"Enough!" Guy roared, not so much from angeras from exasperation. "You rattle on worse than a howling fishwife,Langton! Do you think I am an idiot? Besotted, yes. An idiot, no. I have takenall these things into consideration. I am convinced that when I present myintentions to the lady, which I plan to do this very evening and on goodEnglish soil, she will accept."
Henry cocked a sandy eyebrow. "You are certain ofthis, my lord? She looks to be a woman who does not cow easily, or persuadeeasily, for that matter. Perhaps this is one time when you have met a woman youcannot sway. Then what?"
Langton's skepticism gave Guy pause.
He glanced over his shoulder at the lowsterncastlewhich held the only two cabins on the barge.Leila was in one of them, sleeping. She had been exhausted upon reachingCalais, since they had ridden post all the way fromProvins.Soon he would have to wake her for the next leg of their journey, which wouldtake them to an inn in the town of Canterbury where they would spend the night.
There he would tell her what he was planning for them.If she did not agree, he had no idea what his next move would be . . .
"See that the horses are saddled and ready to gowhen we dock," Guy stated brusquely, turning back to the windswept cliffswhich were drawing ever closer. "And wake upBurnell.He's napped long enough."
"As you say, my lord."
Guy listened as the knight sighed heavily and strodeaway. He knew full well he had not answered Henry's pointed questions and hehad no intention of doing so.
When it came to Leila, he would not predict anything.Why tempt the devil by claiming to discern a heart he could not fathom?
***
"Have you had enough to eat, my lady? I couldorder more food, if you'd like. More fruited custard. More wine."
"This was quite enough, thank you," Leilasaid somewhat stiffly, very much aware of Guy's knees brushing against her ownbeneath the narrow trestle table. Sheslidher legsdemurely to one side. She was eager to escape this loud and crowded dining hallfor some peace and solitude upstairs. That is, if Guy was willing to afford herany. . .
She felt a sudden rush of nervousness, but forced itaway. Since she had no plans of drugging him this night, she did not see anyreason why he would take the same liberties with her that he had inProvins. At least she hoped he wouldn't. Or did she? Ah,whatever was the matter with her?
Leila closed her eyes and rubbed her temples in a vainattempt to will from her mind the powerful memories and accompanying feelingsover which she lately seemed to have little control.
Why was this insane yearning forever plaguing her, andin the most unseemly places? In a raftered dining hall filled with all sorts ofunsavory travelers and townsfolk? Perhaps she was coming down with a fever fromthe constant traveling. Yes, that would certainly account for her strangesensation of warmth—
"You are tired."
Leila looked up, focusing on Guy's face. His arrestingblue eyes were laced with concern, and he had about him that same air ofpossessive familiarity to which she was reluctantly becoming accustomed. "Yes,"she admitted simply, foregoing her usual sharp remark.
"Come, then. I'll take you to our room." Herose and walked around to her side of the table, where he held out his arm.
Leila noted Henry's pained expression out of the cornerof her eye when she refused Guy's offer of assistance and stood up by herself.The fair-haired knight followed RobertBurnell'ssomber example by staring uncomfortably into his mug of pale yellow ale.
"Good night, gentlemen," she murmured, whichbrought both knights jumping to their feet and mumbling good-night. To herchagrin, Guy caught her arm anyway and led her quickly from the smoky dininghall and up the creaky back stairs.
"I've lodged at this inn before. The rooms aresimply furnished but quite comfortable."
Leila made no attempt to converse with him, hopingagainst hope that he would leave her and return to drinking ale with hisknights. She felt a rapid sinking feeling, as well as a good measure of nervousunease, when he ushered her into a corner room and shut the door behind him.This was the first time they had really been alone together sinceProvins.
She sat down on the edge of the bed while he lit an oillamp, the cotton wick sputtering to life and flooding the dark interior withsoft golden light. Other than a low drone coming from the distant dining hall,the only other sounds were their breathing and the steady drum of rain againstthe closed wooden shutters. Instead of soothing her, the sounds made hermore tense.
Leila noticed their saddlebags propped beneath a benchand her cloak hung to dry over a wooden hanger set in front of a glowingbrazier. An early evening shower had burst upon them just as they reachedCanterbury, but fortunately they had made it to the inn before anything morethan their outer coats were soaked. Guy's black cloak hung on the samehanger,broad, massive, just like him
She was startled from her random musings when Guysuddenly took a seat facing her on the bed, his back against the headboard andone long leg resting casually over the side. She didn't look at him. She wasafraid to. She simply stared at her hands lying folded in her lap, but it didlittle good. She could swear her every pore was alive to his nearness and shecould smell him, his hair and clothing slightly damp with rain and sweat, apleasing, musky odor surrounding him.
She wondered fleetingly if he could smell her, too,then she coughed lightly and glanced at the door. She had said she was tired,hadn't she?
"We'll be arriving at Westminster by tomorrowafternoon. You know that, don't you, Leila?"
She met his steady gaze. He was watching her intently,his eyes like glittering blue fire in the lamplight. Becoming flustered, shequickly looked away.
"Yes, I believe you mentioned that this morning inCalais." She took a quick breath and rushed on, hoping to dissuade himfrom any long discussion. "If you don't mind, my lord, I would like to getsome rest. Tomorrow promises to be a long day, what with meeting my brother andhis wife if they have already arrived at the palace—"
"That is exactly what I want to talk to you about."Guy leaned toward her, resting his elbow on his leg. "Leila, I havedecided to ask your brother for your hand in marriage. I plan to do so as soonas we can arrange a meeting."
