Page 66 of Ruthless, But for Her

Cassia knew little of Walter Crey beyond what Ashton had told her. But she was certain her father, who knew more of their king than most, would know Walter's name. Her father had also spoken often of the young prince who'd fled captivity in the summer of Evesham—a young prince who'd won a horse race against his own guards, then simply continued riding. He'd always said it had been arranged by men whose names had never been written down.

Walter’s unlikely protégé had taken to the king’s advisor’s lessons well.

“Listen for Magge and open the door only for her. No other servants will be tending to you.”

She thought he was just being prudent, but there was something about the way he said it that gave her pause.

“Is something amiss?”

He frowned. That was her answer, and now he wouldn’t dismiss her and tell her it was none of her concern.

“I liked not how the stable boy looked at you. I plan to speak with Magge about him.”

She had no words to reconcile the information he gave her freely. Cassia simply stared at him as Ashton headed to the door.

“What will you do to him?”

The boy had likely not seen more than ten or eleven summers. Surely Ashton would not…

“Ashton?”

“Do you think me a man capable of killing a child?”

“Nay.” She was surprised at how quickly it came. “But I’ve seen your expression when you’re deciding something, and I believe you’ve decided he could be a threat.”

“He’ll be paid again. More than the first time, and again on the morrow, and once more when we go.” Ashton stood at the door. “A boy who is paid four times learns to want a fifth. There is no coin in Alnwick worth more to him than the coin already in his hand.”

Cassia thought on that.

“And if there were?”

“Then I would take him with us.” He paused for a moment. “Bar the door behind me. Magge will bring water.”

Cassia hardly had time to light the candles in their bedchamber before Magge knocked at the door. She made little comment as she brought the basin and the pitcher, but did mumble something about more travelers this evening than usual.

Hopefully it had nothing to do with what she and Ashton had done that day.

Stripping off her gowns and the shift beneath, Cassia made quick work of using the cloth and warm water Magge provided to cleanse every part of her body, the faint lavender-scented water replacing a day’s worth of grime. Hunting in her chest, she found a clean shift and donned it just as Ashton…presumably…knocked at the door.

Slipping her stockings on her feet, Cassia hurried to the door, asking who had knocked.

“Ash,” a deep voice said from the other side of the wooden door.

She smiled, unbarring it.

“A fitting name,” she said, finding Ashton across the corridor, his shoulder to the doorframe. The torch at the far end of the passage caught the line of his jaw and left the rest of him dark.

He pushed up from the wall, entering the chamber behind her.

“The water is still warm,” she said. “Magge provided two clean cloths, and I used just one. I will turn my back,” Cassia said, aware Ashton would not be afforded the same privacy she’d had for her washing. “What did you learn?” she asked, turning to look at the shuttered window.

The scrape of a boot heel behind her confirmed Ashton was removing them.

“That there are three knights, one member of the minor nobility and his retainers and a Scottish chieftain travelling with a young squire below—a Kerr, and a man to avoid. Magge also spoke to one of the retainers earlier and learned that de Grey has raised the reward. It is no longer only for the woman, but for word of her as well.”

Cassia should care more about that than she did presently. Instead, the sound of water splashing had Cassia wondering how he’d disrobed so quickly. Had he removed every piece of clothing?

“And the boy?”