"I am your husband, Leila."
"Not my rightful husband!" The minute thewords were out she regretted them, for Guy's powerful body tensed, his eyes adark, stormy hue.
"This afternoon you became my wife before God andman in the holiest of ceremonies," he said with quiet fury. "Yourconsent was witnessed by me, the priest, and King Edward. If that does not makeme your rightful husband, Lady deWarenne. . ."
To her utter amazement he suddenly rolled onto hisback, carrying her with him. Her hair, loosed from its braid, spilled over themlike a veil of glistening black silk, and she braced her hands on his muscular,sweat-glazed chest. She could feel his heartbeat race beneath her fingertips ashe seized her around the waist and began to move slowly within her, hisbreathing coming harder, faster, his eyes burning into hers.
"I told you that the day would come when you wouldadmit your love for me. If that means I must also wait for you to shareyourself fully with me, everything that you know, everything that you are, thenso be it! But understand this, woman. You are mine!"
Leila felt her anger fading as raw excitement grippedher, his deep thrusts stoking flames of desire that she thought had been longsince quenched. There was no use fighting him. His sensual power over her wasfar too compelling.
But that did not mean he was gaining any hold on herheart, she told herself, losing all control as he drew her roughly toward himand nuzzled her breasts. Her body might surrender, but not her soul. She wouldshelter it against anything he might say or do while she watched for the timewhen she could leave him and his futile love behind forever . . .
Her defiant thoughts fled as passion overcame her, hisglittering blue eyes sending her an unmistakable challenge.
You will love me,Leila,his gaze seemed to say.Oneday, you will love me!
Guy captured her lips, kissing her with a possessivefire that drove her ever closer to flinging herself from that shimmeringprecipice . . .
God help her. No matter how often she assured herselfotherwise, deep down she feared she already did love him.
Chapter 20
"My dear girl, wake up! You must bathe and dressquickly or we'll miss the opening festivities." Leila's eyes flickeredopen and she half sat up, surprised by the trio of female faces looking down ather. She recognized the plump Matilda deWarenne, countessof Surrey and wife to Guy's overlord, John, but not the two other well-dressedwomen.
Had she met them last night at the coronation feast?shewondered dazedly. Guy had introduced her to so manypeople after they had returned as husband and wife to the great hall . . .
Guy. Leila glanced at the empty space beside her andrealized for the first time that she was alone in the bed.
"Of course he's gone, child. Your husband isjousting in the king's tournament today. He's been up since dawn preparing forhis match."
Since dawn? Leila's cheeks grew warm. Obviously onlyshe had fallen into an exhausted slumber after the abandoned lovemaking thatcarried them into the early morning hours. Her wanton thoughts scattered whenshe felt a friendly tug on her arm.
"Up with you now, Leila. Your husband will be mostanxious to see his lovely bride seated in the royal pavilion when he rides ontothe field. I know you must be bone-tired from your wedding night, but we'llsurely miss . . ." Matilda paused when the two younger women standingbeside her tittered, quelling them with a not-too-severe glance. "Have youmet these ladies?"
Leila shook her head. "I'm not sure. Yesterday wassuch a blur—"
"Of course it was," the countess interjectedkindly, patting her hand. "I still can't believe your brother . . . On theother hand, I suppose I can—" She stopped, clearing her throat, andgestured to the pleasant-faced woman on her left, who dropped a quick curtsy. "Thisis Lady Margaret Gray, and this" —she nodded to the other woman, who hadvery pale, pinched features that were pretty nonetheless— "is Lady BlanchedeHengham. They're both married to knights who servemy husband. In fact, their husbands are also riding in the tournament."
"It's a pleasure," Leila intoned with a smallsmile, remembering the expected niceties Guy had taught her on the way toLondon.
As the two women smiled warmly, the countess added, "Ibrought Blanche and Margaret along this morning because I thought you mightlike to sit in the pavilion with some young women your own age. Guy left me amessage asking me to allow you to sleep as long as possible, and I have, butnow we must hurry."
Leila gasped and hastily covered her breasts as Matildamatter-of-factly threw back the covers.
"Oh heavens, child! I possess the same equipmentas you, only much more padded. Now out of bed with you and into the tub beforethe water grows cold."
Leila quickly obeyed her, recalling that Guy had saidthe countess was like a mother hen not only to her brood of seven children butalso to the wives of her husband's knights. Now it was clear that she, too, wasunder the countess's maternal wing.
As Leila settled into the deliciously warm water, twoserving women who had been waiting patiently near the door came forward to assisther. One began to bathe her with a soft sponge while the other expertly soapedher hair. Strangely, their gentle ministrations reminded her ofNittiaandAyhan, so instead ofprotesting she decided to enjoy it.
"Leila, which gown would you like to wear today?"camethe countess's voice from the bed.
Leila squinted to keep any errant soap suds fromstinging her eyes. But she forgot all about any possible discomfort when shespied the five beautiful kirtles with matching silk veilslaidout upon the newly made bed. The garments made a vivid rainbow of color: royalblue, peacock, scarlet, deep lilac, and silvery peach.
"Where did they come from?" she asked,stunned.
"Your husband kept Queen Eleanor's seamstresses upmost of the night making these gowns for you so they would be ready thismorning," Matilda replied with a smile. "Didn't you hear himdiscussing what he wanted with one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting during thecoronation feast?"
