AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why don’t you want to wait on him?” I asked, frowning at them both.
They all looked at each other before looking at me, their expressions revealing that I’d just asked the stupidest question they’d ever heard.
“It’sthe master,” Elsie said.
“The Terrible,” Trudy added.
“Yes, so I’ve been told he’s called,” I answered on a shrug, doing my best to keep my smile to myself—there was a certain sense of mirth to be taken from others’ shock.
“Then you would know why none of us wants to wait on him.” Hmm, I’d have to find out this one’s name.
“Oh, actually, I don’t,” I answered, chewing on my lip and offering them an expression of ignorance.
“Do you know what he might do to you?” Elsie asked.
“No,” I admitted, frowning on another shrug. “But do tell because owing to your expressions, it must be quite scandalous?”
“Whatever he wants,” the girl nearest me, Jurval I thought her name might be, replied. Or perhaps it was Surval? Burval?
It sounded to me as if they didn’t know what they were scared of, and they were just scared on principle. As far as I could tell, everyone was scared of ‘the master’ and I still had no idea why.
“I’ll serve him.”
They didn’t waste any time before accepting my offer. In fact, their relief was palpable and I was quite certain both I and my idiocy would be the subject going round the scullery maids tonight.
Regardless, that night, I found myself standing just behind and to the right of Master Nicolo’s chair, where he sat at the head table, beside the heir to the throne, Prince Balduin. As far as I understood things, Nicolo was Balduin’s closest friend, and also the only reason Balduin was even alive.
The prince, himself, sat to the right of the Old Queen. Though she was officially titled ‘Queen Nell’, everyone referred to her and thought of her as the ‘Old Queen’, the only monarch most could remember.
Women weren’t permitted to rule—apparently the Great God had some sort of issue with it—but when King Moros had died young, his death was kept a closely guarded secret by Queen Nell and the immediate court, partly to avoid civil war over an unclear succession, partly because Queen Nell wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
For five years she ruled as regent, while the king’s ‘ill health’ prevented him from appearing in public. By the time his death was finally admitted to, everyone had gotten accustomed to Queen Nell being in charge, and she’d clung to that power through plots and coups ever since.
The Old Queen had born two daughters of her own (both situated some way down the table, reflecting their place in the succession). Of those two, only Princess Maeve had had children, and after five daughters, the question of the succession had loomed again. Then she gave birth to Balduin, and the future of the throne was safe.
Or so it seemed at the time.
Master Nicolo raised his hand and I was instantly beside him to refill his glass. I took the opportunity to get a closer look at him. What I’d glossed over that first time I’d seen him in the corridor was just how truly handsome he was, in a rugged, rough-hewn sort of way. But even in his good looks there seemed an edge of danger, a darkness to the undeniable sexuality that hung about him.
Or maybe I was getting carried away.
There was something about Nicolo that made me feel as if I were just like all the other girls, both anxious and unintentionally admiring. The difference was that I’d always tended to run towards the things that scared me, to touch them, to try them, to get over my fear in the most direct way possible. But, in this case, it would have been a breach of social etiquette for me to touch Master Nicolo, however much I wanted to run my fingers along that strong, rough jawline, or catch them in the curls of hair around his ears.
Almost as if he were privy to my thoughts, his violet eyes flashed in my direction and held my gaze. There was surprise in his—surprise no doubt owing to the fact that he’d never seen me before, as I was new here. But soon that surprise yielded to something else—admiration. I could see as much in the way the ice in his gaze melted just so and a heat overtook it.
I allowed myself what I hoped was a teasing smile.
He smiled back but the expression on his face wasn’t a kind one. No, there was nothing generous or gentle about that smile—it was the devil’s own—the sort of expression that belonged to the ultimate of predators. For an instant, his eyes flicked down to my bosom—the maid’s uniforms were designed to lift and enhance, because the men of the court liked entertainment while they ate. Because I’d been graced generously in both my upper and lower departments, the uniform was quite snug in both areas. And I’d adjusted my blouse to reveal even more, because I wanted Nicolo to notice me.
And that was exact what he was currently doing.
His eyes lingered on my cleavage long enough for me to be quite convinced he liked what he saw. When his eyes found mine once again, they further thawed.
“Is there anything else you desire, Master?” I asked, my tone of voice deep and sultry. It was something I’d practiced—along with the lowering of my eyes so as to appear submissive, the slight breath through my open lips and the slow sweep of my eyelashes.
His eyes remained on my face. “Step back.”
It was the first time I’d heard that low, husky voice. It sounded like the taste of dark liquor, rich and smoky. But above all, it was a voice of command, and one not to be disobeyed.
