“He is up to something, and I do not know what it is!”
Roi didn’t want to dismiss her again so obviously. Clearly, she felt strongly about the situation, and he wanted to respect that. But he also thought she was simply being overdramatic because he was departing for a conflict and she didn’t like that. Furthermore, she didn’t like the fact that her father clearly hadn’t forgiven them for refusing to marry when he wanted them to, so her paranoia had the better of her.
She was seeing trouble everywhere.
“My dearest angel,” he said patiently. “Even if he is up to something, as you have put it, what harm can he do us? The man cannot touch the de Lohr empire, and he knows it. He would be foolish to try, although I do not know why he would try. He has everything he wants—you are married to a de Lohr son and he has his alliance. Why in the world would he be up to something that would harm us?”
Diara couldn’t put her feelings into words. There was nothing tangible except for the fact that she knew her father and knew how he could be. But Roi had a point—her father had what he wanted. There was no reason for him to be scheming about something. Aye, that was all quite logical, and she knew that.
But she still had a suspicious feeling deep in her belly.
However, she didn’t want Roi to think he’d married a fidgety, silly bird. She wanted him to see her as she really was, as she had been since their introduction. That was the true Diara, a woman of reason and strength, but when it came to her father and his questionable character, she was nervous.
But she couldn’t prove anything.
“You are correct, of course,” she said, forcing a smile. “I suppose that I am simply nervous that you are going into battle and we have only been married a couple of weeks. I was hoping we would have more time before I bade you farewell as you headed to an armed conflict.”
He smiled at her. “There is no need to be concerned,” he said. “I am taking five hundred men with me and Adrius. I will leave Kyne here with you, to command in my absence. I will be well protected and I will be very careful, I promise. But you must let me do what I was born to do and what I am trained to do. You married a knight, Lady de Lohr. You must let me be what I am.”
She nodded quickly. “Of course,” she said. “I did not mean to suggest you become less than you are.”
He went to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her gently. “You did not suggest that at all,” he said. “This is the first time we have been separated, and you are understandably uneasy. I do not want to leave you, either, but your father has asked for help. How would you feel about me if I refused?”
“Upset, I suppose.”
“Exactly,” he said, releasing her. “I will, therefore, go and see what this is all about, but I am sending a missive to my father to have his men join me. Your father will have thousands of men on his doorstep in a few short days.”
“Good,” Diara said, relieved. “Then you will have help.”
“I will have a lot of help,” he said. “Now, pick up the clothing I’ve laid out and come with me. My saddlebags are in the armory, and I would like your assistance.”
Diara nodded quickly, though she ran to her dressing table first and braided her hair quickly to get it out of the way. “I would be honored to help you,” she said as her fingers flew. “Is there anything else to bring from this chamber?”
Roi looked around. “I do not think so,” he said. “Mayhap an extra pair of boots.”
“Shall I get them?”
“Nay,” he said, already moving for the wardrobe. “I will get the boots. You get the clothing.”
Diara tied off her hair swiftly, a lovely blonde braid hanging over her shoulder as she rushed to collect his clothing off the bed. They headed from the chamber, Roi taking the lead as he led her down the stairs and out of the keep, crossing the bailey just as Dorian was taking a ride on her new horse, bareback, waving to her father and stepmother as she did so. Diara waved back, casting Roi a long look to remind him that he’d denied his daughter that particular pony only a couple of days ago.
Her husband’s sheepish smile had her laughing all the way to the armory.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lioncross Abbey Castle
“Whois here?”
“Mathis de Geld. Cheltenham’s knight.”
Christopher was in his solar, surrounded by several men who had attended Beckett’s funeral and Roi’s wedding, and had subsequently remained at Lioncross because Christopher requested it. Nearly everyone else had departed, including the de Shera brothers, but there was business to discuss, and the solar was full of some of the most elite knights in England. Therefore, the announcement of the arrival of Cheltenham’s knight was not something Christopher had expected.
“What does he want?” he asked.
The young knight from the gatehouse, a member of the de Royans family, shook his head. “He would not say, my lord,” he said. “Only that it is urgent.”
Christopher’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he looked at his brother, seated next to him. David seemed rather surprised, too. Christopher returned his attention to the knight.
