She raised her face to look at him, regaining her control and wiping at her wet face. “You are being ridiculous, Gaston. There was nothing more you could have done to protect me. What happened was a mischance.”
He gazed down into her sweet face, tenderly kissing away her tears. “No more mischances, Remi. You shall never be out of my sight again, for as long as you live.”
She raised an eyebrow at him humorously. “You plan to take me into battle with you?”
“Absolutely,” he responded without missing a beat. “I shall make you my quartermaster. I shall not go into another campaign without you.”
She smiled, dashing away the last of her tears. He smiled faintly at her, pleased to see her humor returning. But as he saw the sweetness that was Remington resurface from her shattered shell, the more black hatred filled him and the more he wanted to find Guy and destroy him. How dare the man lay a hand on her, or try to sell her as a common whore. Gaston felt violated almost as much as Remington did.
“What now?” she asked softly.
He touched her cheek. “You will return to London. And I will find Guy.”
She somehow knew this. “Do you know where he has gone?”
“Nay. But he had enough supporters in Yorkshire that I am sure he is in the area, somewhere. I shall find him.”
She was silent, thankful for the fact that Gaston was going to kill Guy. She wanted the man dead, if for no other reason than she would no longer be living in fear, fear that somehow he would find her again someday and do far worse than beat her.
Gaston eyed her lowered head, a thousand thoughts flooding his mind. He loathed the fact that he would be breaking his vow and sending her back to London without him, but it was necessary. He did not want her anywhere in Yorkshire where Guy could get his hands on her again. He wanted her far away, safe with her sisters at Braidwood until he came for her. And after that, he promised himself, he would truly never again be separated from her.
He reached out a thick arm and pulled her to him, embracing her tenderly as each was lost in their own thoughts. She caved into him, her supple body against his hard one. She could feel his gloved hands slowly rubbing her back, telling her wordlessly how very much he loved her.
“Do you want to hear something funny?” he said, his cheek against the top of her head. “Dane and Trenton rode north from Oxford to help me. You can imagine my surprise when twoyoung boys arrived at Mt. Holyoak astride an old nag that was one step before death.”
“They came alone?” she looked up at him, shocked. “All by themselves, all the way from Oxford?”
He nodded, smiling. “It would seem that Dane was hell-bent on protecting you from Guy, while Trenton was going to act as my second.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why do you smile? ’Twas foolish for them to come, Gaston! I hope you blistered their backsides!”
“I smile because they are far braver than I was at that age and I am proud of the fact. And no, I did not blister their backsides, but I made it quite clear their mission was foolhardy and that they were wrong in their actions. My purpose was to discourage them, Remi, not beat them senseless. Properly worded reprimands oft work better than welts across the buttocks.”
She lowered her gaze, feeling ashamed that he was so sensible and patient. “Are they still at Mt. Holyoak?”
“Aye, I left them there with Roald,” he answered. “They can ride back with you when you return to London.”
She met his gaze, running a tender finger along his scratchy stubble. “You shall not be escorting me?”
He kissed her finger when it traced his lips. “As much as I am torn, I cannot. I must stay here and find Guy. Nicolas and Matts are riding from Deverill as we speak, bringing reinforcements for the guard at Mt. Holyoak. They’ll escort you back to London.”
She watched her finger as it ran over his cheeks, his square jaw. She was quiet a moment. “What of my annulment? Did the papal council give you an answer before… all of this happened?”
He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. The papal guard uniform Guy was wearing was stolen from the soldier that had been sent to retrieve him. The council wanted to speak with Guy one last time after reading de Tormo’s missive, presumably tohear what the man had to say in his defense. But Guy killed the soldier and escaped before that could happen.”
She rolled her eyes wearily, so very tired of all of the legalities and arguing. She almost did not care anymore; annulment or no annulment, she and Gaston were forever destined to be together. “Oh, Gaston, when will it be over? I do not know how much more of this I can take.”
“I know, angel. But Courtenay seemed to think the council was quite convinced an annulment should be granted, based on de Tormo’s testimony. I think after this latest escapade with Guy, they will finally see the truth of the matter. I tend to believe that we will have your annulment upon your return to London.”
She made a wry face. “A lot of good it will do me. We shall not be married right away, considering you shall be chasing through Yorkshire after Guy,” she threw her arms around his neck and he lifted her high so that their faces were level. “Return with me, Gaston. We shall have our annulment and we shall be married the very same day. Then you can return to Yorkshire and do what needs to be done. Please?”
He nuzzled her cheek. “I cannot, love. I have got to take care of Guy before he does any more damage. I must make him pay for what he has done to you.”
“There will be all the time in the world for that after we’re married,” she closed her eyes at his touch, her arms tingling wildly. “Please return with me first.”
He was forgetting his rage, losing himself in the smell of her. “I cannot, Remi.”
His lips were grazing her jaw line, her neck, suckling gently on her sweet skin. Her horror, her tears faded into the recesses of her mind as Gaston reminded her of life’s sweetest pleasure. Her grip around his neck tightened.
