Chapter Seven

R eina rarely used the bathing stool that would be placed in the center of the large, cloth-lined tub for her to sit on, and this time was no different. But today her need was to sink down into the hot water to help ease her sore muscles, and as she was so small, she did not need that much water. Oil of myrrh had been added to her bath, and its delicate, exotic sweetness soothed and relaxed her; it had been her favorite scent ever since she discovered it in the cartload of treasures her father sent home.

The opening of the door had her sitting up in the tub, since Wenda had already brought in the last of the hot water heated over the hearth in the lord’s chamber, but she sank back down again when she saw it was only Theodric. She heard him dismiss Wenda and wondered why he was back so soon, but she waited for him to volunteer the information. She had a foreboding that she would not like it, and so was in no hurry to hear it.

She had already spoken to her steward and was sure everything would be nearly back to normal below, but she knew she should not be tarrying in her chamber, not with guests in the keep. Yet her chamber was the one place, the only place, where she could be assured of privacy without demands being made of her, which was what she needed at the moment. No one but Theo or Wenda would ever enter here without her permission, and when she was here, which was not often, everyone knew she did not like to be disturbed.

These rules had come about because of Theo. Her ladies knew that he served her, but not in what capacity. They knew that women held no attraction for him—how could they not know when he was so obvious about his preferences? Still, they were most of them too young to understand if they should walk in, like now, and find him in the chamber whilst she was in her bath.

His twin sister, Ethelinda, had been her chambermaid since Reina was twelve. That the twins were nigh inseparable had gotten Reina used to having Theo in her chamber, at first attending to the chores allotted to menservants, but soon, when Ethelinda was busy, taking over some of her duties. His touch was more gentle, so he was better at combing and arranging her hair, kept her clothing neater; abhorred filth, so kept her chamber cleaner.

When he was fourteen he had his first affair of the heart, and although she was shocked that it was with another male, she soon became used to that, too. Afterward, she no longer dived for cover to hide her nudity whenever he unexpectedly entered her chamber. He became just Theo, a male, but not a male in any threatening sense. So it seemed only natural, when Ethelinda died in a tragic accident not long after Reina’s father left for the Holy Land, that Theo should assume all her duties.

Reina had already been attached to him, as she had been to his sister. They consoled each other in their grief over the loss of Ethelinda and became even closer. There grew a bond between them. Theo was not just her servant but her friend, which was why he took liberties with her that no other would dare to take. But her father would not have allowed it, no man was likely to understand, so no one except Wenda actually knew that Theo was her “chambermaid,” that it was he who bathed her, dressed her, saw to all her needs.

The “secret” had been necessary while she was younger, and to protect her even younger ladies from any undue influence, but now Reina was a right unto herself and did not care who knew, for no one would dare gainsay her. Not even her husband could say aught about who should serve her, not with all she would bring to him, especially after knowing the circumstances. But if necessary, she would have it included in her marriage contract.

Theo was still silent, and Reina’s water was growing cold. “Well?” she called from deep in the tub.

“Well, what?”

She sat up at that sulky reply to rest her arms on the edge of the tub. It took a moment for her to locate Theo sitting dejectedly on the floor in the corner, his arms wrapped around bent knees upon which his chin drooped.

She obviously did not need to ask, but did, gently. “He was not interested?”

“Not even a little.”

“What is wrong with you? You do not usually take rejection so to heart.”

His head snapped up. “You did not see him, Reina, all golden-skinned and so beaut—”

“Spare me his praises, Theo,” she cut in dryly. “’Tis ever the same with you each time a new, handsome face comes along. And you never stop to think of your current lover and what he would do if he learned of it. Is he not one of the men-at-arms? I do not want to have to send him to Roth Hill as I did the last one because he beat you for your unfaithfulness.”

“Can I help it that men are so possessive?”

Reina laughed at his long-suffering tone. “If you want to be like Eadwina and flit from one man to another, then you should not commit yourself to a single one.”

“You compare me to that slut, who has crawled into every bed in the keep?” he demanded indignantly. “She is too stupid to know how to please a man for more than one day!”

“But smart enough to avoid any jealous beatings, which you are not,” she reminded him. “I do not like putting you back together after they are done with you. If you cannot be faithful, Theo, at least pick your lovers smaller than you, or build up your muscles.”

“But I like to feel helpless, as a woman would feel. Would you want to be stronger—”

“We are not discussing me,” she retorted as she stood up. “And I do not know why I bother to talk sense into you, for you will do as you always do, no matter what I say.”

Theo was quick to come forward with a drying cloth and to help her out of the large tub, which she was only just able to step over. He was loath to tell her he had made the giant angry, but he could not let her face the man not knowing. She brought up the subject again herself.

“Did you at least discover what this Sir Ranulf is doing here?”

He wrapped a cloth around her wet hair, washed earlier by Wenda. “There was not much chance of putting a question to him with all those he was asking. He was curious about Clydon, as most everyone is who comes here for the first time. But he was also curious about you.”

“Oh?”

Theo grinned, remembering. “He was vexed, I think, that he could not tell how old you were.” He was not about to repeat the man’s exact words. “He asked your age, when the wedding was to be, and who your betrothed was.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“Nothing to set his teeth into, so he is like to repeat his questions to you—that is, if he calms down enough.”

Reina became very still. “Theo, tell me you did not offend him?”

“Of course not…but…he might think otherwise.”

“Tell me!”

Theo blushed, looking away. “He was so distracted that when I…well, I did not get out of the way as quick as you suggested. He was ready to tear me apart. I did not wait around to see if he would.”

“Oh, Theo,” Reina groaned. “Could you not sense that he was not interested before you went so far as to make him wroth?”

“I told you, he was distracted.” His tone turned defensive. “There was no easy way—”

“You could have just asked him right out! Sweet Jesú , what was I thinking to let you near him? I do not need this on top of everything else.” She threw open her clothes chest and yanked out whatever was on top. “Well, do not just stand there. I must hurry now so he will not be kept waiting a second time. Did you at least send Eadwina to finish his bath?”

Theo tossed a linen shift over her head. “She was already busy with one of the others.”

“Who did you send?”

“Amabel.”

“Theo! Fat Amabel? How could you?”

“What did I do?” he replied in all innocence as he tied the laces on her long-sleeved chemise. “She was available.”

Reina glared at him, ready to box his ears. “If he was not insulted before, he is like to be now. And I swear, if your silly spite causes me difficulty with him, I will myself nail your hide to the wall.”

Theo protested. “He had so much on his mind he was not interested in a tumble, from anyone. He will not even notice Amabel.”

“You better have the right of it. Oh, Jesú , you still have to dry my hair! Do hurry, Theo. I must be there when he returns to the hall.”