Free Tori Phillips by Lady of the Knight Page B

Henry’s court. I forbid you ever to allow your tresses to fly wild again. Twould be a sin against the goddess of beauty.”
    A hot flush stole over Rosie’s cheeks. She looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. “Not so neither, my lord,” she mumbled. His kindness made her feel even more ashamed of her outburst.
    Sir Andrew grinned. “My words to the letter.” He snapped his fingers at Jeremy. “Attend me, sluggard! The green doublet—at once!”
    His squire blinked, cast Rosie another quick glance, then scuttled to one of the larger coffers. He withdrew a long bundle and unwrapped its unbleached muslin covering. Rosie blinked when she saw the elegant coat of forest green velvet, its wide sleeves slashed with panes of cinnamon-colored satin. Gold edged the neckline. Alternating panes of green velvet and brown satin on the knee-length galligaskins matched the jacket.
    Jeremy shook out the garments. “The sun is still below its midpoint, my lord, yet the day waxes hot. Methinks you will find this too warm.”
    Sir Andrew shrugged. “Aye, but knowing that everyone else in this accursed valley will be equally uncomfortablegives me a measure of cold comfort. You note how we are slaves to fashion, Rosie?”
    She could only nod in agreement. She watched with a mixture of shock and fascination as he tied three little golden bells to the points of his white, satin-covered codpiece. When he had finished, he wiggled his hips to make them jingle.
    Spying her interest, he jingled them a second time. “Pray give me your honest opinion, Rosie. Do my accessories please you?”
    A dozen answers crowded her tongue, none of which she dared give voice. Finally she replied, “Past all words, my lord.”
    Sir Andrew clapped and rubbed his hands together. “Excellent! I go to visit a lady and she will expect a gladsome appearance.” He stepped into his breeches that Jeremy held for him. The bedecked codpiece stood out even more alarmingly against the green velvet.
    An unexpected dart of envy pricked Rosie. She brushed her hair with short, hard strokes. No wonder Sir Andrew had not bedded her last night! He had a mistress who liked expensive clothes and bells in unusual places. Why should that matter to Rosie? She did not want Sir Andrew as a lover, but as her means of escape from her past.
    Sir Andrew thrust his arms into his doublet. While his squire fastened the gold-and-pearl buttons, he cocked his head at her.
    “How now, my sweet? Your face looks like a rain cloud.”
    Rosie swiveled away from his gaze. “Tis nothing.”
    “Ha!” he roared behind her. She jumped and looked back over her shoulder. Jeremy laid a wide gold chain around Sir Andrew’s neck.
    He winked at her. “Allow me to divine your displeasure. You think I am decking myself to sport with a lady, do you not?”
    Rosie wondered if he could read her mind. She hid her surprise with a dismissive shrug. “It matters naught to me what ye do, my lord. Ye—that is, you are free to sport where you will and none can say naught against you. I am merely your chattel and have no say in the matter whatsoever.”
    “Aha, Jeremy, I was correct! Yon frowning sprite thinks I will have a bit of morning’s pleasure afore our dinner,” he remarked.
    Rosie pretended to ignore him, but her jealousy festered.
    Sir Andrew crossed to her side. Lifting her chin with his fingers, he forced her to look into hazel eyes that twinkled with merriment. “I give you thanks for your concern, but I have no such plans. I am going to visit Lady Mary Washburne, a cheerful lass whom I have known since she was in leading strings. I was in her brother’s service. Lady Mary takes great delight in all manner of singing, dancing, masking, games—and disguising. If I am my most charming to her, mayhap she will lend me some of her gowns and fripperies.”
    Rosie furrowed her brows. “Ye—I mean you seek to disguise yourself as a woman?” She had been right to think he was addlepated.
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