Page 45 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

Chapter 10

It had been a week now since Martine started making changes at the inn. Already, the business seemed to have picked up and for that she was happy. She had got here early today, wanting to look back at the ledgers and to also take inventory of what food and drink was kept at the inn.

Martine didn’t see the stable boy James anywhere, and decided he was probably asleep in the barn. Dexter yawned atop his horse, not bothering to get off his steed anymore when he dropped her off here.

“Where is the stable boy?” asked the guard.

“I’m sure James is just still sleeping. I’ll take my horse to him in the stables.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” she said, holding up her hand. “I actually think I see him coming now.”

“Anything else, my lady?” asked the guard with another yawn. The sun wasn’t even up yet, and it was dark but lit by the moon. She hadn’t really seen James, but she wanted Dexter to leave.

“That’ll be all. You’re dismissed,” she told him, watching him go before she even got to the stable. Instead, she tied the reins of her horse to the hitching post just outside the tavern. She felt as if she were being watched, spinning around to find a dog sitting at her feet. “Why hello there,” she said to the dog. “You’re cute.”

She bent over and pet the dog on the head. It was a brown mutt with matted fur. He looked as if he’d been sleeping in the barn since stalks of straw were clinging to him. The dog looked up at her with sad eyes, laying down and putting his nose between his paws. She saw his body shaking.

“You look cold and hungry,” she said, digging into her travel bag slung over her shoulder. “I have something you might like.” She pulled out a piece of dried beef that she’d taken from the kitchen at the castle, wanting to suggest to David that this could be used at his inn, being able to keep for a long time. All he had to do was to throw it in soup or a bubbling pot of stew for a while and it would add sustenance and also flavor since it was salted. “You can have this. You need it more than me.” She held out the dried beef and the dog sprang to his feet and gobbled it down. “I’ll bet you’re a stray. You’ll need water, too. Come, we’ll get some from the night kettle in the kitchen.”

She headed to the tavern and the dog followed on her heels. When she opened the door and looked inside, she realized no one was there. She supposed everyone was still sleeping and didn’t want to wake them. “Come,” she said, patting her leg, trying to coax the dog inside, but the animal stopped at the door and wouldn’t enter.

The poor thing seemed frightened. He probably had always been an outside dog and had never stepped inside a building before and didn’t know what to expect. She dug back into her bag and this time pulled out a hunk of bread. Breaking it in pieces, she dropped a trail of food, and the dog followed the tidbits inside, eating the scraps she threw down.

“There, that’s better,” she said in a whisper, closing the door. “You don’t look so cold now.”

After taking the dog to the kitchen and giving him a big drink of water, she decided to get some things done while she waited for everyone to wake up. She always rose early at the castle. Since the tavern was opened late, she supposed everyone was tired and that is why they were still sleeping. She hadn’t told anyone she’d be here early today, so didn’t expect to be greeted.

“Is someone out here?” David walked out into the tavern, rubbing his eyes. There was only a small tallow candle encased in a glass burning on the edge of the drink board, so the place was still dark.

“It’s just me, David,” she said, walking over to greet him. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.

This past week at the tavern had gone smoothly. Working side by side, Martine and David had already managed to make some good changes. The tavern didn’t stink anymore, and everyone was getting along. Martine had mentioned to David that Dirk smelled like sweat. When word got back to Greta, she made not only Dirk but every one of them bathe in one of the new tubs that David had made out of a wine barrel to use for the overnight nobles.

Cinnamon had been no help at all. She started avoiding Martine altogether, and that was just fine with her. Martine didn’t like the whore and wished that David would get rid of her, but he’d told her he wouldn’t. It had something to do with a deal that the whore and his father had made years ago.

“Why are you here so early?” he asked, pulling her into his arms and giving her a hug. They’d been kissing when they weren’t being watched, but privacy was scarce here, and Martine longed for more time alone with David.

“I wanted to surprise you, but you seem to be up and dressed so I guess you couldn’t sleep either.”

“I was dreaming about you,” he said, sounding sexy.

“What about me?” she asked.

“Let’s just say it was a very improper dream to have.”

“Not any more improper than the ones I’ve been having about you,” she said with a giggle. She had been dreaming of coupling with David lately. Each day she spent at his side only made her want to make love with him even more.

“Shhh,” he said. “I hear something.”

“That’s just the dog panting.”

“The dog?” asked David, looking around his feet. “What is Patch doing in here?”

“Oh, is he your dog?” she asked. “The poor thing was shaking from the cold.”

“He lives in the stables,” David told her. “He’s just old and that’s why he shakes. Plus, he is afraid of just about everything. He’s never even come inside before because he’s always too frightened. How did you get him in here?” David bent down and pet the dog.