Gaston raised his gaze to the messenger.
“His niece,” that man supplied.“She disappeared, and he believes you know where she is.He wishes to find her.”
To what purpose?Gaston did not know precisely why Leila had been determined to leave Outremer.He had not been aware of her gender when she joined their party in disguise but truly, her choice indicated a certain desperation.Would the uncle’s intentions be clear from his missive?Or would he attempt to deceive Leila to encourage her return?Gaston considered the question for only a moment before he broke the seal on the message to Leila.
The messenger gasped, but Gaston ignored him.He saw at a glance that this message was much longer and would take him time to understand fully.“See that the visitor is fed and offered refreshment in the hall,” he commanded.“I will have a reply for him shortly.”
He gave his seneschal a hard look and knew that the messenger would be guarded and kept from seeing too much of the keep’s interior.He climbed the stairs to the solar where his lady’s counsel could be sought.
Radegunde, Gaston recalled, had been friendly with Leila.Perhaps his wife’s maid would make more sense of this missive than he could.Undoubtedly, she would know more of Leila’s reason for fleeing her home.He would not imperil Leila now, but the endearment and the tiny flower made him wonder if she was missed.
It was not within Gaston to be cruel, and he felt the weight of responsibility in making the right choice for the fugitive Saracen.
He wished only to make the right choice.
