The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(74)

Lord Thornbeck went to the window, opened the shutter, and looked out. “I should have just enough time to write a letter to the Duke of Pomerania to send with Lady Magdalen and her guards.”

He sat at the desk, then looked up at her. “You should lie down. Let me see your ankle.”

She opened the bed curtains. “But first I should go change my clothes. I think I have rat droppings on this dress.” She grabbed a clean cotehardie and went into the little servant’s closet and closed the door to undress, which she did quickly.

When she was done and came out, Lord Thornbeck was still sitting at the desk, writing.

She came across the room and he looked up at her. “You don’t look at all like someone who spent the night hiding in a tiny storage room.”

“Thank you, my lord.” She curtsied. “And neither do you.” His jaw and chin were covered in dark stubble. Was this how he had looked when he was once a rough knight, fighting in battles and commanding other rough men? But he was too appealing to dwell on.

While he was focused on his letter, she pulled her skirts up just enough to be able to see her bandage. Blood had soaked through in a few places, but it was much less bloody than before. She quickly dropped her skirt to cover it before Lord Thornbeck could see.

He took a stick of rose-colored wax from his pocket and held it over the candle flame, then quickly rubbed the hot end of the wax onto the folded paper. He took off his ring and sealed the letter, pressing the seal into the blob of wax.

Avelina’s eyes were gritty and her whole body was heavy with exhaustion, but she could not think about that. “I shall go fetch Lady Magdalen so you can ask her to take your letter.”

“Stop.”

She halted halfway to the door.

“You should not be running around on that ankle. I’ll go get Lady Magdalen.” He started toward the door.

“No, you won’t.” Avelina practically leapt to throw her body in front of the door. “You cannot. If a guard sees you—” She stared up into his eyes. The way he was looking down at her made her heart flutter. “Please. I will go.”

He pulled her hand to his chest. She was suddenly flooded by the oh-so-recent memory of lying against his chest, his strong arms around her, the warmth of his breath in her ear as he whispered to her.

“You are already on your ankle, so go.”

But he was still holding tightly to her hand. His expression seemed sad. Finally, he let go. She turned and hurried out into the corridor.

Her heart was thumping in a late reaction to wishing she could stand on her tiptoes and kiss him on the lips.

But that would have been foolish indeed.

She knocked on Magdalen’s door. Hegatha opened it, but Magdalen ran up behind her. “Are you well?” She reached out to clasp Avelina’s hands. “I was so worried.”

“I am well. Can you come with me, only for a few minutes?”

She nodded and hurried out, and they went back to Avelina’s room. Thankfully the corridor was still empty and no one saw them.

Lord Thornbeck, still standing where she had left him, held out the sealed missive. “Lady Magdalen, I need you to take this letter and have it delivered to the Duke of Pomerania. Would you be willing?”

“Of course. I can get one of the guards to break away and it will only add an extra day to his trip back to Mallin.”

“I would be greatly in your debt, Lady Magdalen.”

“It would be my honor to help you in such a way, Lord Thornbeck.” She took the letter from him. “And I understand that secrecy is of the utmost importance. No one shall know I saw you today or that I have this letter.”

“I appreciate that.” He gave her a small bow.

Magdalen suddenly turned to Avelina. “Can you come back to my room for a few moments?”

Avelina followed her back. Magdalen took Avelina aside and whispered, “What happened? Where were you all night?”

Avelina told her about going down to the kitchen and having Frau Schwitzer and Cook send her to work with Gerhaws. She told her of Gerhaws’s confession.

Magdalen gasped. “I can hardly believe she admitted what she did, and to you, a stranger.”

“She was so drunk with wine, or whatever it was she was drinking, I doubt she even remembered telling me.”

“Then what happened?”

“I overheard Geitbart telling his guards to capture Lord Thornbeck and to kill him if he resisted. So I ran to the library ahead of the guards to warn him. Lord Thornbeck and I hid in a secret room in the library. We were there all night waiting for the guard to leave.”

“Did anything happen?” Magdalen whispered.

“No. He cannot marry me, Magdalen.” Tears stung her eyes. “Perhaps he wishes he could, but . . . it’s impossible. And anyway, Geitbart is trying to kill him, or at least capture him.”

Magdalen looked very grave. “Please be careful. I am so sorry I have to leave you.” She put her arms around her.

“It is better that you go. You will be helping Lord Thornbeck by delivering his missive. You should get back home where you’ll be safe.”

Magdalen said some more about Avelina staying safe and that she would do whatever she could to help. They embraced each other one last time.

Avelina turned and went back to her own bedchamber, a hollow place in her heart as Magdalen closed the door behind her. She pressed her hands over her chest and tears stung her eyes. She might never see her friend again.