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Chapter Thirteen
Beneath the Table
When the Royal family had something to celebrate, then everyone in the district knew about it.
Fairly soon after we returned, every tavern in gossiping distance of the Great Castle knew the heroic tale of how Prince Balduin had hunted down the men who’d tried to assassinate him. They also knew of his mercy in sparing the life of Duke Wylder and taking in the duke’s family, who had been so ill-used by the traitor. Such was the pride the royal family had in Balduin, the Old Queen decreed that a great banquet was to be held in his honor.
By now, I knew better than to ask Nicolo how he felt about Balduin being given credit for what Nicolo had done. He didn’t care. He loved Balduin like a brother and understood how important it was that the young prince be regarded as a hero—Balduin wasn’t a popular figure and this might help increase his likability. Once Balduin was king, this relationship would presumably continue, with Balduin taking all the credit while Nicolo did all the work, and it was this hidden power behind the throne that unnerved men like Wylder.
The other reason Nicolo didn’t care was simpler; why should he? He already had everything any man could want except the freedom to leave, which he didn’t seem to want anyway. All the truth would gain him was the esteem of people whose opinions meant nothing to him anyway. And while there was a benefit in Balduin being thought of as heroic and merciful, those qualities would damage Nicolo’s image.
The Terrible preferred to be feared.
***
“There is a gift awaiting you in your room.”
I blinked, surprised.
There had been a distance between Nicolo and myself in the days following our return from the outskirts. It was a distance I was starting to believe was undoing much of the good work I’d done in getting close to him. I imagined this rift between us was likely down to Nicolo’s annoyance at how our almost-night together had ended, that he was still angry I hadn’t allowed him a release, but had preferred to keep teasing him, which had, in the end, left him frustratingly unfulfilled. Or perhaps it was owing to the fact that I was still a maid, which apparently bothered him, though I wasn’t sure why. I hadn’t pictured Nicolo for the sentimental type who would care about such things but, clearly, I was wrong.
But I was also aware that perhaps I’d taken a step back from him, as well, even unconsciously. What I’d seen of Master Nicolo on that trip had left me with questions about him and his true nature; the ease with which he’d killed Wylder’s man to get information, the ruthless way he’d used Wylder’s family as pawns. Both situations could be viewed in favorable terms, but they also could be view in ruthless ones. I wasn’t sure how much of it I would characterize as cruel, but it was a side to him I was just now seeing, even though the rumors of his terror had always existed. I was left with the understanding that I didn’t truly know Nicolo—there were times when I thought I did, other times when I thought I was getting close to knowing him but truly, his actions still surprised me and that meant I didn’t know him.
And, of course, he’d slapped me and though he’d apologized, the sting still remained.
Yet now he was offering me a gift?
“Thank you, Master.”
“It’s a gown,” Nicolo explained and his lips turned up into a small smile. “I want you to come to the banquet honoring Balduin, as my guest, and much as I appreciate your usual style of attire, I prefer you to be dressed like a lady for the evening.”
I was surprised he was inviting me as his guest, considering he seemed to give adequate regard to the difference in our social stature, but I said nothing about it. “Thank you, Master.”
Nicolo gave me a rueful smile and then inhaled deeply as he held my gaze. It seemed there was something else on his mind.
“Is there more, sir?”
He nodded quickly. “I’ve been hard on you lately.” He paused again. “Not everything that happened the night we shared a bed was at your instigation. And I’d be telling a falsehood if I said I didn’t enjoy it… right until the moment when we were interrupted.”
That was nice to hear but meaningless, because I’d already made up my mind to hurry this mission along. I’d already dawdled too long as it was. The time for action was nigh. “I’m sorry it ended when it did andhowit did,” I said, refusing to meet his eyes so he’d think I was blushing about the whole thing. “But I believe…” I sought for the right words, “…I believe we would have been happier if things hadn’t… gone so far.” Even though my comment came out a statement, it was more a question—something meant to give me an idea of where we now stood. Did he regret our near lovemaking?
Nicolo sighed. “We are in an unusual situation. Perhaps there’s a good reason women are not permitted to be soldiers and squires and so on. I’d always thought it a stupid rule, but I now appreciate that it can cause… problems.”
“Perhaps.”
“I think it would be best,” said Nicolo, “if we observed a more strictlyprofessionalrelationship from now on.” He breathed in deeply and nodded. “As of this moment forward, you are my squire and nothing more.”
I didn’t have to fake my disappointment because I felt it all the way down to my toes. For all that my opinion on Nicolo might have changed, my attraction hadn’t and neither had the fact that I needed to kill him. And seducing him had definitely proven the best and easiest way to get him alone. Now that seduction was off the table…
But, alas, was seduction really ever off the table?
“If you think it best, Master.”
“I do.”
I nodded. “So, I will attend the banquet as…”
“A colleague, I suppose,” he answered on a shrug. “I would rather not go alone, but I also intend to find myself a woman once I arrive.” He cleared his throat as my stomach dropped. “Hence the need for our…associationto be that of master and squire… only.”
