It was all Leila could do to meet his eyes. "Yes."She was relieved when Guy drew her into his arms and couldn't read the truth inher eyes.
He must never know about the child, she vowedfervently, her cheek pressed to his heart. He must never know. Somehow shewould have to leave before he ever found out . . .
"Ah, Leila, you've done such a wonderful jobpreparing this hospital," Guy said, hugging her tightly. His voice grewimpassioned, his body tense. "No one shall take this from you. That Ipromise. No one."
She closed her eyes as he lifted her chin, his mouthmoving over hers with such poignant intimacy and passion that she could nothelp but respond. He knew how to ply her, how to set her blood on fire, and hedid so now, kissing her until she was breathless.
Her arms snaked around his neck and she leaned againsthim, her fingers threading through his sweat-damp hair.The chain mail beneath hissurcoatpressed into her tender breasts, but she didn'tcare, the sensation arousing a desire that ever burned for this man.
She felt his strong hands cup her bottom and shegasped, thinking wantonly of the night he had been so hot for her that he hadnot waited to remove all of his armor. His engorged shaft, when freed, had beenas hard and relentless as the metal sheathing his body, their merging sointense that the memory of it filled her even now with the wildest yearning.
Would he take her now as he had that night? Oh, please.Please . . .
Her disappointment was painfully acute when he drewback from her, and she dazedly opened her eyes to find him smiling.
"You tempt me beyond all endurance, wife. My bodylongs for your sweet softness . . ." His short laugh was more a groan, andhe captured her in his fierce embrace. "But I fear our passion must waituntil my return. I think we would soon be interrupted by a young boy bringingspiced cider for his mother."
Leila froze in his arms. "Nicholas called me hismother?"
"Yes. You've won his heart. Hasn't he told you?"She shook her head, stunned.
Guy chuckled as he played with an ebony tendril thathad come loose from her braid. "Give him time. He is cautious with hisemotions, as was his father until he met his own lady fair." He pushed herslightly away so he could look in her eyes, his expression serious. "Butonce the love is given, it is forever."
Dear God, why, why was he saying this to her? Leilathought wildly. It was one more band of iron around her heart. One more bondshe must break to leave him.
She saw a flicker of pain cross his strikingfeatures—because she did not answer?—but it was quickly gone and he kissed heragain. This time it was a kiss of farewell.
"I must go," Guy said, releasing her slowlyand with obvious reluctance. "Langton,Burnell,and a few others are waiting for me by the gatehouse. Until tonight, my love."
He strode to the door, calling out to his son, whosuddenly appeared on the threshold, "Ho! There you are, Nicholas. Andwhere is the hot cider you promised the beautiful lady?"
"Cook is bringing it," Nicholas replied,flourishing what looked to be the last of a honey roll. "And morepastries, too!" Giggling, he popped the bit into his mouth and noisilylicked his fingers.
Guy glanced wryly at Leila, who was smiling at the boy'santics despite her deep anguish.
"His manners leave much to be desired, but he's agood lad." His gaze trailed over her lingeringly. "And oh, how I envyhim his company." Throwing her a roguish smile that hinted of theirreunion later, he rumpled Nicholas's hair and was gone.
Leila walked to the door, unable to take her eyes fromGuy as he crossed the bailey and mounted Griffin. She felt a small sticky handclutch hers.
"Come on, Lady Leila. Let's make some morebandages until cook gets here."
She nodded, watching as the huge gates swung closedbehind the small band of sixknights, but still shedid not move. It was only after she felt an impatient tug that she shut thedoor and followed Nicholas back into the room.
***
"I've heard enough," Guy said grimly to HenryLangton as they strode from the farmhouse back to where the rest of his menwere waiting. "Damn Philip and his pious fervor! No wonder Leila'shospital has remained virtually empty. He's scared everyone away with hisnonsensical warnings. Eastern witchery. The devil's magic. I'm going tothrottle him!"
He got no response from Henry, nor did he expect one.His usually jovial knight had become more subdued with each farm and villagethey visited. There were no merry jests to lighten this situation. It was verygrave indeed.
Guy swept up the reins dangling on the ground andmounted a restless Griffin. "Let's get back to the castle before it growsdark," he muttered, his five knights falling in behind him as he nudgedthe hugedestrierinto a thundering gallop.
How dare Philip jeopardize all the progress he had madewith Leila? Guy raged inwardly, his gaze piercing the gray dusk settling overthe surrounding woods. Just when he was beginning to catch glimpses of a newemotion in her eyes—not defiance, resentment, or simply desire, but somethingthat set hope flaring in his heart—now he would see only disappointment andhurt as she withdrew from him again. Damn!
Half brother or no, Philip would pay for this grossindiscretion. Any man who would so wantonly disregard an agreement could nolonger be trusted. On the morrow, there would be a new steward atWarenneCastle.
Burning to get home so that he might exact hisretribution, Guy urged his war-horse into a fast canter as they rounded a curvein the road. He was so caught up in his angry thoughts that he did not hear thedeadly zing of arrows until it was too late. As one struck him in the leftthigh, cleanly piercing his chain mail, he roared out through his pain, "Ambush!"
Guy lifted his shield to fend off another barrage ofarrows and, grabbing the wooden shaft, yanked it from his flesh. Blood spurtedand he cursed, realizing the pointed iron head remained embedded in the wound.
