Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(30)

Claude decided he couldn’t take them out in the storm. He didn’t want Evelina to get sick and die. Nay, he didn’t want anything to happen to her because he cared about her. He was traveling with her, and it was his responsibility as a knight to protect her even if she was only a handmaid.

“Nay, you don’t have any rooms available,” Claude told him, handing Bertram a fistful of coins.

“My lord?” asked Bertram in confusion.

“I’ll take the room for the night as well as a hot bath. Can I pay to stable my horses in the barn tonight as well?”

“You are welcome to the room as well as the barn for your horses, my lord. There is no charge since you are a noble.”

“I might be a noble, but my friends aren’t so I want you to take the money.”

“Yes, my lord,” said the man, greedily scooping up the coins and shoving them into his pocket. “Josephine,” he called to his wife. “Have a bath sent upstairs for Lord Claude.”

“It’s not for me,” he told the man, looking back at Evelina. “It’s for the lady.”

“The lady? You mean the handmaid?” asked the man. “My lord, where will you spend the night?”

“I’ll sleep on the bench by the fire along with my squire,” he told him.

“Pardon me for saying that I don’t understand why you’d give up your room and bath for a mere maidservant, my lord.”

“Nay, I don’t suppose you’d understand. I can’t say that I entirely understand either. All I know is that I am not going to let her shiver in wet clothes, being subjected to a bunch of drunken men all night. Now, do as I ask and do not question my actions again.”

“Aye, my lord. At once.”

Another crash of thunder shook the building, and Claude felt a knot forming in his stomach. This was going to be a very long night.





Chapter 11





After two cups of warm, spiced mead and a bowl of hot pottage, Evelina finally stopped shivering. Her clothes were still wet as well as her hair, but they had no chance of drying now that the inn was crowded with travelers all gathered around the fire.

Felix came in from outside, barely able to close the door since the winds were so strong. Tree branches and leaves flew through the air. Out the window, she saw the waves hitting the cliff and splashing up so high they were almost touching the inn.

Felix wove his way between the soldiers, peasants, and merchants that filled the inn. Finally, he made it over to where Evelina and Claude were sitting.

“My l-lord, the h-horses are s-secure in the b-barn for the night,” he said, shivering worse than before Claude had sent him out in the storm.

“Good job, Squire.” Claude pushed a bowl of pottage across the table. “Now have some food and warm up.”

“T-thank you, my l-lord,” he said, taking the bowl in two hands and gobbling down the food.

“I’ll get you some spiced mead as soon as I can get the server’s attention.” Claude raised his hand in the air, but the place was so crowded that no one even saw him.

“Here, take the rest of my mead,” said Evelina, handing Felix her cup.

“T-thank you,” said Felix, drinking it down quickly. “The s-storm is bad out there, my lord. I d-don’t think we should go anywhere yet.”

“I agree,” said Claude.

A fat, smelly man squeezed onto the bench next to Evelina, looking over and smiling at her, almost making her gag from the smell of his breath.

“My lord,” said Josephine, making her way through the crowd. “Your bath and room are ready. It is room number one up the stairs and at the end of the hall.”

“Thank you,” said Claude, handing the woman a coin.

“I put your package as well as the soul cakes in the room,” the innkeeper’s wife explained. “With the crowd in here tonight, I didn’t feel they would still be here come morning.”

“Good idea,” he told her. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint Lady Rose.”

Evelina was becoming quite disgusted hearing Claude talk about Lady Rose all the time. She also thought it was rude of him to secure a bath and room for himself while she and Felix were cold, wet, hungry and tired.

As soon as Josephine left, Claude stood up. “Come,” he said.

“Where are we g-going?” asked Felix, looking up from his mead.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Squire. I was talking to Evelina.”

“Me?” She stood, only because she felt the fat man’s hand wandering over to her leg and she was in a hurry to get away from him.

“I’ve had the innkeeper prepare a hot bath for you. You’ll sleep in the room on the pallet tonight.”

“What about m-me?” asked Felix.

“You’ll stay here by the fire with me.”

“It’s c-crowded in here. C-can’t we all share the room?”

“Nay. It wouldn’t be proper. The room is only for Evelina.”

“I d-don’t think she’d m-mind,” said Felix. “Would you, Evelina?”

“If you don’t like the arrangements, you are welcome to stay in the barn tonight with the horses,” Claude announced.

“N-nay, my lord. T-this is fine.” Felix buried his nose in the cup of mead.