Free Silversword (de Lohr Dynasty Book 7) by Kathryn Le Veque

husband told me I could no longer visit her, I simply brought her home,” she said, eyeing Alessandria and seeing that the woman was fighting off a grin. She broke down into a smile. “Do not think me so smothering, my lady. Veronica wanted to come home. At least, that is what I told her to tell her father. Wait until you have children of your own; you will understand.”
    Alessandria’s smile faded. “I will not marry, my lady,” she said. “I plan to….”
    She was cut off by a knock on the door and Liselotte went to answer it, producing a parade of people when she opened the panel. Servants with buckets of hot water rushed into the room and to the copper tub, filling it. A female servant had brought linens and other things to bathe with, while Liselotte’s youngest child, Veronica, brought up the rear with her arms full of garments.
    Alessandria pulled the big coverlet tightly around her, covering herself completely as the crowd of people filled the chamber. She could smell fresh bread and her stomach growled, but she didn’t move, rooted to the spot and afraid to move lest the coverlet fall away and some measure of skin was exposed. So she remained huddled by the fire, out of the way, as people went in and out, and Liselotte held up the garments her daughter had brought to see which ones would be the best option for a small and rather skinny young lady.
    Alessandria watched the hustle closely, very warm and comfortable in her blanket. In fact, she was becoming rather drowsy with the heat and more than once her eyelids had started to droop, but she shook it off, struggling to remain awake because the lure of a bath and food was just too strong. It had been a long time since she’d had either.
    Eventually, the servants took their buckets and left, leaving Liselotte and her daughter behind. Alessandria could still see Rhun lingering just outside of her door, watching all who entered and exited, and she had to admit that she was starting to feel rather important. She had a guard and the lady of the castle was tending her personally. It was such an odd realization for she’d never had any reason to feel more important than anyone else. It wasn’t a wholly unlikable sensation.
    “My lady, are you ready for your bath?” Liselotte asked when everyone was gone. “Please allow my daughter and me to help you.”
    Alessandria looked at the lovely young woman standing next to Liselotte. “Your youngest, my lady?”
    Liselotte laughed softly. “My darling daughter, Veronica Emilie de Lohr,” she said. “This is the child I could not do without. Ronnie, this is Lady Alessandria de Shera. We are going to take care of her and make her feel most welcome.”
    Veronica smiled at Alessandria. “W-welcome, m-my lady,” she said, a heavy stammer evident. “I-I have p-picked out some garments t-that I hope are t-to your liking.”
    Alessandria smiled timidly at the young woman with a noticeable stammer. “I am sure whatever you have chosen will be fine.”
    Veronica grinned and went to her, pulling her to her feet. Much like her mother, she wasn’t shy or timid. “Come with m-me,” she said, pulling her away from the hearth. “I b-brought some bathing oil m-my father bought me in P-Paris. It smells of exotic f-flowers.”
    Lured by the idea of bathing oil, something Alessandria had never seen or used in the sparse setting of Newington, she didn’t notice that the corner of the coverlet flopped into the fire and, as she moved towards the tub, a small blaze cropped up on the fabric. She only realized it when Liselotte yelped and tried to yank the blanket off of her, but Alessandria wasn’t apt to let the only thing go that was protecting her modesty. She had no idea what was going on with Lady de Lohr trying to wrest the blanket from her body and she held on to it for dear life until she saw the smoke.
    “Fire!” she screamed.
    Alessandria let go of the blanket just as Liselotte and Veronica gave a good yank, pulling