She sat on a stool by the window, watching the sky and trying to think of an exit that would not end with her dead. Margery had not been to visit, and it felt quite deliberate.

‘Evening, my lady’ came the voice of her new maid as she entered the bedchamber.

Isabel glanced in the girl’s direction. Paige was a bubbly young lady who had obviously been hand selected by Hodge.

‘Shall we get you ready for dinner?’ Paige chirped.

Isabel laid her head on the windowsill. ‘Can I eat in here?’

Paige crinkled her nose. ‘Afraid not. Please, I cannot bear to see you wasting away before my eyes.’

Isabel was silent for a long time. ‘How long does death via starvation take?’

Paige sighed and walked over to her. She held a jug of water with steam rising from it. ‘I brought some hot water so you can have a wash.’

‘Thank you.’

Paige filled the basin, casting worried glances in her direction the whole time. ‘Please, my lady. One meal. One conversation. Give him something, and I am certain he will give you something in return.’

Isabel blinked. What do I have to lose? ‘Fine.’

Upon hearing that, Paige sprang into action, flitting about the room like an excited bird, laying out garments and fetching jewels. She helped Isabel undress, then brought the basin of water over and set it at her feet.

‘I’ve laid out a gown for you to wear.’

Isabel glanced at the dress, one of Hodge’s favourites, then over at the table where the jewels sat. Emeralds. ‘Did he instruct you on hair too?’

Paige nodded. ‘He said you wear it pulled back.’

She hated it pulled back and always ended the night with a headache.

‘And pink lips,’ Paige added.

Isabel pressed her eyes closed. ‘May I ask you something?’

‘Of course.’

‘When did His Lordship employ you?’

‘A few weeks back.’ There was excitement in her voice. ‘If someone had told me a month ago that I would be a lady’s maid to the future Countess of Hereford, I would not have believed it.’

A month ago, Isabel would not have believed it either. He really had thought of everything.

She washed and put on the dress. She let Paige brush her hair and smooth it back into a painful bun. On went the emeralds and pink paint. Then it was time for dinner.

A guard escorted her to Hodge’s private quarters. He was not pleased to see her but rather agitated.

‘Finally,’ Hodge said when she stepped into the room. ‘I am surprised you can even walk after foolishly starving yourself.’ He gestured for her to take a seat at the small table. ‘Wine?’

‘No, thank you.’

He immediately began loading her plate with food. ‘Well, eat up.’