Free Kiss Across Swords (Kiss Across Time Series) by Tracy Cooper-Posey Page B

a title when it counted. Veris was the educated one, for all he didn’t write a word. Even before he left Norway he could speak five languages. Who do you think taught me to speak Saxon? Arabic? Greek?”
    Taylor recoiled. “That’s what you think I believe of you?”
    “I know it. You’re looking at the wrong person if you’re looking at me to be the gentle one.” He picked up his hauberk and tunic and undershirt with his good hand and his sword belt with his injured one. “I’m going to find out where Selkirk is camped and what Veris is doing. I was a good hunter myself, once. Time to unpack old skills.” His gaze slid from her face. “I don’t know how long we’ll be left in this time, Taylor. Pray it’s long enough to fix this. If we jump back before Veris commits to me, then we jump back to non-existence.”

Chapter Five
     
    The tent was divided into half by a panel of gauze. The other side was clearly Taylor’s side of the tent. There was a pair of beautifully painted five panel dividers, arranged to provide privacy for changing when the heavy tent sides were taken down, as they were now. There was a chair made comfortable with cushions and even a bed that must have been carried all the way from England just for her convenience. There were two big chests of clothes and smaller boxes of possessions. The costs and logistics involved in carting such luggage shocked her. No wonder Veris had been so disdainful about bringing a woman on crusade.
    For the first time, Taylor realized that for this time and age, Brody had to be a man of influence and means, especially to be able to afford to bring such burdens as a wife and her luggage with him. The huge tent, the servants and the crest she wore meant Brody had his own lands and they supported him very well indeed.
    And he considered himself to be a savage?
    A woman with a much smaller crest on her gown stepped into the tent and through to Taylor’s side and dropped her head down low. “My lady,” she murmured. “M’ lord said you were looking for me. I’m sorry, I fell asleep. It’s this heat.” She straightened up and cast her eye over Taylor. “You’ll be needing to dress for dinner.”
    Taylor looked out at the blazing sun, which was noticeably lower in the sky. “My husband wants a formal dinner tonight?”
    The woman smiled. The smile showed wisdom beyond the few years the woman seemed to possess. “With all the rationing, I don’t think dinner will be anything much at all. But we must try, hmm?”
    * * * * *
     
    When Taylor insisted on bathing first, the woman was shocked. Then she explained that water was even more severely rationed than food.
    Taylor shed layers of gown and undergown as the woman—Taylor could not directly ask her what her name was—fetched the jug of water that was Taylor’s share for the evening and poured two cupfuls into a laver. Taylor used that water to wash herself while standing on a cloth behind the screens, then let herself air dry. In the torrid heat she dried in a few minutes.
    She discovered when she unplaited her hair that it reached her ass. The woman combed through it with quick, practiced motions, barely tugging at all. Taylor marveled over the length and thickness of it. “Veris would love this,” she murmured.
    “Excuse me, m’lady?” the woman asked.
    “Nothing,” Taylor said quickly. She realized she had spoken English.
    The woman had put out another full chemise and bliaut for Taylor to wear. The chemise looked to be made of some delicate cotton while the bliaut was rich with embroidery and with the heavy full sleeves.
    Taylor shook her head. “I’m not wearing that. It’s too hot.”
    “It’s a formal evening gown.” The woman shrugged. “The chemise is the lightest you have.”
    “I’ll wear that, then.”
    The woman looked relieved and picked it up.
    “Haven’t I got a robe or something simple to wear over the top?” Taylor asked. “Or is all I have here bliauts?”
    The woman