“My lord,” she greeted.
By this time, Kenneth had opened his eyes and focused on the baron. Liam went to Kenneth’s other side, taking a knee beside the injured knight.
“St. Héver,” he patted the man’s shoulder. “I have no idea why you lay here. You could have both arms and legs cut off and still ride into battle. Surely a stronger man has never lived.”
Kenneth grunted. “I am not really injured.”
“No?”
“’Tis all a ploy to gain sympathy.”
Liam laughed softly, displaying nice white teeth and slightly prominent canines. “I have absolutely none to give you,” he replied, glancing up at the very lovely lady sitting next to him. “And this lady is married to my brother, so you are wasting your time if you are trying to gain her favor.”
Kenneth actually grinned, looking at Toby. “Your brother has her attention quite captivated,” he replied. “Moreover, her only interest in me is ordering me about. Perhaps I feign injury so she will leave me alone.”
In spite of her emotional state, Toby could not help but grin. She smacked him gently on the shoulder. “You are a lout,” she scolded softly, looking at Liam. “Just so you are aware, if I were to order him up at this moment to do my bidding, he would rise from his deathbed in order to see my wishes fulfilled. The man is as loyal as a dog.”
Liam laughed softly again. “I know this to be true,” he looked back to Kenneth. “My physic tells me that you will survive. He says the puncture is deep but that it did not hit anything vital.”
Kenneth nodded wearily. “I should be fine by tomorrow.”
Liam just shook his head; the man meant every word. He had known St. Héver for years and the man was virtually immortal. Nothing could get him down for long. But he could feel Toby’s gaze on him and he looked over at her, seeing the red-rimmed eyes. He knew how frightened she was and he wished he had better news to offer her.
“Have you heard anything of my husband?” Toby asked him before he could speak.
Liam could see the strength within the woman with just that question. She had an unwavering manner about her, besides the fact that she was enormously beautiful. It was his first exposure to her and he could see what his brother found attractive in the lady right away. He shook his head to her question.
“Not a word, my lady,” he said quietly. “Perhaps we will very soon. Mortimer cannot keep quiet for long.”
She nodded slowly, absorbing the information. “Where is Edward?”
“I am told that the king is asleep.”
“He has not yet come to see me.”
“I know,” Liam nodded faintly. “In truth, I have not seen him, either. He has made himself scarce as of late. But I am sure he feels some guilt for what has happened. He gave his mother the approval for this venture, I am told. You and St. Héver returned, but Tate and Pembury are now trapped. Surely he is beside himself.”
Toby pursed her lips in sorrow. “He need not feel that way. It was not his fault.”
“I know. But he is young. He has not yet learned to deal with the weight of responsibility.”
“Are there any plans for my husband’s rescue?”
“Not yet. We must see what this day brings and go from there.”
“You are not going to go after him right away?”
“I do not believe that would be prudent. But have no doubt that we will act when the time is right.”
Toby let the conversation die, her gaze returning to Kenneth once more. He was looking at her, trying to gauge her reaction to all of this. Liam’s attention lingered on the two of them before he politely excused himself, exiting the tent into the day that was growing lighter by the moment. He had much to do and was pleased at Lady de Lara’s brave attitude. It made his life easier.
But Toby wasn’t being brave at all; she was reflecting on the conversation and growing increasingly distressed.We must see what this day brings and go from there.She didn’t like the inaction or the waiting. Her husband was in trouble and just as he sought to save her, she knew that she must seek to save him also. She had to; she simply couldn’t sit around and wait for others to act. When the situation had been reversed and she had been held captive, Tate’s plan had been to involve Isabella. As Toby sat and pondered, she suspected that might be her best option also.
And why not? Toby remembered how Mortimer fawned over Isabella the moment she arrived at Wigmore. She remembered the sickening flattery, watching as the queen soaked it up. The woman wallowed in the adoration. She wondered what the queen would say if she knew that her lover had indecently propositioned another woman. And what if that woman were to expose Mortimer’s lustful intentions? Toby wondered… an exchange…me for Tate. But she would make sure that Isabella knew the details of the exchange; chances were that both she and Tate would see freedom were Isabella sufficiently jealous andangered at Mortimer. God help her, she had to try. If these men weren’t going to act, then she had to.
Abruptly, she stood up. Kenneth was dozing off, startled when she moved suddenly.
“What is wrong?” he asked sleepily. “Where do you go?”
