"Well, I will keep you waiting no longer, my lady,for what you have so stoically earned," Guy said, taking her arm. "We'llstay the night here and leave for Paris first thing in the morning. We've madegood time so far. We can afford to ease up for one night. Our meal and somewine will be sent up soon, and they're preparing enough hot water for us tobathe."
Leila was stunnedasheled her into the brightly littavern. Just when it seemed he couldn't be more oblivious of her needs, hesurprised her. She would never understand him
After tonight you won't have to, she reminded herself,and was seized by nervous excitement as she followed him up the stairs.
Chapter 14
This fourth-floor room was not luxurious lodging by anymeans, Guy thought as he ushered Leila inside thelamplitinterior, but it would be more than adequate once good order was restored.
Two serving women were hurriedly changing the linens onthe large curtained bed, another was laying fresh rushes in the enclosedlatrine projected out from one wall, and a younger girl was dumping fresh coalsin the comer brazier. The room stunk of ale from its recently vacatedoccupants, but the smell could easily be remedied by some fresh air.
Guy strode to the nearest window and pushed open thewooden shutters. He inhaled deeply,thenturned backinto the room just as a brawny manservant rolled in two large wooden tubs andplaced them near the brazier. He glanced at Leila, who was still standing nearthe door, and a vivid image struck him, wild and arousing.
How he wished he could see her in one of those tubs,her white skin flushed and rosy from the steam, her wet hair snaking over herbeautiful breasts
Enough! You're only torturing yourself, Guy scoffed tohimself. Hell's fire would freeze over long before that ever happened.
"There you go, my lord," the manservant said,dusting off his hands. "The hot water will follow soon as the women finishhere and fetch it up from the kitchen, and the same goes for the food. If there'sanything else you'll be wanting, just let me know."
Guy studied the man. "Better yet, why don't youhelp fetch the water from the kitchen? Then my wife may have her bath all thesooner,and myself for that matter."
"But that's woman's work—"
"Do it," he commanded tersely. "Thepayment I gave thetaverneris more than enough toensure that my every request is well met."
The man nodded grudgingly and quit the room, followedshortly by the serving maids, who cast him grateful smiles.
Guy went to Leila's side, thinking she appearedamazingly alert for someone who claimed to be so tired,thendecided she was probably just eager for her bath. He, too, could not wait towash the sweat and filth of travel from his body. "Make yourselfcomfortable while I'm gone, my lady."
"Gone?"
"Only for a short while. I have to see to thehorse,thenI want to leave a message with thetaverner. It seems two of my own knights are lodging here,quite a coincidence. Apparently many other crusaders are still inProvins, no doubt enjoying the fair before returning toEngland." Guy gave a short laugh. "I'm surprisedBurnelland Langton rented any lodgings at all. Thetavernersays he's hardly seen them. I imagine they've been in every brothel—" Guystopped himself when Leila blushed, and he quickly took another tack. "I'msure our baths will be ready soon. You may go first, if you wish."
"I don't see why we can't bathe at the same time,my lord . . . otherwise your water will surely grow cold," she replied,her blush deepening. Wetting her lips, she glanced at the burgundy velvetbedcurtains. "We could draw those curtains and set onetub on each side of the bed for privacy."
Guy was so astonished by her suggestion that he didn'tknow quite what to say. He would have thought she would wish him well out ofthe room, even the tavern, while she bathed, but now . . . He shrugged, at aloss, and decided her suggestion made sense even if it was unexpected. He hatedlukewarm baths.
"As you wish," he said simply. "I'llmove the tubs now so you won't have to trouble yourself trying to explain thearrangement to the servants when they return with the water."
Leila merely nodded and stayed right where she was, herknees shaking so badly she thought she might fall if she so much as moved. She wasamazed she had the nerve to suggest such a thing, but it was all part of thewild scheme racing through her mind.
Since the opiate she planned to distill from the driedpoppies would have to be diluted to hide the telltale bitterness, Guy wouldneed to consume a good amount of red wine before he would feel the drug'seffect. And what better way to goad him into any angry bout of drinking than ahot bath and savory meal, all served up with a bit of seemingly innocentfeminine trickery?
She had been taught much in the harem. There weremyriad ways to seduce or merely to tease. Tonight she would play on Guy'sadmitted lust and, she hoped, bring on a drunken spree like the one in which hehad indulged on the boat to Lyons.
She had seen the empty bottles strewn under his berthwhen she awoke the next morning, her own headache no match for the splittingone that had plagued him that entire day. There had been no need to accuse himof taking advantage of her. His misery had been enough to convince her that hissacred vow had won out again.
And so it would tonight. Guy would not dare to touchher. His vow to protect her would never allow it. He would drown his desire andfrustration in wine, and she would be free.
"They'll probably fill the tubs before I get back,so don't feel you have to wait."
Leila started, so lost in her thoughts she hadn'tnoticed that Guy had moved to the door.
"Are you all right, Leila?"
"Yes . . . it's been such a long journey, 'tisall."
"I know. Soon it will be over." He smiled,but it quickly faded as a familiar warning lit his eyes. "Thetavernertold me there was only one door leading outside,the front entrance, and I won't be far from it."
