Grimacing from the pain in his leg, made all the moreacute by his chausses rubbing against the bandages, Guy leaned on a chair forsupport. "Good God, man, haven't you heard the uproar outside? I've over ahundred men mounting up at this moment to go out and look for her."
"No. I've been so absorbed in my work . . ."Philip spread his hands. "Are you sure she's gone? Have you looked in thehospital?"
"Of course! That's where I thought she was allafternoon until I sent Enid a short while ago to fetch her. Enid found thehospital empty and thebrazierscold. No one has beenthere for hours. As she came rushing back to tell me, she spied Nicholasplaying in some mud puddles near the kitchen. Do you know what he said when sheasked him if he'd seen Leila?"
Philip shook his head, his face pale.
Guy's gut twisted in torment, his anxiety eating him alive."Nicholas saw her by a wagon near the grain storehouse. She must havehidden herself in it to get out of the castle."
"But have you looked everywhere else?" Philipblurted. "There are so many places she could be—"
"She's nowhere to be found. No one has seen her,"Guy cut him off sharply. Limping, he approached his brother. "What thehell did you say to her the other night before Henry found you together in thehospital? Damn you, Philip, you struck her!" His voice rose to a shout. "Tellme!"
Clearly shaken, Philip sank onto the stool. "I—Itold her she was a curse to you and this household. I blamed her for thedissension between us and for the assault that almost killed you, and I saidthat it was because of your marriage that LordGervaiswas seeking revenge against you. I said I wanted to be rid of her and I madeher an offer. But she turned it down. I was so angry, I hit her . . ."Philip's shoulders slumped, and he fell silent.
Guy was assailed by dread. "What offer?"
"If she agreed to leave that night, I was preparedto give her enough money to see her way back to Damascus, with safe escort toMarseilles."
"You would have done this to me?" Guy askedincredulously, quiet rage building inside him. "You know Leila means moreto me than my life, yet you would have helped her to leave me?"
"I thought she was killing you with her cure!"Philip exclaimed, his eyes heavy with remorse. "I didn't know what else todo to get her away from you. How could I have known her eastern medicine wouldsave your life?" He lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Guy. Truly sorry. Iwas wrong about Leila, about her skills. I've thought of nothing else for twodays. I was planning to talk to her tonight, to ask her forgiveness—"
"It seems you are too late," Guy saidbitterly. "Since she found so little acceptance here, maybe she decided totake your words to heart after all. Or perhaps she planned to leave me allalong, and in that wagon she finally found her opportunity. Oh, God . . ."
"I cannot believe that," Philip objected. "Whenshe denied my offer, she said she had no wish to return to Damascus. I saw hereyes, Guy. I would swear she meant it."
Guy was so mired in his tormented thoughts that hebarely heard him. He had never been at such a loss. Ah, Leila, why have youdone this? Why?
He simply could not bring himself to believe she hadleft him out of hatred. Not after what they had shared earlier that day. Shehad never made love to him so completely, so freely. It wasn't possible—or wasit?
Had her impassioned kiss, her trembling touch fooledhim so thoroughly? While he had exulted that he lived to hold her in his armsagain, what had filled her heart? Loathing? Resentment? She had lied to himabout going to the hospital. She had said she wouldreturn,that they would spend tonight together, when all the while she knew she wasgoing to leave him!
Guy clenched his fists. Had she saved his life, then,not because she cared, but only because of her ingrained duty as a physician?And when he had recovered, had she felt that her obligation was fulfilled? DearGod, someone tell him it wasn't so!
"My lord. Griffin is saddled and waiting outsidethe chapel."
Guy glanced up at Henry Langton in the doorway. "Arethe men ready to ride?"
"Yes. We await your orders."
"Surely you can't mean to join them, Guy,"Philip said in disbelief, rising abruptly. "Your wound—"
"The hell with my wound! Do you think I could sitidly by while my wife is out there somewhere, alone and unprotected?" Guyignored the burning pain in his leg as he moved with impatience to the door. "Enoughtalk. It's already growing dark. I have discovered what I needed to know."
As he and Henry hurried down the stone steps, Philiphastened after them.
"I want to ride with you, Guy. I want to help lookfor Leila."
Stepping outside the chapel into a light drizzle, Guylooked back at his half brother, his expression grim. "No. I want you tostay here and pray, Philip. Pray very, very hard that we find her. I promiseyou there will be hell to pay if we don't."
"Lord deWarenne!"
Guy turned as RobertBurnellrushed toward him, a stout, red-faced farmer puffing alongside the swarthyknight. He recognized the man as one of his tenants.
"What is it?" he demanded, growingincreasingly impatient to begin their search while there was yet some daylight.
"My lord, this is one of the men who came to thecastle today for grain. He has some news—"
