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Elizabeth followed her into the cook’s chamber, across the corridor behind the kitchens.

Adalia shut the door, then came to Elizabeth and took her hand. “You did not sleep in the kitchens last night.”

“Forgive me for not telling you. I did not know myself what would happen.”

“Bannaster did not…come back for ye, did he?”

“Nay!” she quickly said, patting Adalia’s hand. “I was safe.”

“You were with Sir John?”

Warily, Elizabeth nodded. “But not in the way you might be thinking. He has not—He is only protecting me.”

Adalia closed her eyes in relief. “Oh, thank God above for that. I know he’s been sniffin’ around ye. Poor man, he thinks ye’re but a maid.”

She wanted to tell Adalia the truth, but how could she give the woman information she would have to keep hidden? It would make everything so much more complicated.

“He understands…how things are between us,” Elizabeth finally said.

“Yet he still wants to protect ye. He’s a good man. Maybe I should be flirtin’ with him next!”

Adalia laughed, but Elizabeth realized she had to force an answering smile.

Was she already jealous of any attention John might give someone else? She didn’t like the kind of woman that made her, one doubting of her own abilities.

Before these last few months, she’d never doubted any of her skills! Or perhaps she’d never been truly tried in a time of adversity.

* * *

John spent a tense evening, constantly watching Bannaster. Though Elizabeth had remained near his side as he’d asked her to, John kept expecting Bannaster to notice her again.

But the viscount did not seem to be imbibing like he had the previous evening. In fact, he seemed almost…melancholy, as if he’d been so confident in his plan to approach the king, but now had proven to him that being a cousin did not necessarily sway a monarch.

And a man who’d lost confidence in one way to deal with a matter, often found a more dangerous method. John had warned the four Alderley guards to be extra cautious when on duty at the base of the tower. Philip was supposed to be suggesting the same thing to Bannaster’s own soldiers, to see who among them would be inclined to protect a lady, regardless of what she was to his master.

Finally, John had confirmation that Bannaster had retired to his bed. Philip, who was playing dice with the soldiers, casually met John’s gaze across the hall, and slightly inclined his head toward the corridor. Philip needed to meet with him? John wondered, feeling his tension begin to rise again.

But first, John escorted Elizabeth to his bedchamber. When he did not enter behind her, she gave him a questioning glance.

“I have to speak with Philip,” he said. “I won’t be long, and I’ll be nearby in the corridor.”

She frowned. “You do not have to worry about me constantly. Bannaster did not confront me today.”

“You should not assume he is finished with you. Desperate men do desperate things. And a man long without a woman is a danger as well.”

“Is that a hint?” she asked sweetly. “Or a threat?”

He had an urge to laugh, and it felt good. Why was he letting himself get nervous about his life with her? She was even amusing, and he liked that about her.

“I don’t need to threaten,” he whispered, backing away.

“Oh, I’ll just succumb?” she answered.

He grinned. “You were the one who wanted to.”

He left her looking nonplussed.

He walked down the corridor, took a turn, and found Philip waiting for him, leaning negligently against the wall.