” said Greta. “She was so helpful and brave. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

“Did I hear someone mention my name?” Martine pushed up on the bed, looking drained of energy and very sleepy. Her bodice hung open, exposing too much skin. As much as David liked what he saw, he forced himself to look away as was proper.

“I’ll make certain no men enter here tonight,” he told the women.

“Thank you,” said Lady Sage.

“What about Lord Gar?” asked David. “Do I need to kick out paying customers to give him a room upstairs?”

“My husband would pay double I’m sure, but I don’t want you to have to ask anyone to leave,” said Josefina. “I will talk to him, but I assure you my husband will be fine staying the night in the tavern.”

“But he is a noble. By rights, he should have a room upstairs,” said David, not wanting to anger a noble, even though he wasn’t anxious to kick out the commoners who had already paid for the room for the night.

“I’ll speak to him so you don’t have to worry,” Josefina told him with a smile.

“I need to finish cleaning up and see to the baby now,” said Greta. “How are things out in the tavern, David? Are there any problems?”

David opened his mouth, meaning to tell them how the patrons thought Martine was a noble whore, but decided not to say anything after all. It wouldn’t be right. Plus, Lady Martine had gone through so much tonight that she didn’t need to hear such idle gossip.

“There are no problems that I can’t handle,” he said, flashing a quick smile. “I’ll tell Cecelia and Matilda to bring the noble ladies some food and drink. Let me know if there is anything needed for the baby.” David turned to leave, stopping with his hand on the door when he heard the angel’s sweet voice from the bed.

“Thank you, David. I remember fainting out there and I am guessing it was you who caught me and brought me in here, lying me so protectively on the bed.”

“Well, yes,” he said, clearing his throat, feeling like he had done it out of need since she fainted in his arms. Still, if she wanted to think of him as a protector, then so be it.

“That was so kind of you.”

David peeked back over his shoulder, not wanting to turn around completely because the smooth skin of the tops of her breasts and that sultry smile and her hooded eyes only made him feel lusty. He had no right feeling this way. He was only an innkeeper and she was a lady from the castle.

“Of course, Lady Martine,” he said, looking at the door when he spoke. “I am happy to assist in any way possible.” He was about to leave and thought he’d say one more thing since she was in such a grateful mood. “Please mention this to your uncle, Lord Corbett Blake, as well.” Lord Corbett had been generous these past few months but David had been warned. If he couldn’t pay up all the rent he owed, Lord Corbett would be taking drastic measures the next time.

With that, David left the room and closed the door behind him.