No more than ten and two, she was well-kept and neatly presented. “My lady asked that I see to your needs.”
From lady to servant to squire. Clara sighed.
She could do this.
“I’ve none, Ansley, save bed coverings and a clean chamber,” she said. “And a basin of water, if you please.”
She could not ask for a bath to be brought unless she wanted the servants to speak about her, which she did not. Filling a tub was no small matter, and until she learned how Alex cleaned himself, she’d not presume to request such a thing. And though they’d crossed a river not far from the castle before arriving, Clara was not yet prepared to follow it into the forest. She must first ensure it was, indeed, private.
With a small bow, Ansley left her. A short time later, she returned, and the two of them set to putting the chamber in order. It was only when she received a strange glance from the maid that Clara remember her newly altered status.
God’s blood, this was going to be difficult.
“So this is where the new squire sleeps.” Lady Juliette’s voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
When her patroness entered the room, Ansley bowed deeply. “That will be all. Thank you, Ansley.”
The servant startled, likely for being thanked for doing her duty. Or mayhap she was merely surprised that Lady Juliette, who had only just arrived to Brockburg, knew her name. Clara was not. Had circumstances been different, the new lady of the house was exactly the kind of woman whom she would have befriended.
Placing a small wooden tray on the bed, she closed the door behind her. Lady Juliette sat in the solo wooden chair against the circular stone wall and gestured for Clara to sit on the newly made bed. She did so, folding her hands on her lap.
“You’ve not yet eaten.” Lady Juliette pointed to the tray, which was piled with bread and cheese. Clara eyed it hungrily, but she would wait for the lady to leave before partaking of the food.
“You only just arrived at your new home and have no need to care for me, my lady. Although I thank you for doing so.”
Clara cursed herself. Though she’d succeeded in training herself to speak in a lower voice than was natural for her, she still struggled with her speech. Gilbert had often chided her for slipping back into the speech of a high-born lady, and she’d just done it again.
And Lady Juliette had noticed.
“When I told the men you’re bred of a great family, a noble family, I was not far off the mark.” She stated it as a fact, not a question. Adorned in a simple but elegant deep green gown fit for a queen, her long blonde hair flowing down her back, Lady Juliette embodied the noblewoman she had accused Clara of being.
Clara knew to secure the safety of living at Brockburg, she would be forced to reveal more than she was accustomed to the chief and his wife. But just how much was safe to share?
“At least tell me your name.”
In this Clara was lucky. All who knew her, who would be looking for her, called her by her given name, Lady Clarissa.
“Clara.”
“’Tis Lady Clara, I presume?”
She hesitated.
“We will start with Clara. And I insist you call me Juliette.”
When she began to shake her head, Juliette amended, “In private, if it pleases you.”
Clara tilted her head to the side.
“Do you remember the night we spoke last?” Juliette pressed. “The night I left Bristol?”
Neither of them were likely to forget it. It was the same night Lady Juliette had discovered that Toren had been sent to England to kill her father. The lady had been so upset at his duplicity, she’d left that very night, prompting Toren to go after her.
“Aye, and I’m sorry I was forced to share your secret with Toren.”
“I understand. ’Twas necessary.” Juliette leaned forward. “Do you remember what I told you? I said that you could trust him.” She smiled. “I stand by my claim. You can trust us both to keep your secret as long as you wish it. Clara, you’ve nothing to fear from us. We will keep you safe, ’tis my promise as well as my husband’s.”
She so desperately wanted to believe it. And would have more easily if Gilbert’s voice had not been whispering in her head ever since she’d agreed to come to Scotland. Trust no one. He had said it so many times Clara had often