Sheridan stared at her sister for a sharp, brief moment before leaping off the bed again and beating Alys over the head with the wet cloth that had been on her eyes.
“Nay,” she screeched. “It is not marvelous. How could you be so foolish? You sent Neely away just so you could be wild and disobedient, and I’ll have none of this, do you hear?”
Alys put her good arm up, trying to protect herself. “Dani, I am sorry. Please do not be so angry at me. I am truly sorry. I promise that I will not do it again!”
Sheridan’s head was about to explode. With a final good smack to her sister’s head, she suddenly fell to the floor, laying down against the cold wooden planks and putting her cheek against the coolness of it. The room was swaying and she felt so ill that she was sure she was going to die.
“Leave me alone, Alys,” she groaned. “You will be the death of me, I swear it. Go away and leave me.”
Alys tried to pick her up from the floor. “Let me help you back to bed.”
“Nay,” Sheridan slapped at her. “Leave me. Go. Please.”
Alys stood over her, uncertain what to do. “But…”
“Go. I shall be fine. I need to lie here quietly.”
Reluctantly, Alys did as she was asked. She opened the door to the antechamber and the little puppy scampered in, racing to Sheridan on the floor and licking her face furiously. Alys watched as her sister calmed the dog and eventually bade it to lie beside her. Leaving Sheridan on the floor was a difficultdecision, but she’d seen this before. There were times when her sister had laid on the cold floor for an entire day with a pounding head simply because it felt more comfortable than on a sticky, lumpy bed.
She closed the door to the bower and wandered aimlessly into the antechamber. She stood there for some time until the servant returned. The maid had a tray of bread and cheese and Alys sat, eating dejectedly. All of that energy from her sister had been over only half the story; she hadn’t even told her about Sean breaking her wrist. It had been an accident, of course, but he had still hurt her.
Gazing down at the heavily bandaged arm, it throbbed considerably. The physic had given her a bitter willow brew to drink to ease the pain, but it wasn’t helping. She took another bite of cheese and chewed, lost in self-pity.
A soft rap sounded on the entry. Alys set the cheese down and went to the door. Opening it, she came face to face with a slight young man with deep brown hair and a handsome face. He smiled timidly.
“My apologies for disturbing you, my lady,” he said. “I saw you the other night but we were not formally introduced. I am Guy de Broase.”
Alys swallowed the bite in her mouth, forgetting all about her horrendous morning. Sir Guy’s youthful attractiveness sucked all of the self-pity and confusion right out of her.
“My lord,” she bowed deeply. “I am the Lady Alys St. James.”
“I know.” His smile broadened. “It seems that all of the St. James women are exceedingly beautiful.”
She blushed furiously. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Is Lady Sheridan at home?”
Alys thought of her sister lying on the floor in the next room. “She is indisposed at the moment,” she opened the door wider. “Would you like to come in?”
“Thank you.”
Guy entered the room respectfully, taking the chair that Alys indicated for him. She offered him some bread and cheese, which he declined. But he did take some wine. It was rapidly apparent, however, that Guy had come for one purpose alone; he had come to see Sheridan.
“I am sorry your sister is unavailable,” he said. “Will she return soon? I hate to burden you with my presence.”
“No burden at all, my lord,” Alys said. She was thrilled to have the opportunity to sit with a handsome young man. “In truth, my sister is ill. She is resting in her bedchamber as we speak.”
Guy instinctively looked at the closed panel. “I see,” he said. “Nothing serious, I hope?”
“A sick headache.”
“I see,” he repeated. Then, he quickly stood. “I do not want to disturb her with our conversation. Perhaps I should leave and come back at another time.”
Alys was quick to assure him. “We will not disturb her unless we shout. The walls are thick.”
He smiled weakly and sat back down. He was coming to suspect that the Lady Alys wanted him to stay and chat. But he was uncomfortable with the look in her eye; sort of as a cat watches a mouse. She was ravenous. His gaze began to dart about nervously, unsure what to say, now wanting to leave.
He was saved by Neely throwing open the antechamber door. Neely’s face was ruddy from the chill weather outside, but a fire of annoyance blazed in his dark eyes. He was about to vent his frustrations on Alys when he caught sight of Guy. Respectfully, he saluted.
