Chapter 13
Thirteen
Kendra
BACK AT THE cottage, Kendra eyed her chamber suspiciously. “Is there any of that putrid cheese left anywhere?”
“Nowhere.” Trick threw the bedcovers back so forcefully they half-landed on the floor. “No mousetraps. No cheese.”
She hugged herself. “It’s cold in here.”
“I can fix that.” He strode over to shut the two open windows, then threw another log on the fire, sending sparks flying. “Better?”
“Warmer, for sure.” Pomanders had been set about, doubtless by Margaret. Kendra inhaled appreciatively. “It smells lovely in here.”
“You smell lovely in here,” Trick returned, coming close enough to overwhelm her senses. His fingers began working the tabs on her stomacher. “At last,” he murmured in a husky tone that made her heart skip. “We are finally alone—”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Kendra huffed in exasperation.
“Yes?” Trick called irritably, pacing over to open it.
“Good evening, your grace.” Margaret entered, steaming tankards in both hands. “I’ve brought warm ale posset for the two of you.”
Looking resigned, he took a tankard and politely sipped from it. “It’s delicious. Thank you. You may leave now.”
Margaret bustled over to Kendra and handed her the second tankard. “Shall I turn down the bed for you?”
“Thank you, but we’ve taken care of that.” Trick gestured toward the mess he’d made of the bed.
Kendra tasted the posset. “Mmmm. What’s in this?”
“Ale and milk and sugar and ginger and nutmeg, and I don’t know what else. Some secret ingredient.” Margaret leaned close to Kendra to whisper. “The cook here was making some for a friend. She said it stimulates the passions. Given your current troubles, I thought—”
“Please leave now,” Trick cut in.
Margaret pretended she hadn’t heard him. “Shall I help you undress, your grace?”
“You shall not.” Trick began edging her toward the door. “I will undress her grace.”
Looking scandalized, Margaret hurried out.
After Trick closed the door behind the maid, Kendra released the laugh she’d been holding in. “She said this drink—”
“I heard what she said, and I daresay neither of us needs our passions stimulated. Still and all, I suppose it can’t hurt to drink it.” Tipping back his head, he drained his tankard in one long draft before slamming it down on the octagonal table.
“Well, then I reckon I’ll drink mine, too,” Kendra said with a wink. Enjoying Trick’s impatient gaze on her, she drank hers down more delicately.
He took the tankard from her hand and slammed it down beside his. “Now…”
Smiling woozily, feeling warm and tingly, she watched him finish detaching her stomacher while her hands went to his laces. Her fingers fumbled. “Od’s fish. I’m suddenly feeling very tired. Not pretend-tired so we can get away from everyone, but really, really tired—”
He shut off her words with a kiss. A rush of bliss and excitement overtook her, and she threw her arms around his neck, breathing in his enticing sandalwood scent. But he pulled back all too quickly, blinking in bewilderment. “I’m really tired, too.”
“Maybe we should lie down for a few minutes. After the long day, perhaps a tiny nap will revive us.”
“Perhaps,” he said.
And the next thing she knew, he was on the bed snoring, fully clothed.
A moment after that, she was beside him and sound asleep, too.