Whew, that had been close. Chloe held on to Richard’s arm as he led her from the battlements down the stairs and into his solar.

“I have built up the fire and sent for wine, my lord.” Richard’s steward, Edwin, looked older than her granda with his white hair and brown eyes, but she couldn’t be sure. The few women who worked at the castle were all younger than they looked. Either the product of a hard life or not enough moisturizer.

Growing up at the beach, Chloe was a big believer in sunscreen and moisturizer. What would happen if she didn’t make it home in time to start school? Would the college hold her place or give it to someone else? No, she couldn’t think about home right now. If she did, she’d cry, and Richard could not stand womanly weeping.

One of the boys brought them wine, along with a bit of cheese and bread. When the child put the tray down, he stopped chewing, an innocent look on his face. It took everything Chloe had not to bust out laughing.

She passed a goblet of wine to Richard. “I don’t think my feet have been warm since I arrived.” She kicked off her sneakers and wiggled her toes in front of the fire. There was a gurgling, and she looked at the boy in alarm, worried he was choking. Instead, she saw his little cheeks full of bread and cheese. He chewed a moment, then opened his mouth, the words coming out muffled around the food he hadn’t yet swallowed.

“Mistress. Your toes. They are blue with cold.” He bent down and took her foot between his hands, rubbing her feet so vigorously that she almost fell off the stool.

“My feet are cold but it’s not that bad. My toes are painted.”

The boy stopped and gingerly touched her big toe. “How do ye get the paint on your feet? Why would you paint your toes?”

A shadow fell over her legs as Richard leaned down to get a better look as well. “Aye. Tell us, Chloe.”

Like she needed another thing to explain. As payback for drawing the attention of Mr. See All and Know All, she ratted out the kid. “Finish swallowing all the cheese and bread in your mouth, and I’ll tell you.”

“What have I told you about eating from the trays?” Richard scowled at the boy, who chewed furiously. Tomas gave her a look that promised retribution at a later time. She’d be sure to check her bed for a fish or dead mouse or whatever little boys did in this time period.

The kid swallowed and hung his head. “I’m sorry, my lord. I was hungry.”

“Do it again and you’ll be emptying the waste barrels for a fortnight. And cleaning up after the dogs and cats for another fortnight.”

“I willna do it again, my lord.”

Richard rolled his eyes. “Off with you.”

“You have odd customs in Tetbury,” he said to Chloe. “’Tis passing strange, for I have been there and did not see a soul dressed in such odd garments, or heard anyone talk with your accent.”

Nosy busybody of a man. She smiled sweetly at him, using her best “I’m not doing anything” look she gave to teachers when she was texting Sara Beth instead of paying attention in class. “I wasn’t born in Tetbury. I only lived there a short time.”

“Where were you born?”

This was a bit trickier. She sent up a sorry to the universe for what she was about to say. “I’m from a land far, far away, across the ocean. It’s called America. We were sailing to England when there was a terrible storm and the ship went down. My parents died and I was left in the care of a distant relative.”

“More distant relatives.” He looked at her for so long that Chloe squirmed under his gaze. “I am sorry for your loss. My dam died when I was but six.”

Now she felt awful, but she couldn’t very well have him sending out messengers to try and tell her nonexistent family she was safe.

“I’m sorry. Is your father living?”

His face darkened. “Nay.” Then he abruptly got up and strode to the door. “I shall fetch you for dinner.” With that, the door banged shut behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

After dinner, she was sitting on the floor of the hall with several of the kids, playing with half a dozen kittens, when the merchants arrived. Two of Richard’s guardsmen led them in, and the man himself had his cloak on and the hood up—something he did when he went out or strangers came to the castle.

The merchant was short and round, with dirty blond hair. He’d brought a young girl with him, and the girl had the same nose and eyes. She had to be his daughter. He looked around the hall as if committing every detail to memory to tell everyone at the pub afterward. Chloe narrowed her eyes, the merchant already losing points with her.

“Shall we begin? I have lovely silks for gowns, lace, and ribbon.”

Edwin stepped forward. “You may display your wares here.” He motioned to where several tables had been left out after dinner. There were clean tablecloths on them to protect the man’s wares.

