A Knight in Central Park(64)

“Nay, my lord, I dare not mind.” The maid’s tittering laughter prickled Alexandra’s ears.

“Ah, that’s nice,” Sir Joe said as his body relaxed within the tub, his head bent back as if he’d forgotten Alexandra was there at all.

Alexandra turned to leave.

“Alexandra,” he called, the water sloshing from the quickness of his movements, “is that you?”

Sighing, she turned to him once more. His eyes narrowed, then widened as if he were having a difficult time focusing. And then suddenly a wide grin fell across his handsome features. “Why did you not tell me you were here?”

Alexandra plunked a hand to her hip. “What is wrong with you?”

“What could possibly be wrong when you are near?”

She watched Sir Joe grab a wine cup from a low stool. He guzzled its contents and then smiled at the quickness in which the maid went to refill his cup.

“This is the life,” he said to Alexandra.

When his cup was full again, he held it high. “Cheers to my good friend, Alexandra, the most beautiful woman in all of England. The bestest friend a guy could ever hope for. Hair of silk and lipsss of red wine.”

She started to leave, then turned back when he started up again.

“And eyes...those eyes...they are like...” Once again he squinted, leaning out of the tub as if he were even now trying to determine the color of Alexandra’s eyes.

Alexandra moved to the side of the wooden tub. “You, Sir Joe, are drunk!”

He reached upward and took hold of her hand, refusing to let go when she tried to pull away. “I don’t want to be your friend,” he said sullenly, a ridiculous pout on his face. “In fact, I was just telling Vicki that I didn’t want to be your friend at all. Isn’t that right?”

The maid smiled and nodded, enjoying the spectacle he was making of himself as she scooped soap from a tin and used it to scrub his hair.

“Ahhh, that feels good. To the left. Ahhh yes, I’m in heaven.”

Alexandra rolled her eyes heavenward. “Release me. I have no desire to stand here and watch you bathe whilst you make a fool of yourself.”

“Do you know why I don’t want to be your friend, Alexandra?”

“Nay. But if telling me will allow me to be set free, then please do so quickly so that I may get some rest.”

The corners of his mouth lifted into a lazy, seductive smile. “I don’t want to be your friend because as Vicki so grazzzeously pointed out...” He waved his arm in a grand gesture. “It is difficult to be friends and lovers. And, well, if I have to choose, I’ve decided I’d much rather be your lover.”

Alexandra shook her head at such foolishness.

His elbow came to rest precariously on the side of the tub, the wine drizzling from his cup. “What?”

“I suppose you have told all you have met about us?”

A brow shot up. “Wazzz it a secret?”

“We will talk when you are sober.”

“You agree then?” he asked, his elbow slipping into the tub with a splash.

She wiped droplets of water from her tunic. “Agree to what?”

“We will be lovers again?”

“Nay,” she said with less regret than she might have felt under different circumstances.

He set the empty cup on the floor and gestured with his chin for her to lean closer. “I have a secret.”

“And then you will release me?”

He nodded.

She leaned forward, holding the tub with her free hand so as not to fall in. His lips touched her ear, sending chills coursing up her arms, her body betraying her at every turn.

“You are very beautiful.” He touched a strand of her hair, played with it for a moment. “Even when you’re angry, you’re beautiful. I think the maid,” he said, gesturing behind him, “iz jealous.”

She snorted, tried to pull away.

“Very, very jealous of your never-ending beauty. Yes, it is you I dream of each and every night. I’ve missed you,” he added hastily.

Alexandra pulled back enough so as to look into his eyes.

“Shhhhhh,” he said, putting a finger to his mouth. “Do not tell anyone. It will be our secret.” His hands fell back into the warm water as if a terrible burden had been rested from his mind.

She was free to go.

Alexandra shook her head, but didn’t find herself smiling fully until the innkeeper entered with a pair of pliers in one hand and clean linen in the other, asking all to leave so she could collect her gold now that the opium had set in.