Page 17

Satisfied, she took the dresses and went to the ladies-in-waiting’s tent.

She didn’t dare leave the fine dresses unattended, for they would disappear in no time.

She peeked her head inside. The ladies slept, with Lady Alice sleeping soundly and Lady Susanna snoring, her mouth hung open. Lady Morwenna’s bed was empty.

Bronwyn snuck in, set the dresses down to the side, where the young women would find them, and left, heading to the cooking tents.

Only a short time later, one of the kitchen boys came in, shaking his head. “’Pon my word, those ladies are fighting like cats. I thought high-born ladies were supposed to be kind. Not these.”

“What do you mean?” Bronwyn asked. “What ladies?”

The boy, a tawny-haired youth of about age ten with dirt on his nose, looked at her and jerked his thumb. “Over near the empress’s tent. Something about…” He scratched his head. “Nah, I couldn’t have heard that right. It almost sounded like they were talking about a crown.”

Bronwyn hurried away. If the ladies were arguing openly about a crown, so loudly that the kitchen boys could hear, that was a problem. She ran as fast as she could without causing comment and slipped through the milling crowds of people to the direction of the ladies-in-waiting tent.

But as she arrived, she stopped short. Guards stood outside the tent, holding spears. Bronwyn froze.

The pair of guards looked at her. She’d come too close to the tent to turn around now without causing suspicion. She said, “I thought I heard my mistress calling for me.” She called, “Lady Alice? Do you need me?”

Lady Alice strode out of the tent, past the guards. Her eyes widened at the sight of Bronwyn. She came up to her and said, “Oh, thank the Lord you’re here. Help me.”

“What is it?”

“They think I stole something.”

Theobold, Lady Susanna, a guard, and Lady Morwenna stepped outside. Lady Morwenna put a hand on her hip, a sly smile on her face. Theobold met Bronwyn’s eyes briefly but only nodded to her. “Do you know something about this, Bronwyn?” Theobold asked.

Bronwyn swallowed. “If Lady Alice says she did not steal, then I believe her.”

“Hear, hear,” Lady Susanna said. “I agree. In fact—”

Morwenna cut in. “No one asked, you, Lady Susanna. Nor would I base any judgement on the word of a servant. What are you doing here, anyway, Bronwyn? Shouldn’t you be back with the cooks, where you belong?”

Bronwyn’s cheeks grew warm. She’d never had so many insults as when she mixed with highborn people. Some really were rude.

She said, “I thought I heard Lady Alice calling for me. When was Lady Alice supposed to have taken this… stolen item?”

The guard, a thin young man in his twenties with a limpid expression and weak chin, gazed at Lady Morwenna with interest.

“Lady Morwenna?” Theobold asked.

Lady Morwenna shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is she was acting very mysterious the other night and seemed nervous, like she was hiding something.

I thought maybe she might have done or taken something she shouldn’t have, and I think we all know what that would be.

The crown. I heard from someone that it had gone missing.

And as Lady Susanna and I have been with the empress for months, it only stands to reason that someone new to her retinue might want to take it for themselves. ”

Bronwyn’s eyes grew wide, and she glanced at Lady Alice, who shook her head emphatically, her black waves swinging. “You forget, Lady Morwenna. I too have been working for the empress these past few months. I’ve been on a mission for her, in Stephen’s court.”

“Aha, so you’ve been spying. And you admit it. How are we to believe you didn’t switch sides while you were there? Perhaps you were caught and made a deal, your life for the empress’s crown.”

“I most certainly did not,” Lady Alice said hotly.

“I think you did. I think you took the crown and hid it so you can use it later to barter with. Maybe to gain more riches or wealth,” Lady Morwenna said snidely.

“And so that is why you are going through her things?” Bronwyn asked.

Lady Morwenna glared at her. The guard paused. Theobold crossed his arms. He looked none too happy to see Bronwyn, his jaw set. “That is why we must take this seriously. Any accusation of theft of Her Grace’s possessions is a matter of grave importance.”

Bronwyn lifted her chin. “But what if it’s not true? What reason would Lady Alice have to want to steal the crown? She just rejoined the empress’s court. By my understanding, she is grateful to Her Grace for the opportunity to prove her loyalty. She wouldn’t steal.”

Lady Alice muttered behind her shoulder, “Don’t make me sound like a blooming beggar, Bronwyn. Let’s not give them any ideas.”

“I believe Lady Alice,” Bronwyn said, ignoring Lady Alice’s quip. “If she said she didn’t steal, then I trust her word.”

“Me too,” Lady Susanna agreed. “In fact—”

“No one asked you, Lady Susanna, or you.” Lady Morwenna addressed Bronwyn. “Get out of here. This is no business of yours. Go mend a shirt or cook something.”

“I’ll stay if Lady Alice needs me,” Bronwyn said.

