“We?”
“Lady Leonie would not take this hard stand if she had only suspicions.”
Rolfe glowered. “I told you her jealousy is unfounded. The child does not concern her because it was conceived before I wed her.”
“Then you must convince her of that, my lord, for she surely believes otherwise.”
Rolfe was brought up short. The statement was made matter-of-factly. It was bad enough that Leonie had learned of the child when he had hoped to spare her that knowledge as long as possible. But for her to think…
“Take me to her,” Rolfe demanded, angry anew over the foolish notions in Leonie’s mind. It showed clearly what opinion she had of him. He remembered now the doubts he had had about letting Amelia remain at Crewel, but even so he’d never guessed what conclusions Leonie might draw from his leniency with Amelia.
As Leonie watched Rolfe cross the hall toward her, she was surprised by her fear and, just below the surface of her fear, her terrific pride in Rolfe. She had to respect a man who held to his purpose so tenaciously.
The truth was, she hadn’t wanted him to give in to her demands if his giving in would leave him with a longing for Amelia. That would do no good. Leonie wanted the issue settled forever.
Rolfe came to a halt several feet away from Leonie, studying her position and demeanor. She was standingbehind a chair, her fingers gripping the high backrest as if to keep the chair between them. Her chin was raised defiantly, but her eyes were uncertain and fearful.
“Was it necessary for you to come here with an army, my lord?” she asked, seizing the opening.
He might have laughed, for there were a dozen armed men about the hall, as well as her stalwart vassal and a goodly number of brutish-looking serfs who didn’t even attempt to conceal their dislike of Rolfe d’Ambert.
“Be glad I did, wife, for if I had come here alone, you would have stood fast to your foolishness and forced me to resort to harsh measures later on.”
She bridled. “It is hardly foolish to—” She clamped her mouth shut. “I will not argue about that. What do you wish to do now?”
“Take you back.”
“And if I refuse to leave? Will you attack my keep?”
“I will leave not a single stone standing,” he answered. “I am tempted to dismantle Pershwick anyway.” His face hardened. “You cannot come here and pit your people against me every time you are upset with me, Leonie. If you ever do this again, I will not hesitate to destroy Pershwick. You belong with me.”
“But I am nothappywith you!” She flung the words at him.
She might as well have stabbed him. He told himself not to open his heart to her if all she wanted was to trample on it.
“I had hoped in time you would come to love me, Leonie, or at least to find life with me…pleasant. I regret that you cannot.” His voice was funereal.
Her heart dropped into her belly. “You—you will give me up?”
Rolfe’s eyes narrowed darkly. So that was what she wanted. “No, madame, I will not give you up.”
Joy leaped into her breast, and she cautioned herself against revealing too much of herself to him.
“What of Amelia?” she asked evenly.
He sighed wearily. “She will be moved to another keep.”
“To another ofyourkeeps? What real difference will that make?”
“Do not be heartless, Leonie,” he growled. “You know she is with child. Would you have me abandon a pregnant woman?”
“I would never ask that of you!” she cried. “But must you keep her always within reach, so that she is there to comfort you whenever you are angry with me?”
“Damn me, where have you gotten this notion? The woman was my mistress, yes. I regret that a child was conceived. But I have not touched her since I wed you, and I am mystified by your implying that I have—or shall.”
“Lady Amelia says differently, my lord,” she informed him.
“You mistook her,” Rolfe replied rigidly.
