“Who else knows of your true loyalties?”
“A select few, no more than I can count on one hand.”
Several feet away, Guy shifted, noise from his armor echoing against the walls. It reminded them that they were not alone and that time was very short. As much as Sheridan wanted to linger on Sean’s revelations, she knew their time together was quickly coming to an end. She began to feel a sense of panic.
“What do we do now?” she asked. “I do not want to marry Guy.”
Sean could not leave with her. He could not marry her now. There were too many ingredients mixing into the great pot of chaos at the moment, creating a maelstrom of choices from which to pick. He had to choose the right course of action or all would be lost.
“I know you are unaware of the events of the past several hours, but suffice to say that an attack on London is imminent,” he explained softly, quickly. “De Braose is taking you out of the city, as most of the allies have already fled. You and Alys must go home.”
“But what of you?” she wanted to know. “What are you going to do?”
He would not tell her of his potential orders to march on Kington, to engage the de Braose army even as he now faced off against one of their kin. Nor would he tell her of the rumors that he was to march on Lansdown. He knew, no matter what his orders, that he would not do that. Now was not the time torattle her brain with more information than she could rationally absorb.
“I shall stay here to ensure that London falls to the allies,” he said. “Then I shall go to Lansdown. And you.”
There was great fear in her eyes, not for the siege, but for Sean. “I do not want to leave you.”
He smiled, kissing both her hands. “Nor I, you. But for your own safety, you must go.”
Sheridan’s gaze moved to Guy, standing silent several feet away. His sword was still drawn. “I swear that I will not marry him. I will commit myself to a convent first.”
Sean’s jaw ticked, feeling helpless to prevent anything from happening until his own tasks were completed. “I trust that you will hold both him and Jocelin off until I can come for you,” he said. “I am sorry I cannot be of more help than that. It would seem that I have my own problems to take care of before you and I can be together.”
She nodded, resigned and renewed. “I shall be strong, have no doubt. I shall look for you to return to me every day.”
He touched her face. He didn’t care if de Braose was looking or not; he kissed her so deeply that he lifted her off the ground. All he cared about at the moment was the taste, the feel, the smell of her. He was enraptured.
“My thoughts and affections go with you,” he murmured in her ear. “Not a day will pass that I will not hold you dear in my heart and mind.”
She was close to tears but held herself in check. “I am yours and only yours, for always.”
“Swear it.”
“I do. Oh, I do.”
He kissed her again, his thumbs on her cheeks. He drew in the sight of her, something to keep safe in his memory for thelong separation ahead. With a final wink, he took her arm and led her back to de Braose.
“Take her back to Lansdown,” his request sounded suspiciously like a command. “Make sure that she is well and safe.”
Guy still held the sword. He had witnessed the exchange between the lady and de Lara, though he’d not heard their words. But the affection between the two was readily apparent. He had not expected this outcome but he did not question it. As he went to take her arm, somewhat hesitantly, he was shocked to witness de Lara suddenly unsheathing his sword. It was like watching a bolt of lightning strike; flashy, loud, and nearly faster than the eye could track.
Men were rushing in from the courtyard, charging through the open door. It was dark and difficult to see the cluster of bodies filling the small stair well. But one thing was for certain; they were armed to the teeth and heading straight for de Braose. Sean had his sword leveled defensively, swiftly striking down the first two men who came within close proximity of him.
His primary concern was to protect Sheridan. In the darkness, it took him a moment to recognize the Royal guards and Gerard’s shaggy head somewhere in the middle of them. He bellowed above the mob.
“Halt!” he boomed. “Lower your weapons!”
The guards haltingly slowed, obviously prepared for a row. They took their orders directly from Sean, rarely from Gerard, who had given the initial command. They looked around in confusion as Gerard pushed forward through the group.
“What goes on here?” Gerard asked. “Where are the de Braose men?”
Sean shook his head. “Who told you that?”
Gerard looked around, seeing Alys, terrified, followed by Guy and finally Sheridan. His gaze lingered on Sheridan.
“Who’s that?” he pointed, ignoring Sean’s question completely.
