Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(7)

“Hello, Toft,” said Claude, reaching out and clasping hands with Rose’s husband.

“My, you have grown up since the last time I saw you, Claude. I’m surprised to see you here,” Toft replied. “After all, you left so suddenly after Rose and I married that I didn’t even get to say farewell.”

“It’s been six years since Claude went back to France,” said Rose. “But he is here now and is going to watch over me until your return, so you needn’t worry. I will be in good hands.”

“You are going to do that?” Toft seemed pleased.

Evelina glanced up to see Claude and Rose’s eyes interlock. Rose was smiling, but Claude wasn’t. The man held discomfort in his gaze. She could tell he was uptight by the rigidness of his stance.

“Well, I am not sure how long I’ll be able to stay,” Claude muttered, fidgeting as he answered.

“Rose is due to have our baby any day now.” Toft pulled Rose closer, giving his wife a squeeze. “You won’t have long to wait. I assure you of that.”

Evelina witnessed the uneasiness in Claude’s eyes before he looked down to his arm, pretending to brush away lint. The happy couple didn’t even seem to notice that Claude felt uncomfortable. Evelina wondered if it had something to do with the fact Claude once wanted to marry Rose. Perhaps, he still had feelings for her after all this time.

“Claude, you will be here for me until Toft returns, won’t you?” Rose asked with hope in her voice.

“My service to the king is for a fortnight. I will return as soon as I can,” Toft informed him. “I would feel at ease knowing Rose has a man she can trust at her side. I don’t want her to feel afraid . . . after losing the last two babies and all.”



Claude was at a loss for words. How could he not stay when Rose wanted him there? Even though Rose had already explained things, now that Toft had also pointed out she’d lost two babies, he realized she was frightened and rightly so. Guilt ate away at him for not even expressing his sorrow for their loss.

“Of course, I’d be happy to stay at Rose’s side until your return,” agreed Claude. “I also want to offer my condolences on the hardships you two have experienced in the past years. I am sorry, but I didn’t know about the loss of your babies until today.”

“You didn’t know?” asked Toft. His brows dipped in confusion.

“Didn’t your mother tell you?” asked Rose. “After all, she visits you in France several times a year.”

“Nay, she didn’t mention it.” Claude felt like a heel and cursed himself inwardly for burying his head in the sand. He had to explain things, or his mother would look like the fool. “I asked her not to tell me any bad news, so it isn’t her fault. I was going through . . . some rough times. I am sorry.”

Rose reached out and touched Claude lightly on the shoulder. His body stiffened and he held his breath, not wanting to feel the warmth of her hand on him. It was just too much to bear.

“I understand, Claude,” said Rose. “It’s all right.”

There was an awkward silence between them. Claude felt the heat rising to his face. He had to say something and didn’t want to talk about Rose, her baby or Toft anymore. It was just too hard to take. He turned and looked at the nursemaid instead. She stood there so quietly that he had almost forgotten she was there. Her face was turned to the ground.

“I’m sorry, Nursemaid, but what was your name again?” he asked, knowing it was Evelina, but wanting the girl to speak so he would have someone else to talk to.

The girl’s eyes snapped up in surprise, and he got his first look at her face. A round face with big, hazel eyes stared up at him almost as if in fear. She was a petite girl, with a small frame. Her oaken hair was braided and coiled around each ear and covered partially by a wimple. It reminded him of the way the nobles wore their hair. Her skin was fair and smooth. She seemed to be a few years younger than his age of twenty-three.

“Moi?” she asked in surprise, then corrected herself quickly. “Me?” Her eyes shot back to the ground.

“Her name is Evelina,” Rose told him.

“Evelina,” he repeated, thinking it was the prettiest name he’d ever heard. The prettiest name, that is, besides Rose. “Does she have a surname?” he asked.

“She does,” said Rose. “But perhaps you should ask her directly.”

Claude reached out and lifted the girl’s chin with two fingers. Her face turned upward, but her eyes would not meet his.

“Look at me,” he said, wanting to get another glimpse of her magnificent, large eyes.



Evelina had no choice but to look into Sir Claude’s eyes. If she didn’t, she would be disobeying orders to a noble. She wondered if this is how all servants felt. It wasn’t a good feeling at all.

“That’s better,” he said, studying her face, cocking his dark head to each side as he inspected her as if she were a side of beef. His eyes were bright blue like the sky while his hair was dark like a dense forest. “Comely for a servant.” His eyes traveled down her entire body and then back up to her face.

She wanted to bite off his head and had to keep from crying out. She wasn’t used to being treated this way.

“Tell me your surname, and from where you come.”