When a maid of honor to the Queen is rescued by a handsome and contentious pirate, she has to spend three days aboard his ship before returning to court. But is three days time long enough to truly get to know someone? And is English court as diffic...
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As Celia dressed in the crisp morning light that spilled through the window inside of her and Beatrice's room, a servant changed the linens on her bed, noticing a bloodstain on the white cloth. Another servant girl strung Celia's sleeves onto her arms as she stood with her arms spread, her eyes watching the servant's facial expressions. The girl furrowed her brows and gathered the linen, glancing up to Celia. She smiled at the girl, who curtseyed once she approached Celia.
"Can I get you anything for your pains, Mistress?"
Celia shook her head gently. "No, thank you, I'm quite fine."
The response left the girl with an unsure look on her face, but she curtseyed again and exited the room.
Celia shifted her weight from one foot to another, the pain from pricking her right heel with a needle the night prior sparking through foot. She had to create the image that she and Harry consummated their secret marriage, and that meant forging the bloodstains. What the servant thought what Celia's monthly cause, was really the blood from her heel to mimic the bleeding that occurs during the first night a woman spends with a man. Though, that thought would not cross the servant's mind at first, she would be called upon as a witness if anyone were to question the legitimacy of Celia's child.
Beatrice slipped into the room just as Celia's servant finished dressing her. "I heard the servant's whispering in the hall," she said.
"Good. Let them wonder."
"The Queen awaits us."
Beatrice and Celia exited their room, meeting Cassandra and Margaret outside of Elizabeth's chamber doors. Celia stood silently beside Beatrice as she whispered quietly to Margaret about Luke's endeavors towards her. Cassandra narrowed her eyes as Celia, moving from Margaret's side to stand behind Celia.
"I hope you're feeling better," Cassandra said cooly.
Celia turned around, stepping away from Beatrice's side to speak with Cassandra. "I am, thank you."
"What ailed you? Foul food, yet again?" Cassandra raised a single, dark brow, her eyes gleaming like a snake's.
"It seems that I haven't had the best of luck with food lately."
"Perhaps someone in the kitchen is out to get you," she said, a twinge of sarcasm laced in her words. "You should speak to the Queen about it. I'm sure she'd put it at the very top of her list, since you seem to be so close to her."
"Yes, I think I will. While I'm at it, would you like me to speak with her on finding you a husband? I'm sure she wouldn't mind lending a helping hand in that department either, especially if I ask her on your behalf." Celia's lips formed a smirk as she watched the color drain from Cassandra's face.
Margaret and Beatrice had stopped talking and glanced back at Celia and Cassandra, their lips parted and brows slightly raised at Celia's comment.
