Page 91 of Waking Roslyn

I missed John. I hadn’t sought him out in the six days since I’d returned home, mostly because I wanted to be with my parents as much as possible, but also because I wanted to avoid a scandal. He had been taken into the employ of Captain Sterling, and I remembered too well the way the guard at Bridgefield had judged me for the time I spent with John. The awful assumptions he’d made. So I couldn’t in good conscience seek him out, at least not publicly.

I would have to take care, but it was difficult when I ached to spend time with him. To that end, I woke up earlier than usual and tucked myself into a narrow side hallway that branched off of the corridor that led to and from the kitchen. This was the hour when the soldiers took their morning meal, and I hoped to catch John as soon as he finished.

Several soldiers came out of the kitchen, dispersing to their different posts around the house. I kept waiting and started to despair that perhaps John had gone outside instead of coming through the house, but then the door creaked open again. I looked around the wall I was hiding behind and saw that it was him coming down the corridor, and he was alone.

I waited until he was passing by my little hiding spot and then reached out, grabbing hold of his sleeve and pulling him toward me.

I hadn’t meant to have him stumble and end up with his body pressed to mine as my back leaned against the wall, but I wasn’t about to complain.

Looking up at him, I saw that his eyes were wide and surprised, but that surprise quickly morphed into a crinkle-eyed grin. “Good morning, milady.”

I bit my lip, tempted to kiss him right there and then. But then I remembered our need for secrecy.

“Come with me,” I said, scooting out from between him and the wall.

“Where are we going?”

“You need to get to know the castle.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him farther down the narrow hallway.

“Does it have its own personality?”

“Yes, and its own secrets.” I reached behind a tapestry that hung beside the arched entry to the servants’ stairs and felt for the hidden latch.

“Really? What kind of secrets?”

“The kind lurking behind tapestries.” I undid the latch with a click and enjoyed how John’s brow rose in surprise when I pushed the tapestry aside and the door swung open.

“A secret passage? Really?”

I grinned. “Really.”

He sighed. “I feel like this should have been part of my security training.”

I shook my head and pulled him through the secret doorway. “Only the most trusted of people are told about these passageways. After all—” I paused for effect as the door closed behind us and plunged the passage into darkness. “What if it’s the soldiers we have to hide from?”

“Are you saying you don’t trust your own guards?”

“We trust them. But you never know what the future holds.” I tugged on his hand but met resistance.

“Don’t we need a lantern or a candle?”

“Are you afraid of the dark, John?” I teased.

“Just afraid of injuring myself. I don’t want to ruin your view for the next time I’m working up in the trees. Oof!” he said when I jabbed my elbow back and hit him in the ribs. Then he chuckled in the darkness. “I was kidding, of course. Mostly I just don’t want to get lost and starve to death.”

“Don’t worry. I know the way,” I assured him. As long as I kept one hand on the wall, I could navigate this passage easily.

His resistance melted and he allowed me to tug him forward. “Will I need to duck?”

I chuckled. It was a fair question. “No. This passage is just as tall as the regular hallways.”

“Are you sure you know where you’re going? Even after being away from home for four years?”

“Yes. My mother and I often used these passages more than the regular corridors.”

“Why?”

“My mother has never gotten used to living this life. Being waited on and looked after still makes her uncomfortable, though she hides it well now. It was just easier for her to be herself if she wasn’t worried about servants judging or resenting her.”