“Stay.” Lady Alice stood beside Bronwyn and put her hands on her hips. “I have nothing to hide.”

“Very well. Go on,” Lady Morwenna said to the guard. “I’m sure you’ll find something.” She smirked at Lady Alice.

The guard rummaged through Lady Alice’s bedding and spare linens and dresses, finding nothing out of the ordinary. He looked at Lady Morwenna, who turned pink. “Keep looking.”

Why would Lady Morwenna be so adamant that the stolen crown was hidden amongst Lady Alice’s things?

She wouldn’t openly accuse Lady Alice, unless she’d known it had been there.

Most likely, because Lady Morwenna had put it there herself.

But that would mean that she had stolen the crown. So why had no one seen her?

The guard approached Lady Susanna’s things, checking her dresses and shifts. He turned to Lady Morwenna’s bedding when she held up a hand. “Stop.”

“My lady?” he asked.

“You’re wasting your time. I don’t understand it. It must be here. I know she took it,” Lady Morwenna said, her voice rising.

“Lady Morwenna,” Theobold started. “Enough. It’s not here.”

“No, it is! I’m sure of it. She’s guilty. She was acting suspicious. I know she’s up to something.” Lady Morwenna went forward and threw Lady Alice’s bedding and spare dress in the air, the very one she’d had Bronwyn clean the night before.

“Oi! That’s my dress,” Lady Alice said, hurrying forward to claim it. But before Lady Alice could whisk it away from the ground, Lady Morwenna trod on it, stepping down hard on the fabric. When Lady Alice tried pulling it, there was a slight tear, and Lady Alice let go.

“How clumsy of me,” Lady Morwenna said, stepping back.

“ Lady Morwenna ,” Theobold admonished.

The guard stood, dusting his hands on his tunic. “There’s nothing here. I have to report back.”

“Tell the empress it was a false alarm. An innocent mistake.” Theobold’s voice was even, but his dark eyes were like daggers at Lady Morwenna.

The guard left. Lady Morwenna grimaced, shooting little darting looks at Lady Alice. “I know you’re behind this.”

“That’s enough.” To the others, Theobold said, “Would you excuse us? I’d like to speak with Lady Morwenna in private.”

Bronwyn ducked her head and followed Lady Alice and Lady Susanna from the tent. Lady Alice held the dress, now crumpled, torn, and dirty again thanks to Lady Morwenna’s malicious treading, and handed the bundled-up material to Bronwyn. “See if you can restore it. Wash it too.”

Lady Alice walked away with Lady Susanna.

Bronwyn, the torn dress in her hands, walked around the tent and hung toward the back. She slowed and stood still, listening. In seconds, she could hear their voices clearly.

“That was a foolish thing to do,” Theobold told Lady Morwenna.

“Nonsense. That Lady Alice has a stick up her rear end, and she’s a traitor. It’s about time someone proved just how rude she is.”

“Your accusation could have cost her her life,” Theobold said. “And you were wrong. She didn’t steal the crown. She could have died because of your words. Do you realize that? You’re playing a dangerous game, cousin.”

Bronwyn started. Cousin? They were related.

Lady Morwenna huffed. “Doesn’t matter. I can accuse whomever I want, whenever I want. I’m protected. Her Grace trusts me. She likes me. Now that Lady Eleanor is gone, I’m her favorite.”

“Don’t expect that to save your hide if you go around accusing everyone of robbing Her Grace. She’ll only tolerate your attitude for so long,” Theobold warned.

“Worried about me?” she asked sweetly.

“No. More worried what your family will say when I tell them you’ve made a fool of yourself in front of the empress. They won’t be pleased with you.”

Lady Morwenna made a sulking noise. “I’m protected. Besides, you promised my father you’d look after me.”

He snorted. “That didn’t mean I’m to clean up all your messes. Stop causing trouble. I’ve got enough to worry about without you stirring things up.”

Bronwyn knew Theobold was smart. Did he also suspect Lady Morwenna of planting the crown in their tent?

Or was he distracted by their history together and didn’t think she would have done it?

An uncomfortable feeling squirmed in Bronwyn’s belly, accompanied by a thought she didn’t want to admit.

She also didn’t like that Theobold and Lady Morwenna had a history.

If he had made her father a promise to look after Lady Morwenna, what was he getting in return?

“You just want that pretty servant to keep making eyes at you. I saw the way you looked at her. You fancy her, don’t you?” Lady Morwenna asked.

Bronwyn’s heart began to pound. She listened intently.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I fancy a servant?” Theobold said rudely.

Bronwyn’s heart dropped into her stomach. His voice was so cold, like the frost air. He didn’t care about her at all.

She thought about this and looked at the wadded-up bundle of dress in her arms. Why did she care about this? Why did she care what he thought of her? And why did it hurt to know he didn’t care for her at all?