Chapter 16

Gideon

I looked into Clara’s cell, and recognized both the sheet and a carefully folded vest. Both were mine. Why did this scheming maid have a piece of my clothing?

Had Clara taken the items as some kind of trophy? Did she want a reminder of the night we spent together? I couldn’t guess what was going through her mind.

“So you are a thief, after all,” I said.

She had been accused of stealing something belonging to my brother Marcus. Another maid had testified to her innocence. But maybe there was a reason she was accused. Did she have a history of theft? I would need to find out.

I wanted to indulge Nora and let her have her friend close. But I could not have a thief among my servants. Royal servants were held to a high standard of behavior.

Clara looked confused. Did she not realize the evidence of theft was sitting right there? I pointed to the items.

“Those are mine. You took them from my room,” I reminded her.

Clara shook her head rapidly. I was sure she had some excuse. Her hands moved too rapidly for me to make out what she meant.

“If you’re trying to confess, you’ll have to go slower,” I said.

Clara’s eyes widened in panic. She reached through the bars of the cell and caught my arm. I allowed it because I was curious what she wanted.

One of her small hands cradled my wrist. The other traced a single finger along my palm, writing a message.

The sensation was eerily familiar. I remembered that fluttering touch. I was blind, still weak from the wolfsbane poison.

I still wasn’t sure exactly what had been written on my hand then. I caught only a few words my rescuer tried to convey.

What was Clara trying to say, anyway? I tried to focus on each letter. Her touch was soft and her movements were shaky. It made it hard to understand.

And why did her hand on mine feel so familiar, and so right? Why did her touch make my wolf rumble with contentment?

Soft, rapid footsteps and the soft scent of Nora’s perfume caught my attention. I turned and pulled my hand out of Clara’s grip. I didn’t want her to think anything was happening.

“Gideon,” Nora said, taking my arm in hers and tucking herself against my side. “Why is Clara in the dungeon?”

“She was in an altercation with Prince Marcus,” I explained. “Also, she apparently stole some items from my rooms.”

I pointed out the sheet and the vest. I ignored the way Clara shook her head. Of course she denied it.

“You asked her to repair that vest, don’t you remember?” Nora asked.

Clara nodded quickly. She picked up the vest and held it out. I did recall mentioning the damage on the vest.

“I meant for her to take it to the castle tailor, not do it herself,” I said.

“Oh. Well, she must have wanted to impress you with her skills. Look. Clara, hand me the vest.”

Clara did, and Nora unfolded it to show the repair work. I had to admit that was skilled with a needle.

“Why was she carrying it around, then?” I asked. “And what is she doing with my sheet?”

Clara blushed and turned her face away. She signed something I couldn’t understand. Nora gasped and also blushed.

“What did she say?” I asked.

If she was going to continue serving in my household, I was going to have to learn her signs. I would ask Nora for help. She clearly understood them.

Nora leaned close to me and lowered her voice.

“She took the sheet to cover herself. You ripped her dress, and she didn’t have anything else.” Nora’s shoulders slumped at the reminder of my mistake.

“And she kept it as what, a souvenir?” I asked.

“No, no!” Nora protested.

Clara, in her cell, shook her head rapidly. She mimed something that looked vaguely familiar, rubbing her fists together.

“What is she saying now?” I asked.

“She took the sheet to have it laundered. She was going to return it, and the vest.” Nora paused. “That’s when she ran into Prince Marcus. I don’t understand. What happened between her and the Second Prince?”

I sighed. “I am not certain. Marcus claims they were flirting. She denies it. I put her in confinement so she could think about her choices.”

Nora pouted. “I doubt she meant any harm, if she was even flirting at all. Maybe your brother mistook her shy manners for flirting?”

I supposed that was possible. Clara’s methods of communication were odd. And she was very shy and diffident. My brother could easily have misinterpreted her intentions.

“It’s not really fair to keep her in the dungeon over a misunderstanding, is it?” Nora asked. “Besides, I need her help. I have so many new responsibilities and so many things to learn.”

I supposed it was unfair to both of them. Clara might not have done anything intentionally wrong. And Nora did need a personal attendant.

“Very well,” I said. “I will order her released. But I don’t want any more incidents.”

Clara

I was relieved to be out of the dungeon. I thanked Nora profusely for speaking up for me.

“That’s what friends are for,” Nora said.

I nodded, and renewed my promise to myself. I was not going to do anything to hurt my friend. Prince Gideon was a stranger to me, and he would stay that way.

I dedicated myself to being the best personal servant I could be. I scrubbed Nora’s room until it shone. I made sure her clothes were clean, in good repair, and neatly stored. I served meals promptly on time, and only when Nora was present.

I tried to stay away from the other maids. While the kitchen servants were kind, and the butler was strictly proper, the maids had proven as cruel as the bullies I had hoped to leave behind.

They didn’t attack me physically. Prince Gideon had made his disapproval of that known and the butler enforced his will with a strict hand. But the maids still found ways to be unfriendly.

The maids made certain I heard every nasty, mean thing they said about me. Before, they had mocked me for being mute. They called me weak and useless.

Now, rumors had spread about me. They thought I was a scheming viper. They were sure I was trying to take Nora’s place with Prince Gideon. They accused me of trying to seduce both princes.

The servants now pitied Nora. They called her a pitiful flower. They were convinced that Prince Gideon and I were carrying on an affair behind her back.

I didn’t bother to try to defend myself. None of them could understand my signs. I could carry around a slate and chalk to write on, but they would not take the time to read anything I wrote.

I think they would be surprised to learn that I could read and write. The palace maids made it clear they thought they were far above my status. They never let me forget that I came from the lowest ranks.

After taking dinner to Nora and Prince Gideon, I went to the kitchen to collect my own meal. I passed the servants’ break room but did not dare go in. I always ate alone in my room.

I heard the maids talking as I passed. I caught the sound of my name and paused. They giggled about how I was fooling Nora into thinking I was loyal. They wondered how long it would be before Prince Gideon tossed her out and installed me in the mistress’ quarters.

I wished I could go in there and yell at them. I longed for a voice to tell them how wrong they were, about me, about Nora, and about Prince Gideon.

Anger washed over me, replaced quickly by a wave of nausea. I staggered and had to lean against the wall until it passed. I was left trembling and barely able to hold onto my dinner tray.

What was wrong with me?