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

nodded and headed to the table. She was too nervous to eat, but managed to get down a few dry bites.
    “Where is James this morning?”
    “He’s gone about his duties now,” Maude answered without looking up.
    Chloe never realized how early the peasants and servants around her woke. She was always allowed to sleep at least until the sun had fully risen. This was something she was going to have a hard time getting used to.
    “Well if yer done then, we best be getting up to the keep. I’ve got me own work to do there, and we needn’t dilly dally.”
    “Yes, of course,” Chloe said, somehow managing not to choke on the dry remains of crust. “What do you do at the keep?” Would they be working together? She smoothed her shift, wishing she had a change of clothes. Despite her wash this morning, she could still smell the stench of a few weeks worth of wear, coming from her rags.
    “I’m a chambermaid. I am responsible for cleaning the bedchambers. If there was a mistress at the keep, I would be one of her maids.” Her chin lifted a little when she said it.
    Although Chloe didn’t know much about the social order and classes among the commoners, she knew to be a chambermaid put you at a higher status than if she were a scullery maid or kitchen aid. She frowned. What type of position would Lord Hardwyck offer her?
    A fleeting look of despair crossed Maude’s face. “The way people talk the lord will never marry. He’s a loner. But at some point he’s got to get an heir.”
    Chloe had to look away. His possessive and commanding words resounded in her ears. You are mine! Had he come to take her as a wife? She would have refused him if he had. Perhaps he would have taken her by force. She shuddered at the vision of the warrior pointing at her from afar. She was only comforted in the knowledge he wasn’t aware of her true identity. She could just picture the man picking her up, throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her off to the nearest priest. That just wouldn’t do. She didn’t want to turn into her mother, who’d suffered a loveless marriage.
    Chloe squared her shoulders, putting a new resolved strength into her form. She wouldn’t reveal who she was, and she certainly wouldn’t marry the lord or anyone else. She would take care of herself, even if it meant she would have to empty her own chamber pots, eat meager meals and never wear beautiful clothes again. Part of her wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it. For certes, she was strong, but up until now her life had been more or less filled with leisure. How was she going to make it working from sun up to sun down, with little rest?
    Chloe straightened her back. She was a noblewoman, had been born and bred to be strong. Pride flowed through her veins. If she put her mind to it, she could accomplish it.
    “We’d best be on our way.” Chloe wanted to get up to the keep before her newfound confidence diminished.
    Maude nodded, wiping her hands down her apron and smoothing the fabric.
    “The lord will want ye to change clothes. I’m sure the tailor and his team of seamstresses at the keep will provide ye with something more than that ragged get up. Here’s a coif to wear over yer hair. This’ll keep all that hair of yers in place.” Maude handed her a simple cap to place on her head.
    Chloe placed the cap on, trying to tuck in her hair with some difficulty. She made a muddle of tying the ribbons into place. Why was it so difficult to get these ribbons to cooperate? Her maid had always done such things for her, if and when she was made to wear a headdress. An odd look crossed Maude’s face and then was gone. Finally Chloe was able to secure it.
    “I have never worn such a thing before, it wasn’t customary in my village,” Chloe lied. “Have I put it on right?”
    Maude nodded, no longer seeming to find it odd that she didn’t know how to secure the silly cap. She must have believed Chloe’s easy lie. Would lying keep coming more naturally to