Free The Bellerose Bargain by Robyn Carr Page A

careless manner, and he took a breath, his frame looming larger. There was only one woman present and she had not been acknowledged at all. Rodney did not know if his anger came in defense of Alicia, of etiquette, or of respect due the young heiress. "I am Lady Charlotte’s escort, man. This is Lady Charlotte." He lifted Alicia’s hand as if to present her and made it clear with his eyes that he would not allow her to be treated with such nonchalance again.
    "If you’ll follow me, madam."
    They traveled through what seemed miles of corridors and galleries, Alicia’s shoes clicking on the floors and the driver gasping and exclaiming behind them at every turn. She tried to memorize their journey, fearing she would never find her way out of the maze, but after the first few moments she gave up and simply followed. At the entrance to what was to be her living quarters, Rodney turned to the servant and asked if the king would be notified of Lady Charlotte’s arrival. And after a brief nod they were abandoned.
    The space that had been allowed Alicia was minimal in comparison to what prestigious guests and tenants in Whitehall received, but for a simple country maid it was a castle in itself. Seven beautifully furnished rooms lay before her eyes. Among the furnishings were a four-poster in her bedchamber, a huge dressing mirror, and thick draperies. Two of the rooms had rugs, a luxury she had never before known. The high sheen on the dining table shocked her, and the padded chair before the hearth left her breathless. She had never in her life seen such wealth.
    Rodney followed her from room to room after he had dismissed the gawking driver. She was too overwhelmed even to smile but meandered from wall to door, chest to table, touching and testing. It was safe to assume that Alicia did not even ken what all these rooms were for. Entertaining was something she had never done, but for the entertainment she provided the men in the tavern when she walked from table to keg to table.
    Rodney saw that those who had prepared her rooms had neglected what was possibly the most important article Alicia would be needing.
    "When you’re somewhat settled, lady, I shall have to find you a woman."
    "A woman?" she questioned.
    "Before long you shall have several, I am sure. For now, you will need one. And quickly."
    "She will clean?"
    Rodney chuckled slightly. "She will help you dress, fix your hair, serve your meals, and accompany you whenever you go abroad. A companion of sorts, madam. If I am lucky, I will find a woman who has served noble ladies before."
    It took just a moment for this to register, and then with a smile she said, "That is a position I would have liked to have."
    There was such delight glowing on her face that Rodney could not hold back his grin. He looked at the slender form before him, and at the excitement in her eyes and natural poise with which she held herself, and he knew he had been right to choose her. "I think, my lady, that your future bodes much better than that."
    "Kind Rodney," she said softly. "You have so many hopes for me, so much kindness and patience...but must you be reminded that this is not really different from what I have always known? I travel from one life to another, fitting myself into a place as best I can for a short time and then moving along to the next. The people I have known I give up, for they do not follow me to the next place. The rooms where I’ve slept I never see again, and the clothes I’ve worn are given to me and then taken away." She gestured with an arm to the beautiful surroundings. "It is grand, sir, but it is not mine and it is not for long." She reached out and touched his hand. "Sadly enough, you will not be my friend for very long. It will be hard for me to say good-bye."
    "Madam, I think it a bit soon to talk of good-bye."
    The glitter of excitement vanished from her eyes and with a look of sadness she answered him. "But I must not let myself forget, dear friend, that