Page 32 of Enamored
“Your messenger said to come right away, that you had good news for me regarding my decision.” Elinor lifted a hand and fanned her face, all the while continuing to stare straight ahead.
My messenger? Had Rasmus purposefully arranged for Elinor to arrive in my room just as I was getting out of bed so we might find ourselves in this indecent predicament? What would happen next? Would the king appear any second to discover me unclad with the princess in my chamber?
I motioned at Dag to help me don my garments. “I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness. But I believed I had a moment longer.”
“No, ’tis I who must apologize.” Again her voice was breathy. “I did not expect to see your chest—I mean shoulders—arms—” She fanned her face more rapidly.
I paused in thrusting my arms through my sleeves. The sight of my body was rattling her. Did she like what she saw?
I resumed my dressing, a twinge of satisfaction settling inside me.
“I shall wait in the hallway for you to finish.” She crossed to the door, but as she tugged the handle, the door remained firmly closed.
Was the scribe in the hallway holding the door closed, ensuring that she had to stay?
I finished pulling on my tunic. “Have no fear, Your Highness. I am nearly fully garbed.”
“I did not realize your state of undress, Maxim. I vow it. Or I would not have barged in as I did.”
“’Tis my fault entirely.” Dag held out a doublet, and I shrugged into it. “I should have been ready but was inevitably delayed.”
Without worrying about the lengthy line of buttons up the front of my doublet, I stepped into my leggings. Dag attached them to the fastening cord of my breeches. Once in place, I added the surcoat that fell to midthigh. “There, almost done now.”
She peeked over her shoulder, but finding Dag still at work, her gaze returned to the door. “Did you sleep well?” Her voice was unnaturally high.
“Yes. Very.” I slid on my belt as Dag held up one of my stockings.
“Good.”
“And you?” I asked. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Quite well.”
I stuffed my foot into the stocking and started to tie it into place as Dag helped me with the second stocking. I couldn’t remember ever dressing so quickly. I’d likely set a record.
“Have you yet to break your fast?” she asked, filling the awkward silence.
“I admit I haven’t.”
“I could send word to the kitchen to put together fare for us to take on our excursion.”
Excursion? Was that how Rasmus had relayed my request to her? I straightened and allowed Dag to button my doublet.
“Or not,” she quickly added. “If you’d prefer not to...”
She was most definitely rattled. More so than I’d ever seen her before. Breaking free of Dag, I approached Elinor until I stood directly behind her. She cast me another look before she turned. Her eyes were still rounded and filled with an appreciation that sent another jolt of gratification through me. Even if her presence in my chamber was inappropriate, it was showing me how much I affected her.
Of all the reasons why Rasmus had arranged Elinor’s arrival to my chamber, this had to be the primary one. To allow me to gain confidence in my ability to bend her to my will.
If only the thought of doing so held pleasure. As it was, the prospect of manipulating her any further than I already had held no appeal. Yet now that Rasmus’s messenger had informed the princess of my good news for her, what other choice did I have but to continue down the path Rasmus had mapped?
Chapter
11
Elinor
Inwardly I couldn’tstop flushing, especially because whenever I glanced at Maxim atop his steed, I pictured him standing beside his bed, wearing only his breeches.
