“Sir Guy?” Alys would not be ignored. “Please tell me why you are so hurried. You are frightening me.”
He hadn’t meant to be cruel. Sometimes his dedication to a task caused him to lose sight of things around him and he realized that he was being selfish. “I do not mean to frighten you, my lady,” he said quietly. “’Tis simply that the guard is ready and waiting to leave. I do not wish to leave them standing vulnerable.”
It was a half-truth. Guy’s own personal guard was mingled with the St. James men, all of them waiting to escort their lords and ladies out of the city. A siege was hours away and they had to get clear.
He was at the base of the steps, close to the doorway that lead to the yard and the Lanthorn gate beyond. He could almost smell the freedom and sent the maid on ahead to notify the troops of their impending arrival.
As he neared the open panel, a massive form stepped from the shadows. Guy knew who it was before he ever saw the face, simply by the size. He should have known the Lord of the Shadows would know his every move.
Guy came to a slow, unsteady halt. Alys yelped with fear, with surprise, as de Lara stepped into the soft gray light. Guy’s forward momentum may have been arrested, but he stood his ground. He would not back down and he would not run. He could not believe that de Lara would attack him with Sheridan in his arms.
“Move aside, de Lara,” he said calmly.
Sean was clad from head to toe in full battle gear. When he moved, metal brushed against metal and gave him a horrible, death-like resonance.
“Where are you going?” Sean sounded like the Devil.
Guy paused, fear and anger hand in hand. As long as he held Sheridan, he was certain that de Lara would do him no harm.
“I am escorting the ladies home, at the request of the Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury,” he said. “If you would kindly step aside, we can be on our way.”
“You are not leaving the Tower with Lady Sheridan.”
“The ladies wish to return home.”
Sean’s hand went to rest on the hilt of his sword; the thing was so massive that it weighed as much as a small child. It was a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Guy, and the ripples of fear began to spread through his chest.
“Nay, they do not,” Sean said steadily. “Give Lady Sheridan to me and be on your way.”
The air grew tense. “I will not,” Guy replied. “She goes home.”
Sean shifted on his enormous legs. It was almost a thoughtful gesture. “De Braose, I have no quarrel with you. But you do not seem to understand the way of things. When I told you to give me the lady, that is exactly what I meant. To refuse my request is not in your best interest.”
“You cannot use your sword against me without risking the lady.” Guy’s anger overshadowed his fear. “If your goal is truly to keep Lady Sheridan for yourself, what kind of man would risk her life simply to gain his wants?”
“That is not your concern. You are caught up in something you know nothing about. I would suggest you simply turn her over to me and be on your way.”
“I will not.”
“She does not belong to you.”
“She is my betrothed.”
“She ismybetrothed.”
The rapid-fire exchange came to a strange, unsteady pause. Guy finally shook his head. “The Bishop of Bath has consecrated our betrothal,” he said. “I do not know whereby you make your claim.”
“My claim is directly between the lady and me. I asked for her hand and she accepted.”
Guy wasn’t sure how to respond. There were apparently details that he knew nothing about. But, then again, de Lara could easily be lying. He gazed at Sheridan, collapsed against him, his thoughts and wants torn.
“I am sure that Jocelin would say that she has no right,” he said softly. “’Tis not for the lady to dictate terms of marriage.”
Sean watched Guy, the way he held Sheridan, and fought off the pangs of jealousy. “As heiress to Bath and Glastonbury, she can indeed express her desire. Jocelin has no formal control over her, other than by verbal agreement with her father.” He took a step forward, his focus moving between Sheridan and Guy. “I can promise you that Jocelin will surrender to her will. And her will is to marry me.”
In his heart, Guy suspected that was true. He could imagine no man denying Lady Sheridan. After a moment, he smiled wryly. “I would assume that Jocelin knows nothing of the agreement between you.”
“He does not.”
