"Gervais? Surely not anyrelation to . . ." Eleanor's voice died away as she looked from hernodding husband to Guy. Her lively green eyes widened considerably. "Ohmy," she breathed, clearly nonplussed.
"Oh my, indeed," Edward said with a shortlaugh.
"Wait until you hear where he met this mysteriouslady."
"Damascus, Syria," Guy said, playing along. "Damascus!But how—"
"Ah, did you hear that? The trumpets are soundingfor the feast," Edward cut in, looping his arm through Eleanor's. "It'sabout time, too. I'm ravenous. Come, my beloved wife. Our guests will begathering, and we should be there to greet them."
As he began to sweep her along with him to the door,Eleanor laughingly protested, "But, my lord, I must hear—"
"And so you shall, my love, so you shall. Guy canregale you with his romantic tale over supper." Edward called to him overhis shoulder. "You will sit at our table, deWarenne,on my lady's right hand. And if you spy your Lady Leila, you must point her outto us."
"I am honored, my lord. Indeed I will," Guysaid,an eagernessto his stride as he followed them.He felt like a raw youth, such was his excitement at the prospect of seeingLeila again. She was bound to be at tonight's feast in Westminster Hall, for itmarked the official beginning of the coronation festivities.
And if there was one thing he was certain about her, itwas that she was easy to read. He would be able to tell with one look at herlovely eyes exactly how she was faring.
He didn't relish the thought of Roger mistreating her,but he secretly hoped the bastard had already forgone his mock gallantbehavior. The sooner Leila discerned her brother's true colors, the better.
***
"My only wish is for you to enjoy yourself, dearsister. A king's coronation is a rare event. We will talk of your concernsfurther when we return to Wales, I promise you. Come. We will be late for thefeast."
Leila lifted her eyes to Roger's and was stillastonished hours after their initial meeting that there was so little physicalresemblance between them.
He was a handsome man, no doubt of that, tall androbust, with dark, closely cropped hair which wasmore brownthan black, piercing steel-blue eyes, and ruggedly cut features. She could onlyreason that he took after the father she had never known and whom her motherhad never described to her. Yet in his smile, which seemed warm enough, shecould see a glimpse of Eve. It made her dreadfully homesick, and she shook herhead, unconvinced by his placating words.
"I don't understand why I must journey all the wayto Wales. It will only waste precious time. The matter is quite plain, my lord.I wish to return to Damascus before the change of seasons makes traveling toodifficult. Surely you understand by now that my presence here in England is alla dreadful mistake."
"Oh, come now, Leila," Maude interjected,taking her arm. "You must at least visit your ancestral home beforeentertaining any idea of leaving us. Winter is still many weeks away. There isplenty of time to enjoy the coronation and a short side trip to Wales, surely.You have come too far to leave us so soon."
Leila glanced at the striking blond woman holding herarm, not sure if she liked her sister-in-law or not.
Maude had seemed friendly enough since she had beenbrought to this tent. Maude had set her servants at once to cutting down one ofher own gowns to fit Leila's smaller figure, and then she had personally servedher cool wine and a light repast. The source of Leila's unease wasn't somethingshe could easily put her finger on. The older woman was doing her utmost toappear cordial. Perhaps it was as simple as that . . . ah, then again, maybe itwas nothing.
"Maude is right," Rogersaid,the same warm smile still on his face. "It's not every day one is reunitedwith a long-lost sister. You're the exact image of Mother, you know. I was ninewhen she left with Father for the Holy Land, so I remember her well. How I'vemissed them, and now to discover after these many years that she is still aliveand well, and that I have a beautiful sister . . ." He cleared his throatmeaningfully. "Please, Leila. Let us enjoy each other's company, at leastfor a few short weeks."
Leila sighed, looking from Maude to Roger. She wasbeginning to feel she had been purposely deceived by Lord deWarenne. Her brother didn't appear the evil ogre Guy hadmade him out to be.
Roger's demeanor had been affable since the moment theymet. Most importantly, he hadn't denied outright her request to return toDamascus, as Guy had predicted he would. He had listened patiently toeverything she had to say. Guy had been dead wrong, and she felt a sudden rushof resentment that he had tried to mislead her for his own selfish purposes.Her sense of pique at that moment swayed her more to her brother's favor thananything else.
She supposed she could humorRoger,and Maude as well, since he had just virtually assured her that she could leaveEngland in a few weeks. And she was curious to see theGervaisfamily's ancestral home. It would be interesting to tell Eve about it once shewas back in Syria.
"Very well," she murmured, smiling faintly. "Idon't see that a couple of weeks' delay will hurt."
"Excellent!" came Roger's quick reply.
"Oh, Leila, I'm so pleased," echoed Maude.
Leila missed the furtive look between them as sheglanced uncertainly at her rose-colored kirtle. It was indecent how the silkenfabric was molded to her slim figure, giving her the sensation that she waswearing little more than a second skin. Maude's servants had clearly misjudgedher proportions. This gown was much too small for her.
"Are you sure I shouldn't wear asurcoat?" she asked, raising her head.
"Heavens, no," Maude exclaimed, "andspoil the line of the gown? You look absolutelyravishing, Leila. Especially with your hair hanging free like that with onlythe silver circlet as a headdress. We're so proud of yourbeauty,we want to show you off to everyone!"
Leila felt a niggling unease at such a gushingdeclaration, but she gave it no more thought as Maude whisked her from thetent. Roger followed close behind with a large retinue of knights who had beenwaiting outside.
The air was charged with excitement as throngs ofpeople made their way in the gathering dusk toward Westminster Hall, thechaotic procession accompanied by much laughing and good-natured jostling.Everyone seemed to be having such a wonderful time that Leila found itdifficult not to become caught up in the high-spirited tumult.
