But the exquisite woman wasn’t focused on him. She was out of breath, evidence that she had run the entire way from theapartments above. From her expression, it was clear she had not known what to expect. Seeing the other woman alive, when she had presumed otherwise, was nearly too much to bear.
She grasped the hands of the hysterical redhead. “Alys,” she breathed. “Are you hurt?”
Alys shook her head. “Nay,” she suddenly seemed weak and faint, dramatically so. “This brave knight saved my life. He is my redeemer, I tell you. He snatched me from the very jaws of death.”
The blond woman turned her attention to Sean and his heart began to thump loudly against his ribs. She was an incredibly lovely creature with luminous blue eyes and long, dusky lashes. Her skin was creamy, her nose pert. He tried to get past his fascination with her beauty, struggling to focus on her softly uttered words.
“My lord,” she said. “My sister and I cannot adequately express our thanks. We are forever in your debt.”
So they were sisters.Strange,he thought. When the redhead had expressed her indebtedness, it held no attraction to him. But with this sister….
“Obligation is not necessary, my lady,” he said quietly.
She smiled the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. “You are too kind,” she said in a sweet, lilting voice. “Consider the House of St. James your loyal servants, my lord. No favor you would ask of us is too great.”
Something in Sean’s expression grew dim. It was like a shadow falling over the sun, imperceptible to all but the experienced eye. But whatever warmth had been brewing was instantly quelled.
“St. James?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“And your names?”
“I am the Lady Sheridan St. James and this is my sister, the Lady Alys.”
His response was to gaze at the pair a moment longer before silently, yet politely, excusing himself. It was nothing more than a slight bow and he was off across the compound, an enormous man with arms the size of tree limbs. He walked with the stealth of a cat, disappearing into the shadows from whence he came. As quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.
The girls watched him go, puzzled by his swift retreat. Alys was positively crestfallen.
“You frightened him away,” she said accusingly. “He said that no obligation was necessary. Why did you press him?”
Sheridan’s lovely face darkened as she looked at her sister. “You silly cow,” she snatched the girl by the wrist. “You frightened him with your insane behavior. What on earth possessed you to climb out of the window? Had he not caught you, you more than likely would have fallen on his head.”
“That’s not true!”
“He had no choice but to catch you.”
Alys’ pale face flushed. “Howdareyou. God sent him to save me!”
“Blasphemer,” Sheridan hissed. “Be silent and come back inside with me. We will speak no more of this day or of your behavior. Mother would have your head if she knew what you have done.”
Alys rose to the fight, but her face suddenly crumpled. She became overdramatic again.
“But he left me,” she moaned. “He left in the night. His steward said so. What choice did I have but to end my disgrace?”
Sheridan tried to retain her dignity in the face of the crowd that still lingered. They pointed and whispered, but no one approached. She put her arm around her sister, hustling her back towards the entrance to the apartments.
“I do not know why he left, Alys,” she said quietly. “Perhaps we shall never know. But that is no reason to kill yourself.”
“But… but he said he loved me.”
“Perhaps he was mistaken.”
“How can you mistake love? And… and I believed him. I allowed him to…”
“Hush. We will speak no more of this, Alys. Not another word, do you hear?”
“But I am so humiliated,” Alys wept softly.