The man clapped his hands together at the children helping. “Careful—do not let the cloth touch these filthy floors.”

Oh no, she didn’t like him at all. She’d gone with her mom once to see the local laundromat owner at her home. Her mom created amazing websites and often would meet clients at their business or home. The lady was a serious hoarder, and the house smelled, but Chloe knew not to say a word about the state of the woman’s home. She and her mom simply pretended the towering piles weren’t about to fall on their heads.

Richard didn’t bellow at the man; he kept to the shadows around the perimeter of the hall, skulking around like he was embarrassed to be seen.

There was a young boy as well. Chloe had missed him behind the bolts of fabric. With the matching nose and eyes, he had to be the son.

The kids quickly laid out the fabrics, the silks shimmering in the firelight. She walked up and down the tables, looking at the offerings.

“The silk is beautiful, but I won’t be going to court, so I really need practical, everyday gowns.” She had her money split between her pockets. Even though Richard said he’d pay for her dresses, she didn’t want him to use his gold, since she was planning on leaving.

The man was five or six inches shorter than she and still managed to look down his nose at her. His clothing was a muted blue and beautifully tailored, so she was hopeful he was good at his job.

“As the lady wishes.” He made it sound like an insult. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Richard had taken a couple of steps closer.

She looked at the ribbon and picked out several colors to tie her hair back and keep it from sticking out in a million directions. Most of the girls and women at the castle wore muted browns and grays, with a few blues. The natural color apron over the dresses made a nice combination. They still had the upper two floors to clean, and she wanted to travel without attracting too much attention, so she needed simple gowns.

As to what else she needed, Chloe was a bit lost. There was a gasp and a shriek. The man’s eyes were huge, and his daughter hid behind his legs.

“Is there a mouse?” Chloe stared at him, hands on her hips.

“Nay…l…l…lady,” the man stuttered. He kept darting glances from her to Richard, who had appeared next to her without a sound.

Without looking at the man, Richard snarled, “She lost her belongings and will require a cloak, two shifts, gowns, and silk hose.”

“Of course, Lord Beast.” The man turned red. “Lord Bainford.”

Chloe had learned enough during her short time here that she thought the man should be jumping up and down at such a sale instead of looking at Richard like he was on display in a zoo.

If she didn’t need clothes so badly, she would have thrown him out herself. The wool was nice and heavy and would keep her warm. She looked at the offering of colors, surprised at the amount of choice. Everything from the muted colors to bright blues, reds, and purples.

“Richard?”

He was at her side in an instant. She must have looked overwhelmed, because he took charge, issuing orders, sending everyone scurrying about. Before she knew it, she’d been measured, and the material for her aprons, hose, and shifts had been selected and placed next to the ribbons for her hair. He had picked out a dark brown for her cloak and ordered it trimmed with fur. He said the girls at Bainford would embroider it for her.

Grateful for the help, she picked out a dark, almost burgundy red and a heather gray. “I think these will do nicely.”

The man nodded.

“One more thing.” She explained how she wanted pockets in the apron and the gowns. He was confused until she picked up a corner of the fabric and demonstrated.

“Ah, yes. It will be done.”

Chloe touched Richard’s sleeve, and when he bent down, she whispered in his ear. His eyebrow went up, but he nodded.

“See a tunic and hose fashioned in the same colors for the lady.”

The man gaped. “’Tis not proper. She—”

“Do as I say.” He thundered.

The man gulped and nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

She tried to pay, but Richard wouldn’t let her. “Nay, the Red Knight will be indebted to me for taking care of you.”

“Thank you.” As much as she was dying to know more about Melinda’s husband, she couldn’t ask without giving herself away, and he was already suspicious.

By the way Richard acted, Chloe knew he must be used to people treating him like he wasn’t a man but an oddity about which they could say whatever they wished, with no thought to hurting his feelings.

His jaw was clenched so tight that she thought it a wonder he hadn’t cracked his teeth. It was the only indication he was affected by the man’s behavior.

She wondered what the merchant would have done if he’d seen Richard without his hood. Though the little pumpkin of a man kept trying to get a better look. At one point, she tripped him and pretended it was an accident. Not nice, but she didn’t want anyone treating Richard as lesser.