The Bellerose Bargain Read Online Free PDF

tub, and though the water was cooled and soiled from the clothes and other bodies, she lowered herself into it gratefully. At least at Osmond’s mill she was allowed to bathe more often than here at the inn.
    Now Alicia rested the back of her head on the rim of the tub and closed her eyes. Behind her eyes there was much to behold, as visions of suitors, gowns, and riches danced around in her head. It was not noise, but rather silence that caused her eyes to open.
    All three maids stood a fair distance from the tub with their hands behind their backs, smiling devilishly. She frowned and looked around the stable further. Though she had done her part to hold a linen towel and fresh clothing for each previous bather, her towel and clothes were draped over a stall a great distance from the tub.
    "Gert!" she snapped. "I’ll freeze to ice getting my clothes."
    Gert simply smiled and walked out the stable door with an air of superiority. Mary and Sarah, less nonchalant, quickly dashed out, covering their mouths as they giggled.
    "Mary! Sarah!" Alicia shouted. "My clothes!" But the stable door banged shut and only a horse turned to look in her direction. "Ooooo you sneaky sluts," Alicia hissed, picking up the soap and sponge and scrubbing her arms and shoulders almost violently.
    Outside, the threesome stood with their ears to the door, gaining much amusement from Alicia’s muffled curses and the sound of splashing water. "She’ll ‘ave ‘erself a proper stroll to ‘er shift," Gert said, hands on hips and backside swinging to imitate a sashay.
    "Beg pardon, ladies," a man’s voice said from behind.
    All three turned as one to behold a hulking man who held his hat in his hand over his chest.
    "I’m looking about for a serving maid named Alicia. Have any of you seen her?"
    Gert’s eyes twinkled. "As luck’d ‘ave it, gov’na, she’s just inside." She indicated the stable with her hand and then, picking up her skirt, dashed toward the inn, two giggling maids close on her heels.
    Rodney watched them flee and then, with a shrug, turned and opened the stable door. He stared for a moment at the shimmering nakedness of Alicia as she stood in the tub, just preparing to step out. Her scream was loud and piercing and her arms flailed as she attempted to cover herself.
    Rodney slammed the door the moment he realized his error. He glared in the direction of the inn where the silly maids peeked out around the comer of the building. He turned back to the door and spoke to the furious girl within.
    "Alicia, forgive me. I had no idea..." He stopped and tried to stifle a chuckle. Girls’ games were things he could barely remember from his youth. "Beg pardon, Alicia. I was cruelly misled."
    He thought briefly of confiding to the lass behind the door that he’d seen a naked woman or two in his time and she was certainly the most beautiful, but he discarded that idea immediately. He scratched his chin at the thought, though, and knew that it was true. Ah, Alicia had a most alluring form. Geoffrey’s anger with him would likely be short-lived.
    "Alicia, dear child, I’ve come to see you and I am indeed chagrined that I have so rudely..."
    The door snapped open and in the doorway stood Alicia, her hair dripping and her feet bare. She had hastily donned her blouse and skirt over a wet body and the fire in her eyes caused Rodney to step back a pace and give her a moment to cool her ire. Alicia looked past him to see if she could spot the culprits who had caused her embarrassment. Rodney caught the action.
    "Aye, they are responsible," he confirmed.
    "I’ll find a way to reckon with them," Alicia muttered savagely.
    Rodney bowed elaborately before her. "I can offer you a chance. If you’ll hear my story."
    Alicia folded her arms over her chest and leaned back on the stable door to listen. Her lips were formed into a pout and her eyes were narrow. She did not seem open to his proposition, so intense was her anger and mortification.
    "Do you