Chapter 20

“Milady, have you lost something?” Yula asked.

Naomi sighed and got up off the floor. “Yeah, my marbles,” she grumbled. Had she really made a deal with a talking mouse? When she turned around, she saw Yula’s usual placid face was set in an angry scowl.

She stepped aside to reveal another woman behind her. “Mrs. Boon is here.”

Naomi looked past Yula at the housekeeper. The other woman was round in face and body, but her face did not look like it was naturally inclined to smile. At current, her face was very rigid and stern. She had her hands clasped in front of her, and they rested on the top of her belly. She had a kerchief covering her hair and a long white apron over her dress. She put on a welcoming smile. Naomi extended her hand in greeting. The housekeeper looked down upon Naomi’s outstretched hand and raised her eyebrows. After a second, Naomi realized that the woman was not going to shake her hand. She wasn't sure if she was being snubbed or if people did not shake hands here. She hoped it was the latter because otherwise she was somehow on bad terms with the housekeeper, and she’d no idea why.

“I hope I’m not taking you away from anything important,” Naomi said.

The woman sniffed. “Of course not, nothing I do is too important for your ladyship.”

“Um, okay…Well, it looks like you do a marvelous job. I was hoping, maybe you could spare someone to show me around,” Naomi offered, suddenly not wanting to spend the day with this woman.

“No, no, I will show you the castle,” the housekeeper said. She turned her back and began walking away. Naomi glanced at Yula and saw the old woman shooting daggers into the housekeeper’s back. Naomi quick stepped to catch up with the retreating housekeeper and wondered how she had gotten into this mess.

Naomi sank into the plush chair inside her room with a relieved sigh. She had seen more of the castle than she probably ever wanted. Unfortunately there was no library in the whole damn place. So the rodent was still her only hope. Yula slumped into another chair. “Why does Mrs. Boon hate me?” Naomi finally asked.

“I believe that's my fault. Mrs. Boon and I have long been at odds. She can’t accept the fact that Tavik holds me in the same regard as her. I am like his housekeeper when he is away, and since he is away more than here, I interact with him more. Things I do for him on the road are brought back to the castle, and Boon is told to change how she does things and do them like I do. She hates that."

“So you’re rival housekeepers.”

“I would go so far as to say warring.” Naomi smiled at the image of warring housekeepers: Yula and Mrs. Boon facing off with sharpened scrub brushes, steel plated aprons, and bucket helmets. If anything, it would be a very clean fight. Naomi mentally groaned at her own pun.

“I could use a snack. Could you get me some wine and cheese?” Naomi asked. Yula nodded and levered herself up. She left the room, and Naomi got down on the floor by the bed.

“Hello, Mr. Mouse. Your cheese and wine are on their way. You may want to come out, come out wherever you are.” Naomi felt like an idiot, but she was an idiot stuck on another planet, and she would take whatever help she could get, even help from a foulmouthed mouse.

“Naomi, what are you doing?”

Naomi jumped and whirled around. She really needed to start locking her door. Tavik stood behind her. He had on leather pants, a chain mail shirt, and long boots. Naomi thought he looked like a runaway from an S&M movie. “Uh, hi,” Naomi said.

Tavik leaned his hip against a table and crossed his arms. Naomi hoped he had not heard her calling the mouse. She really did not want to try explaining that, and she hoped the mouse would be smart enough to keep his trap shut if he appeared now.

“I thought we would lunch together.”

Naomi nervously smiled and nodded her head. Yula returned with the cheese and wine. Tavik saw the tray and took it from her.

“Naomi and I will have lunch here. Go get us something more substantial from the kitchen.”

Yula nodded and left. Naomi took a seat at the table as Tavik poured some wine. Naomi watched the bed for any signs of the mouse. When Tavik set the glass in front of her, she realized he was not going to be drinking any. Naomi took a small sip of the wine not having planned on really drinking any of it herself.

“How do you eat without removing the helm?” Naomi asked.

“I don’t,” he replied. Naomi frowned not knowing how they were going to have lunch then. Was he just going to watch her eat?

Yula returned with more food. Naomi saw that Yula did set a plate and glass for Tavik. Yula excused herself, and it was just the two of them again. Tavik went to the door and locked it. When he turned back, he had a long piece of cloth dangling from his hand. Naomi suddenly knew how they were going to have lunch together.

“Why even bother eating with me if it’s going to be such a hassle?” Naomi asked.

“Maybe I like the company.”

“I think you just like tying women up.”

Continue to Chapter 21