Free The Contract by Sandy Holden

the ladies of the castle.”
    Max froze momentarily, betraying his surprise at my words. He gave me a long look, but we were entering the large hall now, and I didn’t have a chance to talk to him further. He took me to the table where Devlin and Callista were already sitting. As Max sat, the food came in and everyone began to eat, markedly quieter than usual.
    Max and Devlin seemed hurried, and Callista took my hand under the table and squeezed it. She leaned over, asking, “Are you all right?”
    I nodded, trying to listen to what Max and Devlin were saying.
    Callista said, “How in God’s name did you manage to calm him down?“I saw Max’s eyes flick to her, then to me. Callista said, “Kat?”
    I said, “I did nothing, really. He…” I looked over at Max, who seemed now to be absorbed in eating. “He was very kind.”
    “You jest,” Callista said. “He was so angry!”
    “Yet you, coward that you profess to be, told him about the door, and probably saved me from much of his ire.  I think my courage is rubbing off on you.”
    Callista gave an unladylike snort. “I think your lack of good sense is what has rubbed off.”
    I gave her a gentle kick under the table, and she poked me in the side. We both started to giggle and found ourselves consumed by little bursts of laughter for some minutes. We wound down to see Max and Devlin both looking at us as if fearing we’d lost our minds.
    I smiled. “My cousin has lost her good sense,” I announced to them. “We were wondering where to start to look for it.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing again.
    Devlin relaxed into a smile, but Max looked mystified. Devlin said, “Where did you last see it?”
    Callista gave him a smile that would put many men right under the table. “Oddly enough, since rooming with my cousin, it has become elusive. The last time I knew I had it was when I tricked Kat into sleeping on the drafty side of the bed.”
    I gaped at her in mock anger. “You told me you were afraid there were ghosts over on that side!”
    Callista thought. “Did I? Perhaps it was that I thought I’d soon be a ghost if I caught a chill over there.“Devlin chuckled, and Max looked at him then back at Callista.
    I said, “If that is the case, you’re better off without your good sense.”
    Devlin said gallantly, “You may be assured that I will keep watch for it, my lady.” He grinned at Max. “Perhaps we could instruct the castle servants to watch for it as well.“Max ignored the comment, and I wondered if he knew what to say to continue the jest.
    I said, touching his hand with mine, “I don’t know if that would help, my lord. My lord husband has been bemoaning the lack of my good sense for some time, and hasn’t seen hide nor hair of it.”
    Max looked over at me as the three of us laughed. He rose from the table, effectively ending the conversation. Perhaps that was all the humor he could stand. “My ladies,” he said to Callista and I, “do not wander off on your own this day. I will be increasing the guards about the place but do not wish you harmed in the meantime.”
    I nodded, but Callista smiled shyly at him, saying, “Thank you for your concern, my lord. We will do as you instruct.”
    Max nodded back to her, and I felt an odd jealousy at his attention to her. Max and Devlin left, and Callista said, “Perhaps I was wrong about him. He didn’t seem so very fearsome this morning.”
    “Really? So it wasn’t you who trembled when you talked to him in your room?”
    Callista nodded. “Oh, that was I, all right. I suppose I need a gentler husband who will reassure me constantly and keep me feeling safe.” She looked over at where Devlin and Max had gone. “Any ideas?” she asked, an eyebrow raised.
    “Callie, you’re the one who is the prize. Ask me something else that I might be able to answer.”
    “As you wish,” Callista said. “Tell me how I can get Devlin to notice me.”
    I shook my head, nearly speechless. “I