Lucy’s gaze flickered to the basket she held, then back up to her face. She frowned, question evident on her face as she tried to puzzle out why the princess loitered in the servant’s wing holding a basket of food.
“Are you lost?” the girl asked.
“No,” Rosamund said, finally finding her voice. “I need your help.”
“My help?” She drew up taller as she gazed at her, perplexed. “Of course, princess. Whatever you need.”
She almost snorted. When Lucy discovered what she needed, she may not be so ready to help. “Where is your room?”
Again, she gave her a confused look and then pointed. “Just there.”
It was only a few steps away. “Let’s go in there and I’ll tell you what I need.” She motioned for her to lead the way.
Lucy did and Rosamund fell in step behind her. The girl stopped at the first door and pushed it open, then stood aside for Rosamund to enter. The room was tiny and sparsely furnished, not at all the lavish suite she lived in. There was one narrow, lumpy bed with a few blankets and a pillow. A well-worn book rested on the middle of the bed. The mattress looked to be straw, not feather like hers. A table was next to the bed with a candleholder and one long taper that was lit to give the room a faint, warm glow. On the other side, a chamber pot and a small wardrobe that likely held the girl’s clothes.
“You live here?” she asked, unable to hide her surprise.
“Yes, your highness.” Lucy blushed, her cheeks turning a pale pink as she followed her in and closed the door.
The room was so small. So stuffy. And no window. How did she live like this?
“It’s not as lavish as your suite, of course,” the girl said, apologetic. “How can I help you?”
Rosamund stood a long moment in the center of the room, taking it all in. “Do all the servants live in rooms like this?”
“Most of us,” she said. “Except for the ones who have more seniority. Their rooms are a bit bigger.”
Rosamund thought of the scullery maid that had the worst job of all. Emptying chamber pots and scrubbing floors, the stove, pots and pans and cleaning vegetables, plucking chickens and scaling fish. Lucy, however, didn’t have a physical job like that. She was allowed to dress her in her fine gowns and style her hair. If she left the castle and her life of luxury behind, would she end up as a servant in someone’s household?
“Your highness?” Lucy asked. “You said you needed my help?”
She shook herself out of her thoughts. “Yes, I did, and well, perhaps I was wrong.”
She peered at the small wardrobe, wondering how many gowns the girl had. Certainly not nearly the number she had in her wardrobe. Gowns for every day and every occasion. She couldn’t bring herself to take one of the girl’s gowns. She’d just have to find something else to wear.
“Shall I accompany you back to your room and help you prepare for bed?” the girl asked.
“No,” Rosamund said, too quickly. “I can handle it myself.”
Lucy was clearly baffled by her strange behavior. She eyed the basket again on her arm. “Are you certain? The laces on your dress—”
“Oh! Of course.” Rosamund flushed. There was no way she would be able to remove the dress herself. She’d definitely need help.
“If I may ask, your highness, why do you have a basket on your arm?”
Feeling foolish, she uncovered the fruit and the bread. Lucy peered down at the basket, then glanced back up her. The surprise was evident on her face followed by question. Rosamund blew out a breath.
“This is just for later. Sometimes I get hungry in the night,” she lied.
Lucy looked as though she didn’t believe her, but said nothing. “I see.”
“Why don’t you walk me to my room?” she said, suddenly, trying to change the subject. “You can help me prepare for bed.”
Still, she did not have suitable clothing for sneaking out into the night, but she’d worry about that later. She hooked her arm in Lucy’s, plastered on her best smile, and together, they left and headed to her chamber.
Chapter 7
AssoonasLucyleft, Rosamund hopped out of bed and paced, her mind racing. She’d placed the basket beside the door as they entered. Lucy eyed it as she left but said nothing more about it.
