Dozing fitfully on the bed next to Guy's, Leila wokeabruptly when she suddenly heard a noise, half sigh,halfwhisper. She propped herself up on one elbow and looked around the dimly litroom.
Guy was still flat on his back, his features masked byshadows. His breathing was slow and regular, just as it had been when she hadfinally lain down to get a little rest.
She glanced at Henry, who was lying on a bed pushed infront of the door, his drawn sword held crosswise upon his chest. Had heperhaps said something in his sleep?
After a long moment Leila lay back down and laced herfingers behind her head. She stared at the raftered ceiling, wondering if shehad only dreamed the sound.
"Leila . . ."
She sat up, her gaze flying instinctively to Guy. SweetJesu, she hadn't dreamed it! She knew that voice.
She was at his bedside in an instant. She had neverknown such joy as when she saw his eyes flutter open. Her breath seemed to bestuck in her throat when he turned his head and looked at her. To heramazement, he smiled weakly.
"I knew . . . I knew you were here, my love. Yourperfume . . . so sweet. Damask rose."
Hot tears stung her eyes. "Yes. I'm here."
Guy's smile faded to a grimace as he shifted on the mattress."God, the pain," he murmured hoarsely.
"You must lie still," she admonished him,wiping away the tears on her face. "The pain is bad now, but it will pass.I promise you. Just lie still."
He found her damp hand and clutched it tightly. "Staywith me, Leila."
She could not speak. She still did not know if sheshould go or stay. Dying inside, she forced a faint smile and nodded.
Chapter 25
"You have a fine hospital, my love, but thosestraw-filled mattresses leave much to be desired," Guy said with someeffort, wincing as Leila continued her light prodding. "If I must remainabed for the rest of the week, as you say, I'd rather be in here, in ourbedchamber."
Leila did not readily reply,her concentration focused on his wound.
Considering that it had been less than two days sinceGuy had been injured, his leg was healing remarkably well. The swelling andredness were nearly gone, and already the flesh appeared to be mending. As forthe rest of him, his healthy pallor had finally returned along with hisappetite, both very good signs that the poison in his body had been defeated.His stubborn insistence that he be moved out of the hospital was also evidenceof his rapid recovery.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll be more comfortable now,"Leila agreed softly. Her heartache was painfully acute as she busied herselfspreading ointment around the wound and applying fresh bandages.
She still had come no closer to deciding if she shouldleave him or stay. Every time that it was on the tip of her tongue to tell Guyhow much she loved him, she had only to think of Roger's treachery, and theimpulse was stilled. What use was there in revealing her true feelings to Guyif she might be gone on the morrow?
"Damn!"
She glanced anxiously at Guy. "Did I hurt you?Have I wound the bandages too tightly?"
"No, no, I was just thinking of Philip."
Reserving comment, Leila quietly resumed her task. Sheimagined he was recalling the unpleasant scene in the hospital yesterdaymorning.
Despite her plea to let the matter wait until he was feelingbetter, Guy had summoned Philip to his bedside and angrily relieved his halfbrother of all his duties at the castle. Then he had banished him to hisprivate chambers in the chapel until he decided further what was to be donewith him.
Surprisingly, Philip had said little. When he hadlooked at her just before leaving, his expression had been almost contrite. Shecould not forget how shocked he had appeared when he first walked into thehospital to find Guy sitting up in bed. Perhaps he thought he had been summonedto administer last rites.
"I've decided he must leaveWarenneCastle," Guy said as she finished tying the last bandage. "I will nothave him disrupting your work here any longer." He leaned his head againstthe brace of pillows propped behind him and sighed with exasperation. "Iwould forgive him everything if he admitted how wrong he was about you and yourmedical skills. Surely he can see that you saved my life. That's twice now,Leila."
As Guy reached out and clasped her hand, Leila met hiseyes reluctantly, her heart thundering in her breast. Struck by the love shesaw reflected in his unswerving gaze, it was all she could do not to throwherself in his arms.
"You should get some rest," she murmured,easing her hand from his grasp. "There will be many more well-wishers whowill want to see you this evening."
Knowing he was watching her, and doing her best toignore it, Leila moved quickly to each window and closed the wooden shuttersagainst the early afternoon sunshine to darken the room. The only light camefrom the low-burning fire in the fireplace.
She poked at the logs to revive the flames, and froze whenshe heard him say, "Perhaps I don't wish to rest, my love. We areblessedly alone. No visitors. Nicholas is at his nap. I would have the reunionpromised by your kiss the other day. Did you think I had forgotten?"
