Page 8 of Centerpiece

“They like you in your household, at least.”Agreeable was certain of that.“You’ll be among friends.”

“You are a sweet creature.If I were in the capital, I’d have to suspect you of trying to trick me or flatter me falsely, but we are here, and you are Agreeable, the honest thief.”Holburn continued to show delight.

Agreeable glanced down—a demure lass in spirit—and then up again.“Don’t need to lie to steal.”

He liked earning smiles but he enjoyed earning laughter more.“You’re right.I apologize.You are Agreeable, honest and true.”

“I’m not entirely honest,” Agreeable had to admit.

“And Icanbe a cold bastard,” Holburn returned.

Agreeable shrugged.“I don’t think I mind.”

That was maybe a little too warmly said, but Agreeable wasn’t much good at hiding things.Here he was, halfway to offering himself for a tumble—again—and only barely remembering that he was supposed to be a woman in time to stop himself.Anyway, whether or not Holburn wanted a woman, he didn’t want Agreeable.He accepted how Agreeable was, but that didn’t mean he wanted him.

Her, Agreeable corrected himself, then paused.Him, even if the way Holburn called him a good girl had made his cock plump.

He looked away and cleared his throat.“Do you think it’s clear out there?Or that maybe enough people are downstairs that they won’t notice me?”

“No.But there is another small staircase at the end of the hall leading to the privies.If you turn, there is a path that leads outside if you need another exit.”

“You are too helpful.”Agreeable huffed and fiddled with his skirt again, thinking that he ought to have stolen an apron as well, and then that fiddling with his apron when flustered was something his ma used to do when his da would call her lovely or bring her a posy of flowers.“If they catch me, I won’t mention you.”

“If they catch you, I will hear about it.”Holburn’s smile left him at last.“Are you going to go, then?”

“Well, I’ll try.”Agreeable chewed his lip, then got to his feet.“Thank you again for the food.And the rescue, sir.”

“Why did you stay in town?”Holburn wondered, rising to his feet as well.“Why not just run away?”

“They were after me, and I figured I’d go through town and take the long way back to the woods.Only everyone kept noticing me.”

“Yes,” Holburn agreed, “you draw the eye.”

Agreeable could feel himself blushing like a maiden and didn’t know what to do with himself.He ducked his head and wobbled toward the door on trembling legs.

“See, now I don’t know what to make of that,” he confessed with his gaze safely on the door.“But I should stop troubling you.You travelled, didn’t you?You must be tired.And I took half your food.”

“I ordered more than I needed.”Holburn was close at his back.His tone was amused, but when Agreeable reached the door and finally turned around, there wasn’t even a hint of a smile at his mouth.“Be careful.I’d hate to hear that something had happened to you.”

It was the kind of thing that Agreeable would have liked to have heard from one of the lads.He nodded.His voice was tight.“You’ll do well at your home.I know you will.You’re a respectful person.”

“Am I?”Tall as an oak again, Holburn could have reached out and trapped Agreeable against the door.

Agreeable tipped his head up to look into eyes of warm red-brown one more time.“You’re kind.”

“I am not.”Holburn didn’t look away.“Not always.”

Agreeable stilled his trembling as best he could and lowered his head again as he reached for the handle.Then he slipped out from under the arm Holburn had raised to lean against the doorframe and opened the door to peer outside.

One of the large, armed figures from earlier slouched against the wall at the top of the stairs leading to the first floor.

Agreeable quickly shut the door and spun around.Startled, Holburn stepped back and withdrew his arm.

“A guard,” Agreeable explained before Holburn could ask.“Damn my luck.”

“A guard?”Holburn repeated with a small frown and a darted glance toward the door.“But not the bailiff?”

“No.Not wearing any colors either, but I know a guard when I see one.Maybe the Count heard of the situation and offered his guards to help the bailiff.Him, or one of the other local lords.”

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