Siren Song (RD 1) by Gellis Roberta

Author:Gellis, Roberta [Gellis, Roberta]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781419921421
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: 2009-09-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

When Elizabeth cried sharply, “They lied to us! They lied to us both,” Raymond jumped to his feet and stood watching the door. Although he knew it to be impossible, he could not help expecting Alys’s outraged and infuriated father to burst out on him demanding an explanation of his improper behavior. He had not been listening to the sounds from the bedchamber previously, being immersed in his own not-too-pleasant thoughts. But the voices again dropped to an indistinguishable murmur, and his tension eased.

Once the shock was over, it was obvious Lady Elizabeth and Sir William could not be talking about Alys and him. Certainly he had not lied, for he had been asked no questions. As for Alys, Raymond swallowed uneasily, did she care enough to need to lie about him? She did not display any of the symptoms of love familiar to him. She neither sighed nor blushed when he spoke to her about ordinary everyday topics, and he did not dare speak of anything else, nor was she haughty and cold in the tradition of amour courtois.

On the other hand, her voice did seem softer when she spoke to him, and her eyes, he would swear her eyes lingered on him when they were in the hall together but not close. Still, there was nothing that could give him any real assurance of her love.

Nonetheless, Raymond could not help wondering whether the order to ride out and recruit was a deliberate effort on Sir William’s part to separate him from Alys. He was very much afraid he was not as good at hiding what he felt as Alys was, if she felt anything. The order was kindly meant, he was sure. William, not Alys, was the crux of his problem. If Alys did not yet love him, she did not love anyone else either and he could win her love. It would be far more difficult to win Sir William’s approval.

How, Raymond wondered, had he ever allowed himself to be thrust into so disgusting a position? Damn King Henry and his sweet smile and airy request for a “little” service that needed a trustworthy man. Raymond had taken William’s full measure by now. He loved the man for his directness and honesty. But how would such a man judge the “little service”? How would he judge the man who had blithely accepted the task and the deceptions that went with it? How, Raymond wondered, would he ever be able to explain what he had done to Sir William?

With many men, Raymond knew that his wealth and position would more than compensate for the omission in mentioning them. Unfortunately that was not true for Sir William. Alys had said enough the last few days for Raymond to understand that her father was more interested in keeping her near him and ensuring continued good management for Marlowe than he was in having his daughter make a great marriage. That had been the final blow to Raymond’s confidence. He

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