Page 32 of Lord of Deception

Disgraceful man. The house had suffered a disaster, and here he was, teasing her, flirting with her. She glared at him as he emerged from behind the screen, swathed in his blanket. He bent to rearrange his shoes on the hearthstone, then looked around the chamber, before choosing to sit on Alys’ bed. The door-key made a brief reappearance but was then tucked beneath his thigh.

“Will you not sit with me? No? Then I shall have to raise my voice for you to hear me.”

Curse it. She needed to hear what he had to say. She sat stiffly on the bed, as far away from him as she could.

“As I said, I have proof to convince you of my mission and the guilt of your friends. You will give me a fair hearing, will you not? And, lest we catch a chill from all the dampness, I suggest we crack open this bottle and warm our insides withal.”

When the opened bottle was offered to her, she poured a little into her mazer and took a swallow. It was a fine Rhenish, quite sweet, and a rare treat.

“You certainly know which wine to steal.” She handed the bottle back to him, then shivered. Now that the radiant heat from the fire was cut off by the screen, the room was cold, so she slipped her shoes off and tucked her feet under her. One of them grazed Kit’s exposed calf, and he jumped at the contact.

“Your feet are frozen. Here, let me warm them.” Without further ado, he swiveled her around so her feet rested in his blanket-covered lap, and began chafing her toes between his palms.

Alys watched his bent head as he concentrated on his task, and felt herself begin to calm. Staring at Kit, who was always a thrill to look at, she realized he’d never cease to amaze her.

He’d turned her life upside-down, yet expected her to forgive him and remain his friend. He’d shouldered his way into her room, putting both of them at risk, yet he trusted her not to give him away. He’d toiled ceaselessly in the cellars, despite planning to leave, and now he was rubbing the life back into her feet as if he were genuinely concerned. She’d never met anyone like him before, nor did she expect to again.

She pressed her lips together, remembering the heated kiss he’d bestowed on her earlier that day—what a long day it had been! She took another draught of her wine and leaned back, enjoying the sensation of warmth at her feet. “You have something to tell me.”

He stopped his chafing and began idly stroking her toes. “Aye. First, I must ask your forgiveness for creating havoc in your home tonight.”

He’d done it? How?