In the stews Max’s cooks had prepared, there were always tiny cubes of meat mixed in with the vegetables and potatoes, but those morsels were nothing like what was on the pewter platter in front of Bennett. Rare and moist, the thick slab of beef was like nothing she’d ever seen before. While tentative as to its preparation, when Bennett picked up her utensils as taught and sliced into the meat, it was like cutting butter. It took only one bite for Bennett to never question the preparation again.

Bennett knew it wasn’t her place to join in any conversation or to start one either. All in the room now knew she was once a slave, and whenever she dared to look down the length of the table, more than one of Simeon’s people shot her a murderous leer. Bennett also noticed something that caused her great confusion. She stole a glance and then stole another, telling herself her mind was playing tricks on her. It wasn’t. Among Simeon’s broad-shouldered and bearded men was one whose face was clean and whose shoulders were slender. The clothes were that of a man, but they were being worn by a woman.

***

Upon completion of the meal, many at the table left the castle searching for something to quench another hunger. With a nod, Max excused Bennett, and she retired to the study to read. After lighting some lanterns, she got settled in the chair behind the desk, appreciating her quiet surroundings as she opened a book. It was one of her favorites, and Bennett wanted to get lost in The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha again. She wanted to get lost in his imagination and delusions, hoping hers would fade away, but her plans were not to be. No sooner had Bennett found where she’d left off when the door to the study opened, and in strutted Simeon, followed by Max and the woman wearing leather breeches.

“For the love of God, is there no place safe from the stench of this woman,” Simeon bellowed, waving his arm in the air to dissipate a nonexistent smell.

“Is it possible for you to be any less boorish?” Max said, sniggering. “Bennett does not smell, and we both know it. This room is more than spacious enough for all of us, and I see no need to banish her simply because you’re being mulish. We came up here to enjoy some brandy and play a game of chess, so what say we do that without any more of your theatrics. They are tremendously bad-mannered, being you’re a guest in my house. Don’t you think?”

As soon as they paraded in, Bennett had closed her book, preparing to escape to her room to read. Now, she couldn’t. Now, Max had made it clear he wanted her to stay, and to argue the point would have only added fuel to Simeon’s fire.