Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(32)

He wanted Evelina, but the part of him that was still in love with Rose wouldn’t let him feel the same way for Evelina. He leaned his head back against the wall and groaned. His body ached to have Evelina, but something was different than with past servants. He cared for her in a different way. She wasn’t like any of the girls he’d bedded before. Something about her was special. Thinking about making love with her almost seemed sacred in his mind. When she looked into his eyes, he felt as if she could see into his very soul. She seemed to know him better than he knew himself. It wasn’t just feelings of lust filling his emotions anymore. He cared about her as well.

However, she wasn’t honest, and that bothered him. She never answered his questions directly or made it clear why she was in England in the first place or where she’d lived in France. He couldn’t let down his guard and feel so strongly about a woman who was being deceitful. She might end up breaking his heart. He had to forget about Evelina. Nay, he had to forget about Rose. His head spun in confusion. The problem was he never wanted to forget either one of them, and that made him feel as if he were going mad.



Evelina removed her wet clothes and shoes and laid them on the floor in front of the fire, then slipped into the hot tub. Resting her head back against the side of the tub, she let out a satisfied sigh and closed her eyes. The water warmed her cold body. It felt comforting not to be in the tavern downstairs with a room full of smelly, drunken men.

Yes, she missed her life as a lady and decided it was time to make her identity known. She had a feeling Rose already knew she was a noble even though it was never mentioned. Evelina didn’t think Rose or Isobel would blame her for taking on an alias trying to escape a betrothal and find love on her own. After all, both of them seemed to have found love with their husbands. Why couldn’t it happen to her as well?

Even though she felt hurt that Claude hadn’t returned her kiss, in a way it was probably for the best. She didn’t want to deceive him anymore. It was time to tell him the truth. Evelina decided she would finish her bath and then tell Claude everything.

She hadn’t meant to fall asleep. But she was so tired that when she awoke, the water in the tub was already cold. Climbing out of the tub, she dried herself with the towel that the servants left on the pallet. Finding a small vial next to it on the bed, she popped it open and took a sniff.

“Rosewater,” she said with a smile, dabbing some behind her ears. The innkeeper must provide rosewater to the nobles who stayed there. She was about to see if her clothes were dry when she spotted the package on the bed.

Needing to look at the gown again, she decided to open the package. It was a beautiful gown, made for a lady. She had been wearing the clothes of a peasant for weeks now and longed to feel silk and velvet next to her skin once again.

With a quick glance back to the door, she checked to make sure no one was there. She would very quickly try on the gown to see if it fit. Hurriedly untying the twine, she opened the package and sighed when she laid eyes on the gown again.

Evelina decided to try on the undergarments as well. She quickly dressed, loving the feel of the clean, new clothes against her skin. The gown fit perfectly, making her feel pretty for the first time since she had left France.

Having no brush, she used her fingers to smooth and untangle her hair, quickly braiding it and throwing it over one shoulder. Now all she needed were the shoes Rose gave her, and she would feel like a lady once again. Happiness filled her being. She let out a squeal of delight.

The door banged open behind her. Evelina spun around to see Claude standing there with his sword in his hand, looking bewildered. His hair was mussed, and his eyes were half-closed. She figured he’d fallen asleep in the corridor.

“I heard you scream,” he said with intensity to his words. His eyes made a quick sweep of the room. “Is everything all right? Did another thief enter the room?”

“I didn’t scream. I squealed,” she told him. His eyes settled on her, and he perused her from head to foot.

“What are you wearing?” he asked.

“It’s the gown I bought. Do you like it?”

He took a moment to study her and then shook his head. “Take off Lady Rose’s clothes, anon.”

“It is not Lady Rose’s gown,” she explained. “It is mine.”

“Yours? I don’t understand.”

“Come in and close the door, Claude.”

“Sir Claude,” he corrected her, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

“You see, Sir Claude,” she started, stressing the word Sir. “Lady Rose gave me money to buy a gown for myself.”

“You shouldn’t be wearing that, Evie.” He slid his sword back into the scabbard.

“What did you call me?” she asked, surprised by what she heard.

He cleared his throat and ran a hand over the back of his neck, looking down to the floor. “Evelina. That’s what I said. Evelina.”

“No, it wasn’t,” she said with a smile. “You called me Evie.”

“Mayhap I did, but I was half-asleep. It won’t happen again.”

“Nay, I like it,” she said, walking toward him slowly. “You can call me Evie if you want. Or better yet, you can call me . . . Lady Evelina.”





Chapter 12