It was Erneis who had told him that Leonie’s people were harassing the Black Wolf. How Alain had loved Leonie for that! It was also Erneis who told him that she was being forced to marry d’Ambert. At first, Alain was enraged. But then he decided it was a good thing, for Leonie would so hate being forced that she would hate her husband as much as Alain did. She would make a good widow. She would marry Alain, and with her support, Alain would petition the king for a pardon. The plan would work, all of it, for what man, even the king, could resist Leonie’s sweet charms, or her sweet body, if it came to that?
Alain watched the woods like a starving hawk. This time, she had to come. It was not easy getting messages to her, for the villagers were content under their new lord. There was only one man willing to deliver his messages to Leonie. The other men remembered Alain’s heavy hand too well and were likely to report his presence to d’Ambert. Alain vowed he would remember that once he was master of Crewel again.
Leonie had not responded to his first two notes, but it was doubtless difficult for her to come to him alone as he’d requested. Well, d’Ambert was away from Crewel, so Alain waited eagerly to see her…eagerly and very anxiously. The men were very restless and bad-tempered. It was getting harder and harder to convince them that they would possess greater wealth if they would only be patient a little longer.
A large ransom would solve one of Alain’s problems, and keep the men pliable for a while. Shouldhe tell Leonie that he intended to ransom her? If she agreed to come away with him peacefully it would make his life easier. After all, he didn’t have to tell her everything. He might tell her only part of his plan.
The sound of horses coming from the wrong direction threw Alain into a panic, but then he saw her. She was leaving the woods with her escort, but coming from Pershwick. Her men-at-arms were her own, wearing Pershwick colors.
Leonie had left immediately for Pershwick when Alain’s third message came. Once there she dismissed her escort, telling them she would use a guard from Pershwick to bring her back to Crewel, as she planned to stay the night at Pershwick. She wanted none of Rolfe’s men to be able to tell him she had met a man in a field. But she wanted no more notes from Alain, either, and the only way to stop them was to talk to him.
It was impossible to leave Pershwick alone, for Sir Guibert insisted she take at least six men, and he could not be talked out of it. But they were her men, and when she told them to wait for her at the edge of the woods, no one argued.
Within plain sight of her guard, she rode slowly toward Alain. Her heart beat harder as she approached the man she hadn’t seen in half a year. It seemed even longer than that, for she had been through so much and seen more of the world in that time than in all the rest of her life. And Alain, how had he fared since leaving? She supposed his presence in the region meant one of two things. Either he was no longer running, had perhaps reason to believe he might be given a royal pardon, or else he was so desperate that he felt in no more danger there near his old home than he did anywhere else. Poor Alain.
When they’d last met, a cold winter sun had lit his blond hair to gold and turned his cheeks ruddy pink, making him look younger than twenty. As she neared him, she was dismayed to see how haggard he looked. There was a deep weariness in his features, and his eyes glinted with a cunning that made her wary.
“Alain.” Leonie kept her greeting reserved as he lifted her down from her horse. “I thought you meant to remain in Ireland.”
He smiled bitterly. “I did. But when I arrived there, I found my kin were staunch supporters of Henry’s. Not one was willing to incur his displeasure by harboring me. They assisted me in leaving as soon as I arrived.”
“I am sorry,” Leonie said sympathetically, but she needed to come to the point. “You never did tell me what you were accused of, Alain, and I have heard things—”
“Lies,” he said quickly. He smiled warmly. “It is so good to see you, Leonie. Is all well with you? You do not seem to have fared badly with the Black Wolf.”
She answered stiffly, “He does not mistreat me, Alain. But I will not talk of him. Why have you come here?”
He appeared crestfallen. “Can’t you guess? When I heard of your marriage, I grieved for you. I thought you would welcome my help.”
“Thank you, Alain, but I do not need help,” she said as courteously as she could.
“You arehappywith him?”
She looked away sadly. “I cannot say I am happy, but nothing can change my circumstance.”
“You could come away with me, Leonie.”
Leonie turned toward him again, startled. She had thought of fleeing, but until Rolfe was willing to lether go, he would be sure to track her down. What she needed was sanctuary, and Alain could hardly give her that.
“Where is it you plan to go, Alain?”
The question was simple curiosity, but he interpreted it to mean acceptance.
“You will not regret your decision, Leonie.” He smiled, wrapping her in his arms. “I swear I will make you happy!”
“Alain!” She gasped, trying to push him away. “I am married.”
He held her tightly. “A mistake that will soon be corrected.”
Leonie grew very still. “What do you mean?”
“Your husband risks his life daily,” Alain answered carefully. “Even now he wars with my vassals.”
“Your father’s vassals.”
“The same thing,” he said curtly. “Such a man, a man of war, will die—and soon.”
Sudden understanding made her feel sick. Alain’s first message had come not long after Rolfe’s injury. Alain might have been there. He might have been the one who unleashed the arrow.
