Chapter 192

MY FINGERS TREMBLED WHILE I dressed this morning, the ship still noisy but most of the sound came from above now; the soldiers and allies gathered on the main deck, impatient to get going.

'Crap!'

The smooth links slipped through my fingertips again as I attempted to seal the back seam. A loud knock on the door made me jump.

'Highness?'

I hesitated for a second then shrugged; he'd seen me in less than this before.

'Ignatius,' I called and he entered. 'Please, can you help? I can't get the stupid seam right.'

HE PAUSED FOR AN INSTANT mind locking away the image of herflushed, both arms reaching back over her shoulders trying to join the seam, the gap in the mail revealing her pale wool undergarments. A tantalizingly erotic pose, defenceless and begging for his help, her figure arched and exposed.

He grinned and stepped forward. 'Of course, it's always tricky the first few times.'