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“Noblewomen of the West and South aren’t like the women of the North,” I whispered to Henrike. “They are locked away from men until marriage.”
Curiosity flared in my sister’s eyes. “Does that mean she has never been with a man before?”
I looked over at Mina, who turned her pretty head over her shoulder to see what was going on.
“Not even a kiss,” I whispered, instantly picturing Mina’s full, rosy lips.
Henrike shook her head in awe.
“What are you two conniving about?” Mina asked.
“Nothing,” I said and placed my leather shirt over the chair as well. I grabbed my wet woolen coat and walked over to the door. “I will check on the trunks. The keeper is taking too long. You can change into one of your dry dresses once I get your trunks up here.” Mina was about to protest, but I cut her off before she could. “I will wait outside.”
That seemed to satisfy her partially. “And where will you sleep?” she asked, her amber eyes sparkling at me like little stars. Her cheeks were still as red. Did she think I wanted to sleep in the same bed with her? She was pretty but also spoiled and selfish. The way she had diminished all those people at the ball. I could never be attracted to a woman who wasn’t loyal, honest, strong, and above all, kind—traits Mina clearly lacked. The kind part, at least.
Yet, the thought of her warm skin touching mine...
I cleared my throat. By the gods, what was going on with me?
“Of course not. I will sleep on the floor.”
Mina was still frowning. “In this room?”
Henrike sighed. “Of course in this room. Where else? If you’re accusing my brother of indecency, then let me tell you, there is no man more honorable—”
“It’s fine, Henrike.” My sister looked at me, the anger still fresh in her eyes. I was grateful for her defending my honor, but I didn’t want to set those two at each other’s throats again. I was exhausted. Up until a few weeks ago, I’d been a soldier at war, physically and spiritually drained. If I could get a good night’s rest, it would do wonders for me—even if that was on the floor in the hallway.
“I will sleep outside.”
“What?” Henrike said. “In the hallway?”
“Nobody said anything about the hallway. Let him get another room.” Mina made her case. “I have more than enough jewelry on me to buy this whole town.”
“You don’t know my brother at all, do you?” Henrike countered. “He would never leave our door unguarded.”
“A hallway is still better than the wet tents I had to make do with at war,” I said, hoping Henrike would drop the matter.
“You were fighting in the Northern wars?” For the first time in, well, ever, I heard a hint of kind concern in Mina’s voice. The outrage was gone from her face, replaced with soft compassion. Her beautiful eyes searched my face as if finding something new in the sight. It made me feel strange.
I faked a smile. “Ah, nothing to concern yourself with. Now let me check on those trunks. I want you out of that dress.”
Mina’s hand rushed to her lips in shock.
“I mean, to dry off. Not out of your dress. I mean, yes, you would need to take it off, but that’s not how I meant it.” I sounded like a fool. This woman was literally driving me insane. I was not some blushing bride. I had experienced the world. So to act like this in front of her...“I better check on those trunks.” I turned and left quickly. As I pulled the door shut a little too hard behind me, I could hear the bickering between my sister and Mina starting again.
“Must you treat him so badly?” Henrike scolded Mina.
“Badly? He will be rich in a few days, thanks to me. Both of you. So if anything, he should thank me.”
“Thank you? If it wasn’t for him, you would be on your way to marrying some fat pig.”
I shut them both out, trying to forget that I’d just been talking about getting Mina out of her dress. She had made it very clear that she didn’t want a marriage to my house when I met her at the ball. But the way she had just looked at me. Those stunning eyes had been filled with something that I could swear was sadness and kindness, not hate. And that incident in the cart. She’d been about to fall, and I had reached for her instead of my sister. The feel of her waist in my hands, her body pressed against mine.
“What are you still doing out here?” Henrike whispered as she shut the door behind her.
“Catching my breath.”
Henrike sighed and lowered her voice. “I told you all of this was a bad idea. We should have never gone to that ball.”
