Free A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) by Eliza Knight

on the floor in the main room,” Chloe said, not really wanting to do so, but she certainly didn’t want to remove James from his bed either.
    “I wouldn’t think of it,” Maude said, dismissing her. She reached into a trunk in the room and pulled out a pallet made of straw and handed it to James.
    Too tired to argue further, Chloe nodded and headed for the bed. Fleeting thoughts of fleas, lice and other bed bugs crossed her mind, but she pushed them aside. She needed to get some sleep. Maybe somehow she’d be able to switch out Lord Hardwyck’s, no doubt opulent, mattress with a flea ridden one… Her body and her mind were exhausted, but the thought made her smile.
    In the morning she was to appear before Lord Hardwyck, and she didn’t want to be too tired and slip up when talking to him. It was imperative to her safety she not reveal who she was, especially to him. He would surely toss her in the highest tower. She’d known before she and her family were in danger, but here she was dumped on the enemy’s very door. The heavy hand of fate had slammed down hard on her.
    Chloe sat heavily on the bed, and waved away the cloud of dust that flew into her face. She needed to mentally prepare for the meeting with her enemy, and she certainly would keep in mind trading his bedding for this one…

Chapter Six
     
    Early the next morning, Maude’s firm shake on Chloe’s shoulder woke her with a start. Her eyes popped open, only to see the room was still dark. Why had Maude woken her in the middle of the night? Chloe gasped with fright that she may have been found out. She stifled an oath and sat up.
    “What has happened?” she asked nervously.
    “It is morning now. You must wake, and get ready to meet with his lordship,” Maude said gruffly.
    Chloe stared at the elderly woman. Did Maude hold a grudge against her for not wanting to give her the horse in exchange for housing? She couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to wake up when the moon and stars were still out.
    “Oh, I understand,” Chloe said, not really comprehending at all. She sat up and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Light filtered in from the main room, where Maude must have lit a fire.
    The woman briefly left the room and then came back with a pot and a wet cloth. Chloe eyed the objects. She knew what the pot was for, and thought back nostalgically of the privy she’d been able to use in France. How she had abhorred it at the time, but now she would have much preferred the cold stone seat to the messy pot.
    “Ye can use the pot to relieve yerself, just make sure you dump it out back, and this cloth here’s to clean yer face.”
    “Thank you,” Chloe said, trying to hide her embarrassment. She was used to her maid providing things for her to complete her daily ablutions, but she was supposed to be on equal level with Maude.
    She decided not to think on it, and quickly completed her morning ritual as best she could. With the cloth, she was able to scrub away a lot of the dirt, but she still felt grimy and filthy. A bath would have been heavenly. She undid the braid she’d fashioned at the croft, and brushed her fingers through the tangles in her hair, wincing as they snagged in the jumbled mess. It felt so much better down, but it was so tangled and in desperate need of washing. But that would have to wait. She quickly braided her hair and wrapped it in a tight bun at the nape of her neck.
    When she emerged from the chamber, she felt much more refreshed than the day before, although a sneaking sense of fear tingled at the base of her spine. She hoped she did well meeting with the fierce lord today. Keeping her tongue in check was going to be a real test of fortitude.
    Chloe let out a sigh of relief. Only Maude was in the main room. She certainly didn’t want to deal with James and his silly glances this morning. Her mind was already full with what was to come.
    “There’s some bread there fer ye, if yer hungry,” Maude said.
    Chloe