Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(14)

“I should report your actions and your brash words to Lady Rose immediately.”

“Your threats don’t frighten me because I know you would never do it.”

“Why would you say that?” He scooted to the edge of the bed.

“Sir Claude, my only reason for coming here tonight was because I felt sorry for you.”

“Sorry for me?” Anger flashed in his eyes. “I don’t need your pity. And neither do I know what you mean.”

“I saw the pain in your eyes when everyone laughed at you in the great hall. I especially noticed your despair when Lady Rose laughed at you as well. It hurt you, didn’t it?”

“Who are you to ask me such a question?”

“You care what she thinks about you and are trying your hardest to leave a good impression.”

“I don’t need to impress anyone,” he scoffed.

“You don’t. Yet it means everything to you that Lady Rose sees you in a light that matches that of her husband. Doesn’t it?”

“Stop it!” he commanded.

“You wouldn’t want her to know I was in your solar while you were naked because she might think you are a cur instead of the honorable knight you want her to believe you are.”

“I am an honorable knight and not you or anyone else can say differently.”

“Really?” It was her turn to raise a brow. “Suppose I go to Lady Rose right now and tell her that I came to apologize to you and you tried to kiss me, seduce me, and take me to your bed?”

“You wouldn’t!”

“You wouldn’t like that, would you? Because if so, you would never get Lady Rose to love you the way she loves her husband, Toft.”

“Bid the devil, I will whip you if you say one more word.” He stood up so quickly that his towel slipped from his hips, falling to the floor and leaving him standing in front of her, naked.

At the same moment, the door opened behind her, and his squire entered the room.

“My lord I have brought wine and – oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in the midst of bedding a woman.”

Evelina turned on her heel and ran from the room.



Claude picked up the towel and wrapped it back around his waist. He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. What had just happened? And what had the nursemaid meant about him wanting Rose to love him the way she loved her husband? She didn’t know what she was talking about. Or did she?

“Come in and close the door, Squire,” he spoke into his hands. Ever since he’d arrived in England, things hadn’t been going well at all. Why did every day have to be harder than the one before?

“What was Evelina doing in here?” asked Felix, closing the door.

“That’s what I want to know,” he replied. “She said she came to apologize, but all she did was say horrible things about me instead.”

“Oh,” said Felix, pouring a cup of wine and handing it to Claude. Claude took it and chugged it down, trying to use the alcohol to numb his mental turmoil. “Did she call you unlikable again, my lord?”

Claude didn’t know how to answer. Evelina was right in saying he couldn’t go to Lady Rose and tell her about this. After all, his squire had seen him standing there naked with the girl in the room. Who the hell knew who else saw it as they passed by in the corridor. It wouldn’t paint him in a good light at all.

“Do you think I’m unlikable, Felix?” He held out his cup for more wine.

“Well, on occasion you do come across as, shall I say, grumpy?” Felix filled up the cup with wine and put the decanter on the bedside table.

“I’m not unlikable, and neither am I grumpy.” He felt the frown on his face as he said it. “God’s eyes, who am I fooling? The girl was right. I am unlikable. But she was wrong when she said I wasn’t an honorable knight.”

“She said that about you, my lord?”

“She did.”

“Are you going to tell Lady Rose her servant is speaking out of line?”

“I’m not.”

“You’re not?” Felix scratched his head.

“Nay. Instead, I am going to prove to her, as well as to everyone else, that I am an honorable knight, and I am not a wretched cur nor am I a pig.”

“Cur? Pig? Did Evelina say that about you, too?” Felix’s eyes opened wide.

“It doesn’t matter what she said because it is not true. She is only a servant and knows nothing at all.”

“What are you going to do to prove it to her, my lord?”

“I am going to show her that I know how to treat a lady.”

“Oh. Are you going to kiss her?”

“I am talking about a lady, Squire. Evelina is not a lady. She is naught but a servant who needs a good scolding if naught else. But I won’t be the one to give it to her. I am here for Lady Rose at her request. From now on, I am going to be the most likable person in the castle. Lady Rose won’t laugh at me ever again. When she has her baby, I will be at her side. I will be there to walk her to chapel every day and to escort her to the dais for every meal. I will treat her with kindness and respect, and show her the ways of courtly love, like the knights practice in France.”

“Lady Rose? I’m confused. I thought we were talking about the nursemaid, Evelina.”