Chapter Seven #4
Her mind snapped to attention when she looked into a man’s eyes.
For a second she was confused, stunned by the masculine face.
His hair was tossed from the night and there wasn’t a stitch on him.
Nothing to shield his body. The early dawn light washed over his hard chest, down across his belly and along his thighs.
He stood up, stretching his arms. Her eyes were glued to the sight of his magnificent body.
The church would condemn her fascination with his earthly form, but her gaze roamed over him, touching the firm skin.
The sight was magnificent.
He turned, considering her with his midnight eyes. Even in the light of morning they seemed forged out of the night.
“I enjoy the look of ye tumbled in my bed quite a bit.” His attention lowered to her breasts that were bare and uncovered. “Aye, I believe I’ll take to waking up beside ye often.”
She pulled the heavy bedcover over her nude body.
He chuckled at her action. She expected him to tease her again but he bent down to retrieve his shirt where it lay on the floor.
His kilt was draped over the foot of the bed and half onto the floor, the wide leather belt used for holding it around his waist lying a few feet from the bed.
As he shrugged into the creamy linen shirt, she lowered her eyes to look at his cock.
It stuck out from his body, the head slightly red.
A deep chuckle jerked her attention back to his face. A grin decorated his lips.
“I’ll have to see about making sure ye get a chance to look yer fill at me later.” He shrugged his shoulders into the shirt. It slithered into place, the length of it falling to cover his cock.
“But nae now.”
He scooped up his kilt. Using the end of the bed, he laid it in even pleats over the belt.
His hands were confident at the task, telling her that he was not a man who expected service.
She might even forget he was a titled man while watching him lean back over the bed.
He grasped the ends of the belt and secured it around his lean waist. When he stood, the kilt fell perfectly around his thighs.
His self reliance drew her interest. She found him likeable and that frightened her.
Fear laced her thoughts as she contemplated a man she could see her heart growing fond of.
If he’d been anything like Philipa, she’d have ignored him easily.
“Good morning, mistress.”
Helen’s voice bounced off the chamber walls.
She led a string of maids in through the door, not stopping until she was leaning in among the bed curtains.
The maid beamed. Helen reached for the heavy bed coverings and tugged them clean to the foot of the bed.
Slumber evaporated instantly as Anne grabbed at the edge of the comforter.
She flopped over onto her belly as graceless as a newly caught fish, her eyes rounding when the morning air brushed her bare bottom.
“No need to be shy, mistress.” Helen was surprisingly strong, pulling the thick cover clear off the bed. A satisfied smile lit her face.
“Here now, out of bed with ye.”
Helen didn’t wait for Anne to overcome her modesty. She gently grasped a wrist, pulling her out of the bed. The row of maids all lowered themselves. There was a snap of fabric behind her. But she froze as she looked into Brodick’s eyes. He stood watching her, his expression unreadable.
“There now.” Helen held up the soiled sheet triumphantly.
She showed its bloody stain proudly to the waiting maids.
They all lowered themselves once more before turning to fetch her clothing.
Brodick eyed it, satisfaction lifting his eyes.
He had his boots on now and looked like the earl once more, the man she’d woken up with hidden behind a controlled expression.
“It will serve as a fine example to the castle folk to have this flying outside yer window.” Helen inspected the sheet closely, nodding approval. “Aye, indeed it will. Too many of the young are tempted to dally outside of marriage.”
Helen refused to give up the sheet, keeping a tight hold on it. She watched the maids bring forward Anne’s clothing with a keen eye.
“The lot of ye take notice, the lass is nae having her monthly curse.”
Every set of eyes flew to her bare thighs. Anne groaned softly, more embarrassed than she’d ever been in her life. Helen had no pity for her plight. The senior maid took an edge of the soiled sheet that was still clean and swiped it along her inner leg.
“You see? White as snow it is.”
“Helen…”
The maid didn’t look a bit contrite. She lifted her chin, satisfaction shining in her eyes.
“Just making sure that there is no question of yer honor.” She aimed a hard stare at the frozen maids. “From any corner of the castle.”
“Aye, ma’am.”
“Ma’am.”
“Indeed, mistress.”
“’Tis so, ma’am.”
Helen nodded approval. The maids began to dress Anne taking care to lay each garment softly against her skin. Her unbound hair was lifted gently by one set of hands while another eased her doublet up her right arm. Brodick watched, seemingly interested in her dressing.
“We’ll have some of yer clothing altered by tonight. Yer mother’s housekeeper should be demoted. None of yer corsets are the correct length on the sides. Such an oversight is shameful.”
A maid was closing the front of her doublet when a fist landed on the door.
“Open it.” The earl spoke with firm authority that sent every maid to lowering herself instead of doing what he wanted.
“Now, Ginny.”
Helen didn’t lack command presence—the maid jumped to the ring of urgency in her voice. One of them pulled the door wide. Cullen and Druce stood there along with three other men.
“Thank ye for attending us, my lords.” Brodick sounded more serious than an executioner. He pointed toward Helen.
The senior maid proudly pulled the sheet wide between her outstretched arms. Anne felt her face burn as the men all inspected the stain. They didn’t say anything, only stared before their gazes drifted over her.
“’Tis settled then.”