Claude woke the next morning to find Evelina lying next to him on the pallet. The fire had died, making the room cold. He slipped off the pallet without waking her and lit the fire. Then he came back to cover her with the blanket so she wouldn’t be cold.

He stopped and stared when he noticed the bloodstain on the blanket. Clenching his jaw, he swore softly to himself.

God’s eyes, she’d been a virgin! Why hadn’t she told him? This thought upset him since he had meant to tell her this morning that what they did last night was a mistake. He sat down on the edge of the pallet, brushing back her hair and leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead.

She made a noise that sounded like the purr of a kitten, turning and burying her cheek against the pillow

He felt awful for losing control last night. But his feelings for Evelina were strong. He couldn’t remember exactly, but he thought he might have told her he was falling in love with her. Had she told him she loved him, too? He didn’t think so.

What had he done? He fell in love with a merchant’s daughter who liked to pretend she was someone she wasn’t and told lies constantly. She’d even gone as far as telling him the gown was for her and that he should call her lady. Evelina was like a toxic drink to him. He had to have more, but when he did, it only shot pain through his heart that he never wanted to feel again.

Why had he been so careless? Now, he had only made things worse for both of them. He quickly dressed, and then peeked out the window to see that the storm had stopped. Claude never meant to be here this long. He was supposed to be with Rose and, instead, he was here doing things that this morning he wasn’t proud of at all.

He’d taken a young woman’s virginity, and now he was going to have to break her heart. But what did it matter since his heart was broken, too?

Claude picked up one of the travel bags and started wrapping soul cakes in Evelina’s peasant gown, shoving them into the pack.

“My lord, my lord,” came Felix’s voice as he pounded on the door.

Claude hurried over and opened the door, scowling at his squire. “What is wrong with you, making so much noise so early in the morning?” He noticed a guard from Briarbeck Castle standing at Felix’s side. “What is it?” he asked. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s Lady Rose, my lord,” said Felix.

“Rose?” His heart almost stopped. “Bid the devil, don’t tell me something has happened to her.”

“It’s her baby,” said the guard. “It started last night in the storm.”

“The baby?” Claude’s body stiffened. “What is it? Has the baby been born?”

“Not yet,” said the guard. “Lady Rose is having a hard time. The baby does not seem to want to come out. She sent me to find you. You need to return anon. My lord, I am afraid Lady Rose might not make it through this, and neither will her baby.”

“Damn you,” spat Claude, dropping the travel bag and gripping the man by the front of his tunic. “Why didn’t you get here faster?”

“The storm was too dangerous, my lord,” said the guard. “As it is, I rode in the rain to get here this morning. I had to wait until sunup because too many roads are washed away. I had to find an alternate route.”

“Let’s go,” said Claude, rushing back into the room to grab his weapon belt and fastening it around his waist. He scooped up the travel bag and stepped out into the corridor. “We have no time to waste.”

“Claude?” Evelina peeked around the door with sleepy eyes, clutching the blanket around her bare body. “What is happening?”

“Damn,” he spat, forgetting momentarily all about her. He had no time to wait for her to dress, and riding double was only going to slow them down. “Felix, you’ll wait for Evelina, and bring her back to the castle with you.”

“Are you leaving?” asked Evelina. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s Rose,” said Claude, taking one last look at Evelina. He wished things were different and wanted nothing more than to go back to bed and hold her tightly in his arms.

“It’s Rose?” she asked, looking at each of the men in turn.

“She needs me,” said Claude. “I should have been with her, but I was here instead. Now, because of my foolishness, the woman that means everything in the world to me might die!” He hurried away with the guard, only hoping he could make it back to Rose before it was too late.

* * *

Evelina packed the soul cakes into a travel bag and went to get her old clothes by the fire, only finding the shoes. She smiled at the shoes Rose had given her, running a hand over the soft, embroidered slippers. Then she picked up the purple gown and pulled it over her head. It had felt wonderful being a lady for the night, although she couldn’t say she wasn’t embarrassed at the way she’d conducted herself around Claude.

But making love to Claude felt right, even if she had given her virginity to a man that might not marry her after all. By the way he said Rose was the woman who meant everything in the world to him, it sounded like he was still in love with her after all. She thought things would be different after last night and that he’d care for her the way he cared for Rose. But this morning, he almost seemed to forget she was even there.

She hurriedly shoved the rest of her things into the travel bag, worried about the fate of Rose as well. It bothered her how Claude took off in a hurry to be at Rose’s side, not even taking a moment to say good morning to her. Was she being selfish and petty in such a time of need? Mayhap so, she wasn’t sure.

Had their coupling meant nothing to him? He told her he was falling in love with her, but he certainly didn’t act like it this morning.

“Evelina?” Felix knocked and then stuck his head in through the partially open door.

“Felix, I am ready,” she told him. “Let’s hurry to help Rose.”

“I’m afraid we can’t leave yet,” he told her.

“Can’t leave? Why not? Rose is in trouble.”

“I understand. But unfortunately, the horse we are using has thrown a shoe.”

“Well, get a blacksmith, quickly.”

“The blacksmith is in town, so we’ll have to walk with the horse until we get there.”

“Walk?” She looked down to her velvet gown and soft slippers. “Then I will have to change into my other clothes.” She looked through the travel bag but couldn’t find them. “Where are they?”

“Perhaps they are in the travel bag I saw Lord Claude take with him.”

“Well, then I will have to wear my good clothes, but I am afraid they will get ruined.”

“You look very pretty today,” said Felix. “Isn’t that the gown of a lady?”

“Aye, it is,” she told him. “I am wearing it because I am a lady, pretending to be a handmaid.”

“You are?” Felix’s eyes opened wide in surprise.

“My name is Lady Evelina du Pont from France. My father is a count.”

“By the rood,” said Felix, holding on to the doorframe for support. “Does Sir Claude know this?”

“I tried to tell him, but I don’t think he understood. Or at least, he didn’t believe me.”

“Why are you pretending to be a handmaid?” he asked.

“I will tell you all about it on the long walk to town.” She picked up the travel bag and slung it over her shoulder.

“Nay, let me carry that, my lady,” said Felix, taking the bag from her. She smiled. Felix accepted the news easily. Now, if only Claude would feel the same way, it would help. However, somehow, she thought he would have an entirely different reaction.