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her bottom lip, and it was driving him mad, especially as he held her sweet, delicate body in his arms.
    “Tiana, you may not have noticed, but we have stairways in the castle.”
    “'Tis an odd thing, but the door flew shut and somehow triggered the lock,” she said weakly.
    “How long have you been up there?” Beckett asked.
    She glanced up at him and lifted two graceful fingers. “When I could no longer feel my toes, I decided it was time to climb down.”
    “Who did this?” Beckett restrained his anger, but he had the urge to tear off someone's head.
    She shrugged and relaxed her head against his shoulder. Reckless need reverberated through him. To hell with his estate, his king, his people. This angel was all he needed to be happy.
    Beckett hugged her tighter and, rather than resist, she cuddled against his chest. He scanned the crowd for the culprit who thought it entertaining to lock her in the tower.
    Obviously, someone was envious of the attention he paid his new servant. Why did she feel the need to shield the dastardly person? Or did she not have faith in him to protect her?
    “I do hope you were not overly fond of that stained glass window.”
    Beckett glanced up at the shattered window, which she'd bent away from the opening so that she could squeeze through. He lowered his head and smiled against her silken hair.
    “You can set me down now.”
    He considered this for a moment. What he really wanted to do was carry her straight to his chamber, strip her naked, and taste every inch of her flawless skin. Heaving a sigh, he reluctantly dropped her feet to the ground and released her.
    “Damn good catch, but, of course, it's always best to throw the small ones back,” Colin said as they watched her hurry away. Beckett found little amusement in Colin's jest. He hadn't missed the intimate terms his cousin had used to coax Christiana down.
    Several of the village men were still loitering near the tower, their gazes fastened to the window. Colin inclined his head toward them. “Do you suppose they're waiting to see if the castle spits out some more beautiful wenches?”
    Beckett managed a smirk before stalking off.
    “It's been four endless years. How long does a man have to wait to be forgiven?”
    Colin shouted at his back.
    Beckett didn't have an answer for that.

Chapter Four
    Christiana sat atop her pallet and dragged a tortoise shell comb through her hair.
    Peg, who often shared a cot with her, lifted a tress of Christiana's hair. “As pretty as starlight.”
    Christiana smiled; she was actually starting to warm to some of the girls.
    She watched as her fellow servants flitted about the sleeping quarters with highpitched giggles. A tiny jar of ruby paste, meant to enliven lips and cheeks, was passed among the women.
    Maud, the only one who still strutted around naked, snatched the little pot of color and boldly reddened her nipples. “A certain black-haired stallion finds them more succulent this way,” she said with a catty sweep of her eyes in Christiana's direction.
    Jane, bristling from having the potion stolen from her, rolled her eyes. “With those flea bites, you'll need it just so the poor man can find 'em.”
    Maud shoved her into the wall and ripped the shimmering green ribbon from her hair. “For your insolence, this is mine.”
    With tears glossing her eyes, Jane wrenched free. “You can paint yourself the colors of the rainbow, but he ain't going to look at you again.” Dodging Maud's striking hand, Jane fled the room.
    Maud's poisonous mood was a fearsome thing to behold. Christiana joined the others crowding out the door.
    With the household occupied with the coming festivities, Christiana determined that it would be the perfect time to stroll to her cottage. But first, she would quell the growling in her stomach.
    With a frown, Agnes confronted her as she helped herself to a mug of ale. “Both de Saxbys have requested your attendance at the faire. Actually, demanded is more like