Lady Helena tapped her chin with her fingernail. “What if we were to noise it about that you know who let that stallion loose in the stable. Then he willhaveto kill you in order to not be found out.”
“Excellent idea.”
“But how to keep you safe?” Lady Helena rose and walked about the room, examining it. It was opulent, with tapestries and paintings on the walls, a wardrobe, a sideboard, tables, chairs, and the great bed Eugenia lay on. “There is nowhere to hide someone in here to listen or seize this man if our plan works.”
Eugenia pointed her finger downward. “How about under the bed?”
Lady Helena frowned. “I do not like it. If we have a man under there, ready to come defend you, he may not be able to get out from under there in time to keep you alive. This villain, as we call him, could stab you or shoot you long before he can stop him.”
Eugenia nodded. “You may be right on that count, My Lady.”
“I think it is past time we drop such formality while in private,” Lady Helena said smiling and sitting back down in her chair. “In private, you call me simply Helena.”
“That will be difficult,” Eugenia said, laughing. “I have called you ‘My Lady’ since I was a baby.”
“I know. But if you and His Grace marry, then you will be my equal anyway.”
“That is getting ahead of ourselves, is it not?” Eugenia asked. “His Grace and I like each other –”
“Please, Eugenia,” Lady Helena said, pursing her lips in a sardonic moue. “I see the way he looks at you, the way you look at him. If you both are not falling in love, you are the closest thing to it.”
“I never imagined this would happen,” Eugenia said, looking away toward the window. “Me, an orphaned waif, a ladies’ personal maid, who turned a Duke’s head.”
“High born men have married commoners before,” Lady Helena said, her tone calm. “Commoners have received titles and lands from the King, then became aristocrats instantly. It is not unheard of.”
“It is in my life,” Eugenia replied.
“Let us talk about this scheme of yours later,” Lady Helena walked toward the door. “The Duchess requires mine and my mother’s help in planning the ball.”
“You will not mention it to your mother?” Eugenia fretted she insulted her friend by asking that. “Or anyone?”
“Of course not, silly. It is hardly a trap if everyone is talking about it. See you soon.”
* * *
By the next morning, Eugenia felt well enough to return to her duties as Lady Helena's maid. Though stiff and still very sore, she moved slowly and with Mr. Leary’s blessing and encouragement. “Moving around will help the stiffness,” he advised. “Just be careful.”
Thus, freshly washed and gowned, she made her slow, cautious way down the stairs toward the kitchen, where she hoped Maximilian waited for her. Though he did not wait for her as he had in the past, she found him limping across the main floor of the castle toward the dining hall. His brows rose at the sight of her, but he smiled in welcome.
“Has Mr. Leary permitted you to be up and about?” he asked by way of greeting.
“One might ask the same of you.” she returned.
“Are we not a pair?” His smile widened into a grin. “Bruised and battered like a couple of old soldiers.”
Eugenia walked closer and noticed his facial bruises had begun to fade, turning a yellowish tinge that indicated healing. Her own face held the same marks when she inspected herself in the looking glass. His wrist was no longer wrapped, yet was swollen and discolored. The walking stick had vanished.
Standing as close as possible to him, Eugenia gazed up into his deep-sea eyes, wishing she could wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. She saw the same desire cross his expression when the flesh around his eyes softened, and his lips parted. However, a public display of affection was unseemly and ill-mannered. She daydreamed about the day when she might hold him in her arms in private.
“Eugenia,” he murmured, his grin fading.
“A walk in the garden tonight?”
“Yes.” He nodded, then brushed his finger tenderly down her cheek, touching her bruise without causing her pain. “I will be there.”
“Until then.”
She dipped into a quick curtsey and walked stiffly toward the kitchen doors yet felt his eyes on her back. Warmth and delight quivered in her belly; she might convince him to kiss her in the garden under the moonlight. Mr. Simmons and Deryn, somehow expecting she would be down from her room to break her fast, greeted her with smiles and a full plate.
