Free Lost Princess by Sandy Holden Page B

as the day progressed.
    Kasta was the leader of that nasty group of crows, and what started as whispers had now turned to ordering me about on needless tasks that were interspersed with openly mocking comments.“Married two days and punished at least twice.” Kasta said to another lady. “I wouldn’t stand for it.” I realized they’d seen my reddened behind when I bathed.
    Vendavar, another lady, said, “She’s probably pleased he’d take her at all. Must have been pity that moved him.” There was laughter at this. I stumbled as I felt the jibe hit home.
    “Careful!” Kasta snapped. “You make about as good a servant as you do a wife, apparently.” I gritted my teeth and continued to ignore them.
    The comments continued in this manner until I wasn’t sure I could manage much longer. I could feel tears pricking at my eyelids, and I swore repeatedly to myself that if I hadn’t cried when Max had taken out his dagger to kill me when I’d been caught, then I damned well wouldn’t cry now.
    I bumped the edge of a table taking yet another tray of drinks to the ladies as they sewed together near the warm hearth in the hall. They almost never congregated here, but since I was here for them to torment, they’d changed their habits. The bump against the table caused the tea to spill, and I hissed at the burn as it splashed on my arm. Laughter rang out from the ladies as I put down the tray and walked off with the tiny piece of dignity I had left.
    I was near the kitchen when Max strode into the hall. Some insane part of me was pleased to see him, while another part of me wanted to scream at him in fury. I simply continued on into the kitchen, ignoring him completely.
    Dinner would be served soon, and the tables were being readied and the kitchen hummed with activity. The ladies had insisted that I serve them alone, and Crissy, afraid to anger them, had agreed only after getting my nod. I was hoping I would have some peace from them now that Max was back. They wouldn’t taunt me with him right there, would they? Not that it would make any difference to him. But they didn’t know that, did they?
    Max walked into the kitchen and as if he had cast a spell on them, everyone froze. He seemed oblivious of the disruption he’d caused, coming to me and looking down. “Have you learned anything today?” he asked.
    I made myself look away before I could tell him I’d learned he was a damned bully. “If you wish it so, my lord,” I said.
    He took my wrist in his hand and led me out of the kitchen. He took me to the same room as he had taken me to that morning, but this time it was lit. I could see it was an office of sorts, with books and paper in evidence. He shut the door and turned to me. “Have you learned your lesson?” he asked again.
    “Yes, my lord,” I said, eyes on the floor.
    He stood over me until I was hard pressed not to look up to see his expression. I managed to stay as I was. “I will find out if you did not do as I ordered,” he warned.
    I was torn between anger and sadness. “Yes, my lord,” I said.
    Max seemed to be waiting for something, but whatever it was I didn’t know and since I refused to look at him I wasn’t going to be enlightened any time soon. Finally he went to the door and left. I stared after him for some minutes, wondering what to do now. It seemed my punishment was over for today. It was almost dinnertime, but I was feeling dirty, so I rushed up to the bathing area and stripped quickly, washing myself quickly with the buckets of water left there for that purpose, and dressed again. I didn’t have time to go to get a clean dress, so I was forced to enter the hall for dinner wearing the same stained dress.
    I was feeling ashamed, and kept my eyes on my feet, not wanting to have any of the ladies catch my eye. I sat next to Max and pushed my food around on my plate, trying to hide my yawns. I didn’t look up at all until Devlin said in a light voice, “My lady, what have you