The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(36)

I am only a servant, nothing more. Not a lady. Not the daughter of an earl. Only a servant. But she could make the margrave fall in love with her if she wished. She could. She felt it in the way he looked at her and spoke to her. And what was just as bad was, she could fall in love with him too.





14



“CHOOSING A WIFE this way is humiliating.”

What was supposed to be a calm evening of playing games turned into six ladies all vying for his attention and nearly coming to blows. Four of the ladies had gone off and played games between themselves, including Lady Dorothea and Lady Magdalen, but the six who were left crowded around him, asking to be the next to play with him and commenting on every move he and his opponent made. Lady Fronicka was the most vocal.

Reinhart rapped his cane on the floor. “I should much rather be doing something more productive, like ridding the forest of wolves.”

Odette was quick to say, “There is nothing humiliating about choosing a bride by getting to know her first.”

“It will all be well in nine days, after you make your choice.” Jorgen sent him a hopeful expression.

“I think I must inform you, my lord,” Odette said, “that someone placed something very disgusting in Lady Dorothea’s bed last evening.”

Reinhart stared at her.

“Horse manure.”

His chest tightened. “How did such a thing get past the servants and guard?” He gripped his cane and gave in to the urge to bang it on the floor again. “This should never . . .” Steam seemed to rise into his forehead.

“No one will tell who did it.” Jorgen frowned.

He clenched his teeth. When he could trust himself to speak, he said, “Have a guard assigned to watch Lady Dorothea and Lady Magdalen’s corridor. No one is to go in or out of any of the ladies’ bedchamber doors besides their maidservants.”

“Yes, my lord,” Jorgen said. “I shall see to it.”

“And ask Lady Dorothea if she would like a different bedchamber.”

“Yes, my lord.” Odette and Jorgen were looking to him.

“And set up the hunt for this afternoon. Have the huntsmen make sure the dogs are ready, and the stable workers should have the horses saddled. Notify all the guests and get a count of how many intend to go. That is all. You may go.”

How dare someone inflict cruelty on Lady Dorothea in Reinhart’s own castle. If he found out who was responsible, he would expel them immediately.



The next day was Sunday, and Avelina and Magdalen walked to the chapel together.

Lord Thornbeck was already there, kneeling near the front of the nave, which quickly grew crowded with the guests, all the servants of the guests, and Thornbeck Castle’s servants and workers. Even many of the margrave’s guards were there, kneeling before the chancel, bowing reverently, or gazing up at the large crucifix over the altar.

The early morning sun was shining through the stained-glass windows in brilliant colors. A yellow bit of glass was lighting up Lord Thornbeck’s head like a halo. But Avelina bowed her head and closed her eyes to block out his image.

After silently reviewing her sins from the past week, Avelina prayed for her father, brother, and sister in Plimmwald, that she would get through the next eight days without having to lie, and that Lord Thornbeck would choose to marry Magdalen.

After Holy Eucharist and Communion, some hymns sung by a boys’ choir, and a brief homily from the priest on the importance of showing kindness as Jesus did, everyone filed out of the chapel and headed to the Great Hall, where they would all break their fast.

Lord Thornbeck’s voice came from just behind Avelina and Magdalen. “I hope you found an interesting way to spend your day yesterday during the hunt.”

“Yes, my lord,” Magdalen said. “We talked and read.”

“Talking and reading.” He nodded. “That can certainly be interesting.”

Avelina peeked over her shoulder to see if he was being sarcastic, and he was looking straight at her. Other people were all around them, but they seemed to mostly be having their own conversations.

“Yes, Lady Magdalen read your book and enjoyed it. Did you do well on your hunting trip?”

“We did not do as well as we’d hoped. There seems to be a shortage of deer just now.”

Someone coughed on the other side of Lord Thornbeck. Avelina turned her head and saw his chancellor, Jorgen, and Odette walking beside him. Odette wore a look of chagrin and Jorgen was trying to hide a smile behind his hand.

They walked together—Lord Thornbeck with Magdalen and Avelina—and talked until they reached the Great Hall. Lord Thornbeck indicated that they should sit beside him, but Avelina purposely placed Magdalen by the margrave’s side and she sat on the other side of Magdalen.

During the meal, Lord Thornbeck said to Magdalen, “I was sorry you did not join us for the hunt.”

Avelina’s heart fluttered. That certainly indicated interest in Magdalen.

“Please forgive me, but Odette said it would not be taken amiss if I did not go. I simply do not like the hunt.”

“There is nothing to forgive. You were not obligated to go. But if you do not mind me asking, why do you not like the hunt?”

Magdalen explained that she had cried on the first—and last—hunt she had ever gone on. “I did not want to ruin anyone else’s enjoyment of the hunt yesterday.”