Seduced by Sophia Johnson Page B

the brush crafted from oak and boar's bristles.
    "Nay. I do not believe so. 'Tis more from
fighting that great horse."
    "Hm. I worried that the baron was wrong to
suggest it. The Scot roared and cursed like one demented. I feared
he would throw chairs about in his anger."
    "If anger has substance, I felt its fury when
he watched from the window opening." She shuddered and rubbed her
arms. "If he were below, he would have yanked me by my hair till I
toppled from his horse."
    "Um. I do not doubt it."
    "The baron's reasoning was sound. My own
mount would never have trotted calmly up to the beast. She would
have wheeled and galloped back across the bridge."
    Letia picked up the wet cloth, wrung out the
water and spread it across her closed eyes. The movement slipped
her lower in the water, so she pushed with her heels to return her
to the tub's edge.
    "Never could I have turned my mare so
swiftly. And Storm lengthened into a gallop with little urging."
Letia sighed. "I am thinking mayhap I should have Warin select a
gelding for me."
    "A wise choice." Maud patted her head. "Slide
down and wet this mass of hair so I may wash it. If we do not
hurry, you will go dripping to..."
    Letia dunked her head back in the water and
heard only garbled sounds. Water surged in the tub when she pushed
back up.
    "Sorry. Did I wet you?" She glanced over her
shoulder at Maud, who shook her head.
    They were finished with her bath all too soon
for Letia. Her stomach twisted. She felt so odd about tonight.
    That part of her that throbbed was anxious to
enter the darkened bedchamber.
    Her heart was shamed that she would feel
so.
    Letia's footsteps lagged when she finally
reached Raik's door. Leofwan stood guard there.
    o0o
    By the time Raik's evening meal arrived
earlier, he was still tense with lingering anger. He didn't have
much hunger.
    He carefully tasted and inspected the roasted
capons. Finding nothing unusual, he picked them clean to their
shiny bones. He eyed the carrots glazed with honey and cinnamon. It
would be too easy to lace them with a drug to increase his desire.
Surely, they had done so. Never had he had such need for any woman.
Frowning, he ate the hot loaf of bread, the cheese and fruits.
    The guards hesitated, likely thinking it
strange when he requested ale, but brought it. Raik would easily
detect anything not brewed into it.
    Each night, the busty laundress had brought
his evening meal. But Maud brought wine and cheese after dark. When
she arrived, she set it on the table and poured wine into the
goblet. He watched her every movement. She didna seem ill at ease.
Was she so used to dosing a man that it was normal to her duties?
She did seem to study him more this night than usual. Most likely
to see if any anger lingered for the way she had spoken to him.
    He nodded his thanks, then picked up the
goblet, put it to his lips until he felt the wine there and
pretended to drink. "Um. Good. Thank you, Maud." He rubbed the
lingering wine off with the back of his hand as she watched.
    Was that a slight nod of her head before she
turned to leave? He thought so and grinned. After her footsteps
faded, he poured the pitcher of wine into the white basin on the
washstand and waited. Ah. There was something mixed in with the
dregs that normally settled at the bottom of a pitcher of wine.
    Now, how to get rid of it in case someone
should come to check how docile he was? He looked out the window
opening. Nay, it would not do to toss it. It would leave telltale
red stains splattered on the outer wall and below.
    He drew back and glanced at the bed. The piss
pot beneath would do. He lifted the covers high to pull it out,
then carefully emptied the basin into the pot and shoved it back.
He poured a little water in the basin to rinse it then splashed his
face with it. Good. He would smell of wine. He emptied the water
out the window.
    He took his time checking the room, making
sure nothing remained of the wine. He grinned and bent forward to
pull off