A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) (28 page)

Reality set in again, and her stomach turned. Slowly Chloe turned back to face Sir Edward and Lady Anne. She gave them a timid smile, and they both smiled at her in return. Their eyebrows raised slightly.

Before the air could be further filled with awkwardness, Chloe excused herself.

Chapter Sixteen

His plan had been simple. He was going to introduce her to Sir Edward and Lady Anne as Lady Chloe, and see her reaction. As expected, she had gone white with fright and then demurely changed her mood to that of a complacent lady. The poor woman had eaten little and spoken even less ever since.

Alexander flopped onto his bed and rested his head in the cradle of his hands.

His original intention had been to go riding with Chloe, and have a meal out in the open where they could both be comfortable. However, she’d played on his desire and he had to take her back before he ravished her with all the abandon of a rutting stag. He was still not sure if being in his chamber alone with her was a good idea, and instead had come up with the scheme to introduce her as a lady to Sir Edward and Lady Anne. From their expressions, they had also thought she was indeed noble born.

Then she had sung for him. Her voice had been like that of an angel. The words of the love song cut through his heart, and with the emotion shining in her violet eyes he felt like he would come undone.

He had found himself experiencing something physically and emotionally for her that he’d never felt before for anyone. His stomach had lurched into his throat, and his chest swelled. Just looking at her brought an instant smile to his face, and stirred something inside him. Before those stirrings had been something he’d experienced plenty of times. Lustful feelings. Now it was different. He still yearned for her, but he had this insane urge to grab her and never let go. He wanted to protect her, to hold her, to make love to her, to spend his every waking moment with her. He wanted her to sing to him forever so he could feel the love she felt for him.

Dear God! This is just how Edward talked when he met Anne! It can’t be!

He groaned and rolled onto his stomach putting his head under his pillow.

He was in love.

****

Chloe sat on the edge of one of the chairs that flanked the fireplace in her chamber. What happened? She should be mad at the way he’d treated her, proclaiming her position as a lady, but instead she felt something different. The way his eyes had looked at her, not the usual ravaging that he did but something deeper. He gripped her heart.

Alexander, who she had stupidly fallen in love with, and hated only a few days before, was making her feel things. Funny strange feelings.
What to do?

She walked toward the window, pulled back the covering and took a long deep breath of fresh air. She looked up at the sky and then down toward the ground, watching the life of the people in the village.

If only my parents had surrendered, and not rushed me off to the remote cottage to begin with, I would be happily in the arms of the man I love.

Suddenly she perked up, her hand coming to her throat. She really was in love with him. The realization was still so new, and no matter how much she fought it, her love for him clawed its way to the surface. Since the moment she saw him atop his horse, pointing at her from afar, he’d had a hold on her. From the moment he looked at her and spoke to her, tingles raced up her spine. She even loved him when he had snatched her up and ravished her in the forest. She’d known she loved him when she tenderly cared for him while he burned with fever. And love had shone in his eyes when she sang to him.

The fact that she hadn’t denied his outing of her in front of Sir Edward and Lady Anne only confirmed who she was. He hadn’t seemed angry either. Quite the opposite in fact. Certainly she wasn’t in the tower yet. Maybe he wouldn’t punish her. If she explained everything, perhaps that would help him to understand she had no part in the siege. Maybe it could work. And now that Lady Anne knew of her identity, perhaps it was as good a time as any to get word to her family.

But everything she’d heard about Lord Hardwyck’s father made her believe that her high hopes could be all for naught. That man would make sure Alexander threw her in the tower. Maybe she would have a public whipping, and worse, she would probably get the axe. Her father had humiliated Lord Hardwyck by his actions. And throwing her at the mercy of the village folk would do no good. Especially since she herself had not been honest with Alexander.

If only she knew where he stood. Then she might have the confidence she needed to go through with telling him how she felt. But she did know how he felt; at least she thought she did. The way he looked at her, and chased after her had to mean something.

It wasn’t enough though. She needed to hear the words.

Chloe felt split two ways. Should she listen to her true self, or continue the charade? Sure she’d never misrepresented herself to them about her name or her interests, or with her acts of good deeds. Nor had she changed her personality or attitude toward others, she had completely acted as herself. Having been able to escape the constant eyes of her parents, she had been able to do things that she would not have been able to do before, like helping the children and the sick villagers.

All the same, she had not told them of her title, or the fact that she was in danger from the actions of her parents. And the latest new information she had found, that King Henry had wanted her to marry Lord Hardwyck. Even though she’d acted as herself, these last omissions when found out, would alienate her from all. No one would stand behind her. Just like everything and everyone she had cared about, this village and its people that she had grown to love would be ripped away from her.

Perhaps it was a mistake, just a misunderstanding that he wanted her. Maybe it was all one sided.
But that can’t be, I felt a spark between us. A lord doesn’t go around riding with commoners, swimming with them and tenderly kissing them does he?
But he knew who she was. He knew the whole time according to his story. Perhaps he did it to get back at her for having shamed him. Chloe’s confusion made her feel her lack of experience and years. Her heart clenched for if Nicola was still with her, she could ask her maid for advice. But fate had not been kind.

Never in her life had she encountered a man who she felt this way about. She hoped in her heart that the things he had done with her, said to her, the way he treated her, were because of his feelings for her. He had to have deeper feelings for her, just as she did for him. She refused to believe it was only lust.

