Gillian nodded. "Yes, I have some news; someone was seen near the hidden door at the kitchens."
Simon's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"Aye."
"'Twould seem the door is not as secret as we thought."
"'Tis my husband's fault. He has announced it to all. But that's not important. Simon, the woman who saw this person said it was Jervais."
Simon shook his head, his dark eyes filled with disbelief. "Nay, couldn't be. He was –" "With you? In the barracks?" Gillian folded her arms.
"Of course, where else would we be?" The red staining his face drew a laugh.
"I know you were with Lady Madelaine."
"Nay, I was..." His shoulders slumped. "Aye. I met with her."
"Are you planning to ask for her hand?"
He shook his head. "I cannot. I am a bastard and have no hope for a lady such as her."
"I suspect if you went to Eleanor, she'd help."
"Gilly, stop. Tell me more. Who saw Jervais?"
"Dylis did, though she wasn't sure who it was. Madelaine confirmed 'twas Jervais. She told the queen, who came for me. You know what happened then."
She scowled, still furious that her husband insisted on treating her as little more than a slave, to be chained and worked. Even so, the thought of his physical possession of her sparked the now-familiar heat. God's bones, the man had turned her into an insatiable lunatic! She shoved the thoughts aside.
"We must tell my husband at once."
"Tell him what?"
Gillian near choked on the lump blocking her throat. She turned, stomach churning anew at the sight of the rage etched in her husband's face. She took a deep breath.
"We have word... that is, this afternoon, when Eleanor, Queen Eleanor came to me, she shared something of import."
"And you didn't tell me this before?"
"I needed to confirm something."
Royce stalked over to her, but she refused to cower, despite the violent way her knees trembled.
"What was that?"
"Where my brother was last eve."
Royce settled his stare on her brother, but Simon also stood firm.
"Tell me, traitorous wife, what did you learn?"
The ice in his voice drew a shiver of fear, but she pushed it back. Lifting her chin, she held his stare.
"That one of Lyndon's men, Sir Jervais, was seen exiting through the kitchen door."
"And who saw this?"
Royce looked between the two of them, his fierce glare more ominous with each passing second.
