“Of course you should,” she agreed. “But I do not want to leave you alone. The remainder of Henry’s troops should be here with in a day at the most and I will not leave you with a keep full of soldiers.”
She smiled. “So leave Arik and your cousins to protect my sisters and I. They are quite capable.”
“Of course they are, but that is not the issue,” his head came up, his eyes locking with her own. “I do not want to leave you, not even for a few days.”
She was missing his point. “But… you said I would be well protected.”
“You will. I just…,” frustrated because he could not find the proper words, he shook his head and reburied it in her bosom.
Remington tried to force him to look at her. “Just what? What were you going to say?”
He mumbled something into her skin but she couldn’t hear him. “Gaston, speak to me. What did you say?”
He raised his head, looking like a little boy who had just been called upon by his instructor to recite. “I said I do not want you to forget about me.”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You do not wa…you would put so little faith in me?”
“No,” he said quickly. “I mean, I have the greatest faith in you. ’Tis just that…oh, hell, I do not know what I mean. Just let me hold you for a time.”
He pressed his head to her one more time and her good arm lay across his broad, broad shoulders. “You are terribly insecure, my lord.”
“And why not? I have never had anything that truly belonged to me, at least nothing I was afraid of losing,” he said softly.
“God, Remi, we have only known each other for a few short weeks and already I feel as if I can’t take a breath without you by my side. It frightens me.”
Her arm tightened. “You shall never be without me. I swear it.”
He continued to hold her, to smell her and feel her warmth. Eventually her breathing became deep and regular and he lifted his head, studying her sleeping face. Carefully, he raised himself and made sure the linen sheet was tucked in about her shoulders. He was reluctant to leave, but he did indeed have duties to attend to and while she slept was a perfect opportunity.
Eudora was waiting in the hall like a vigilant dog and he ushered her in quietly, telling her explicitly where he would be and when should she need to find him. He wanted to make sure he could be found should Remington need him.
The bailey was bustling. Henry’s troops had been sighted not an hour away and Arik was busy making preparations for their arrival. Gaston found his second on the inner wall, yelling down at some men who were clearing the last of the building debris.
“Well?” Arik asked before Gaston even came to a halt. “How is she?”
“Running a mild temperature and in a generally irritable mood, but well considering,” he replied, his eyes roving over the newly finished team house. “Tell them to move the timbers from the side. I want that field clear.”
Arik bellowed to the men again. “Mari-Elle’s body is in the chapel. Her servants have already prepared the body and even now her ladies and household are holding vigilant prayer. You would have thought the bloody queen died the way they are carrying on.”
“Is my son with them?” Gaston asked, watching the activity below him.
“Nay, I have not seen the lad,” Arik glanced at him for the first time. “How did he handle the news?”
Gaston shrugged vaguely. “Quietly. ’Tis difficult to say,” he leaned forward on the wall. “I have decided to accompany my son back to Clearwell to see to his mother’s funeral. I will leave you here, in charge, until I return. I shall most likely take Patrick and Antonius with me to ride as escort, plus a few other lesser knights. I expect to be gone no more than four days.”
“Four days?” Arik repeated. “Gaston, it will take you two days to reach Clearwell, especially with a funeral procession. How will you accomplish this?”
Gaston did not like to be questioned, not even by Arik. “I shall leave when the funeral is over and ride hard. It will not take more than a day and night to return home. Satisfied?”
“But you shall be carrying Trenton,” Arik reminded him. “You must consider that. He is not used to riding as a soldier, Gaston. ’Twill be hard on him.”
“He shall recover,” Gaston replied shortly. “He’s a sturdy young man, Arik, not a weakling child. Furthermore, with Henry’s troops settling in, I do not want Remington or hersisters anywhere near the baileys. And they are never, ever to be alone. I want knights guarding them at all times.”
Arik wasn’t really surprised by the command, but he was against the entire idea of the women being at Mt. Holyoak altogether. “As you say, but I still think they would be much better off at Halsey Manor. I am extremely uncomfortable with them here, Gaston.”
“I realize that,” Gaston had the same concerns. “But as long as they are properly protected, we will have no trouble. And when word spreads that…well, suffice it to say we shall have no trouble when the men realize they take their life in their hands simply to gaze at the women.”
Arik did not reply as he watched men-at-arms haul away large pieces of wood. “What are you going to do about Guy?”