Chloe groaned and rubbed her temples. It was all too much. She had to find out—if not she would forever regret it. She loved him, and better to find out if he returned her love than to suffer the rest of her life not knowing.

As Chloe turned back to her chair and sat staring into the small fire in the bed-chamber, she heard a slight knock on the door. With so much going through her mind about what she should do, Chloe contemplated about whether or not she would answer. The tentative knock came again.

She shook herself from her reverie and stood. Straightening her gown and headdress, she went to the door to answer it.

Rebecca, the bawdy housemaid, stood in the corridor, a supreme look of hatred filling her face. This was the woman who Alexander filled his nights with—or so she bragged to her friends. Chloe’s gut churned just thinking about it. How could she have forgotten?

“Ye stay away from my man. His lordship has made a promise to me, and I’ll not be losing out on what’s coming for me, because some little harlot like yerself has come along.”

If the girl could wipe the nasty look off of her face, she would be quite pretty. Chloe could see where Alexander might have found her attractive, but her anger cut her down several degrees.

“My apologies, Rebecca, I’m not quite sure I understand your meaning. But I’m sure you are correct that you won’t be losing out on what’s coming for you.” And Chloe hoped it was a whipping.

“I have my eye on you. Be warned. He’s mine.” With one final sneer screwing up her false angelic face, Rebecca sauntered away.

Chloe closed the door and leaned against it. As if she didn’t have enough dramatics going on in her life, now she had to deal with a jealous housemaid who had her claws dug deeply in Alexander’s arm. What promises had he made her? Why did she feel such a strong sense of ownership?

Chloe shook her head and massaged her temples. Another light tap on the door startled her. What could the chit want now?

“Rebecca, I—”

It wasn’t Rebecca, but Alexander. He raised his brow to her in question.
Please don’t ask me about Rebecca. Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask.
The last thing she wanted to do was reveal the conversation she’d just had. Just the thought of his sinewy body cradling the maid in his arms brought on a bought of nausea. She was just another one of his playthings.

A pained expression filled Alexander’s face. “Chloe…” His cloudy grey eyes searched.

“Hello, my lord, shouldn’t you be addressing me as Lady Chloe?” She did not open the door any further. She wasn’t sure if she should or not. What was he doing there? Her thoughts were still in so much turmoil.

He raised a brow. “I had thought we were past formalities…” His voice trailed off and he looked around the corridor suspiciously. “May I come in?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, her voice faint. She was giving up the fight. There was nowhere to go but forward and it was time she resigned herself to her fate.

He came into the room and looked around, then turned to her, his sharp gaze holding hers.

“Are you all right, my lord?” she asked, concerned for his health and relieved he hadn’t asked her about Rebecca. “Please come sit, I’ll get you some ale.”

“No ale, I’m fine. We need to talk Chloe. We can not wait any longer, can we?”

Chloe averted her gaze from his intense stare by closing the door. He wanted an answer. She
had
to know that once he knew the full truth he would not leave her, or throw her in the tower. She had to know if she was just another one of his conquests.
Can I ask him? Will he tell me?
She decided that she needed to take the plunge and, pride aside, just blurt it out.

“Yes, we do have much to discuss—but Alexander…I am…scared,” she said looking at him through her lowered lashes.

“There is no need to be scared, love, please tell me.” He came up to her and put his arms around her waist pulling her close. The warm length of his body and sensing the love in his eyes, calmed her somewhat. And hadn’t he just called her
love
?

“When you looked out the window to see me below on the fields outside of South Hearth’s walls.” His fingers gently caressed her face.

She nodded, looking away from him, but his fingers pressed her chin up and forced her eyes back on his.

“Will you never leave me?” she asked.

“I will never leave you. If I have to leave anything, it will be my place here in Hardwyck, and my place as baron. I have other holdings that I have earned on my own and not through my father. I don’t need the earldom. I love you, Chloe.” As he said it, he leaned down and tenderly kissed her.

She pulled back. “And what of other women? Do you love other women?”

He furrowed his brow, his lips twitched in a smile. “No others. You are the only one who holds my heart.”

His lips brushed again over hers gently, and a lingering heat pulsed through her. He really did love her. But she needed to be sure. She couldn’t just take his word, she hardly knew him, and her own safety prevailed.

“I love you too,” she said and laid her head against his chest, her heart was beating fast, and the emotional turmoil she felt inside was more than she could bear.

“Please Chloe, tell me everything,” he said, resting his chin on the top of her head. “Whatever it is, you needn’t be afraid, I will not abandon you.”

“Let us go for a ride and get some air, Alexander. I am feeling faint.” She pulled away from him and looked pleadingly into his eyes.

His gaze scanned her face, and he seemed to take pity on her. “Let us ride, and then we’ll talk?”

“Yes,” and then as an afterthought, she said softly, “bring my portrait.” She hoped to make it not sound like an order. She was trying as hard as possible to be complacent.

He nodded to her. “I will return for you in a moment.”

He left the room and Chloe hurried to her looking glass to pinch color into her cheeks. She was about to reveal everything and their fates would be decided. Looking at the frightened woman who stared back at her, Chloe was thrust back to a time when she felt as frightened as she now looked. She remembered the pledge she had made to herself to be strong, and forced herself to square her shoulders.

No matter what happened today, she would live with the consequences. She could no longer live the charade.

Alexander returned with the portrait in hand. He had carefully wrapped it in a leather pouch, which he handed to her. “This belongs to you.”