Page 18 of The Masked Baron
Andalin had already denied herself the company of Lord Kerrigan this morning. Now she would have to miss seeing him tonight too. She sighed. “Very well.”
Hannah left, and by the time she came back an hour later, Andalin had finally removed her hairpins from the night before and now paced in her room.
“Ye must be starved. Matilda made some nourishin’ stew for ye and plenty of rolls.”
“Thank you, Hannah.” Hannah’s smile was more generous and warmer than usual, and she left Andalin to her stew.
Andalin finished her meal and resumed her pacing. She felt caged. To be in her room all day with no real tasks might be all right for a real lady but not for an industrious girl like herself. She glanced at the box of handkerchiefs and wondered if she dared sneak them into Ellis’s room as an excuse to get out. She drummed her fingers. She didn’t feel brave enough to venture into his private quarters.
There was a knock on her door. Hannah must have come back for Andalin’s tray. Andalin was on her feet already, so she pulled the door open for Hannah. Except it wasn’t Hannah. It was Ellis.
“Good evening,” Andalin sputtered.
Ellis tipped his head. “Good evening.”
Andalin clutched her robe, bringing it tightly around her neck. Her hair was undone and in utter disarray all the way down to her waist. She used the door to shield herself and her embarrassment.
Ellis stretched his hand out. “I brought you a book, in case you need something to pass the time while you recover.”
Andalin glanced at the paper-covered book he had in his hand—a chapbook, no doubt, a popular, cheap source of information or frivolous entertainment. There were several just like it in their lending library in the shop. It was almost thoughtful. No, it was very thoughtful. And it was just what she needed.
“Thank you, your lordship.” She took the book from his hand and held it to her chest.
Ellis took a step back. “Rest well, then.”
“Wait!” Andalin said. “I have something that belongs to you.”
She went to the writing desk, set the book down, and exchanged it for the handkerchiefs. She returned to the door and handed them to Ellis.
“I needed a task, and Matilda let me embroider these for you.”
Ellis removed the lid and pulled out a white handkerchief. He fingered the embroidery, and then, to Andalin’s shock, he lifted the handkerchief to his nose and took a deep breath.
“It smells like you.”
Andalin swallowed, her face and neck hot with embarrassment. “I wasn’t aware I had a smell. But I’m sure they can be washed.”
Ellis shook his head, his voice soft. “No, I prefer them like this. Good night.”
Andalin quickly shut the door and put her hands on her hot cheeks. That man said the most outrageous things.
She walked to her writing desk and picked up the book. It was titled,The Witch of Baltar. She set it aside. Ellis had told her the night before that he knew a witch who collected beautiful things. And here she thought he was trying to be nice again. Well, he couldn’t scare her that easily.
Chapter 7
Andalin was eager to getdown to breakfast the next morning. There was still a guest in the house, which meant her day had plenty of potential. She was the first one to the dining room, so she ate her food very slowly so as not to miss eating with Lord Kerrigan.
She was not disappointed when the man finally entered wearing a broad smile.
“Good morning!” Lord Kerrigan called cheerfully, heading to the sideboard to fill his plate with food. “Are you feeling better?”
Andalin grinned. “Yes, thank you.” She hoped the invitation to Terrence Hill would be brought up before breakfast was over, but she needed to ease it into their conversation. She searched her mind for proper conversation topics. “Lord Kerrigan, do you have family close?”
He sat across from her and tucked his napkin into his collar. “My younger sister is married and lives on the other side of Thornton. My mother stays with me a few months of the year, but to be honest, I think she prefers the company of my sister.”
“I should have liked to have had a sister. Are you close?”
Lord Kerrigan shrugged. “As close as a brother and sister could be. I’ve always fancied I would have liked a brother. Lord Cadogen has done his best to fill that role over the years.”
