She suddenly realized her shoes and stockings were hanging by the fountain. A flash of irritation went through her; she’d been caught at a distinct disadvantage.
She hated being discovered like this, hated being seen in her unguarded moments.
But she bit back the sharp retort on the tip of her tongue and tried to steady herself. "Is there something you need?"
"Lady Beatrice sent me. It’s for the pre-wedding confession at the Church. We’re supposed to go together." Eric looked at the rather disheveled Matilda and smiled. "But it seems you had no idea."
"I... I knew, of course. But I have the right to decide where I go."
"Of course, of course. It is your right, Marchioness. So your decision is...?"
"I’m not going," the Marchioness huffed, crossing her arms and turning her gaze away.
Yet after waiting for some time, she realized Eric had no intention of leaving. He remained standing right where he was.
"Why haven’t you left yet?"
"I also have the right to decide where I go. And as it happens, I have nothing better to do," Eric said with a shrug and a smile.
"You should be at the Church, confessing," Matilda said.
"*Someone* else should also be at the Church, confessing," Eric retorted.
"You... Fine. Fine! Stand there all you want." Matilda walked off the lawn, her mud-caked feet leaving a trail of dirty footprints on the dry stone tiles.
For the first time in a long while, Matilda felt a twinge of embarrassment.
This was her castle, yet an intruder had found his way in.
She started to resent how quickly the ground had dried.
"So you’re not going to the Church. That means you’ll probably cause trouble for me later."
"Perhaps."
"You never seem to give a straight answer. You’re always so vague."
"Are you saying I should be more forceful? If I were, it would give many people a headache. I imagine that would include you."
Eric took a few steps toward Matilda.
Matilda involuntarily averted her gaze.
Eric was probably the tallest man Matilda had ever seen. His broad shoulders and formidable build made him stand out amongst the Tuscan Knights. He didn’t look like her impression of a Frank at all—more like one of the Teutons.
The shrinking distance between them was somewhat intimidating.
’Simple-minded, muscle-bound brute.’
She cursed him under her breath.
It wasn’t out of genuine dislike, but an attempt to summon feelings of disgust and hatred to fight back the fear that had suddenly sprouted within her.
She tried to suppress this feeling she so disliked, lifting her chin to maintain her proud bearing.
"Hmph." Matilda tilted her head up, trying to maintain her imposing air.
However, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed he was still smiling.
Finally, Matilda could bear it no longer. She closed her eyes and took an instinctive step back.
But Eric caught her by the arm.
Just as her body tensed, Eric’s voice rang out again.
"You should be stepping forward, not back."
Then Eric motioned for her to look down.
Matilda saw that Eric had thrown a towel down next to her filthy feet.
The meaning was unmistakable.
"I don’t think anyone could ignore a beautiful lady in need of help.
I am willing to give you respect, my Marchioness. I promise you, my respect for you will be no less than your respect for me.
For He said that we should all treat each other with humility, because ’God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’" (James 4:6)
Eric was now standing right in front of Matilda.
"He said to them, ’You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. Behind hypocrisy lie impure motives.’" (Gospel of Luke 16:15)
Matilda froze for a moment. She glanced at Eric and pursed her lips, her retort having been deliberately cutting.
Still, she ultimately chose to place both feet on the towel.
She didn’t bend down, but instead clamped the towel between her feet, intending only to give them a quick, cursory wipe.
The pristine white towel was quickly soiled, but the dried mud caked on the soles of her feet wasn’t coming off.
Just as she was about to give up, a cold liquid splashed onto the top of her feet.
Her body instantly tensed up.
"I am setting an example for you; as I have done, I hope you will do also. You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later." (Gospel of John 13:5-15)
As he spoke, Eric poured water from his waterskin onto Matilda’s filthy feet.
This time, Matilda did not pull back. She let Eric wash her feet, not saying a single word.