Stuart, Elizabeth by Where Love Dwells

Author:Where Love Dwells
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-03-24T18:18:01+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Sir Richard! It's Sir Richard's party coming up the coast road!" The excited soldier waved his arms and hurried across the hall. "The men can make out his red boar banner plain from the tower."

Giles rose from his seat. "Excellent! Have men see to the horses." He turned to the servant who had appeared at his elbow. "Get two barrels of ale up from the storerooms and fetch me wine from the buttery for Sir Richard."

Elen set down the harp she had been absently strumming, and her heart suddenly leaped to a fast staccato beat. He was back.

She took a deep breath to steady herself against the nervous tensing of her stomach, against the ridiculous urge to rise and flee the room. She had spent the past few weeks steeling herself against this moment, telling herself she knew her mind, knew her duty. Yet three little words easily destroyed what peace she had found. He was back.

While Richard was away, it was easy enough to remind herself of the many reasons she had for hating him. But the very knowledge that he would soon be with her again sent all her hard-won determination crumbling. The memory of their last meeting rose up to haunt her along with the lingering tenderness of his kiss. No, she didn't want to see Richard. In very fact, she was afraid to see him.

She rose stiffly to her feet and turned to Giles, keeping her voice deliberately cold. It was easiest to be strong when she pretended to be angry. "I'd better return to my chamber. Your master will be ill pleased to find me loosed from my cage."

Giles gazed at her thoughtfully, the suspicion of a smile lurking in his dark eyes. "You've no need to go. Richard doesn't grudge you your freedom about Gwenlyn."

"I bow to your superior knowledge of the Wolf, but I prefer to go upstairs. I've no wish to remain below now."

"Very well." Giles called to her guard and the man moved to the doorway. "Richard will want to see you, you know."

Elen continued her dignified retreat toward the door. "I've no desire to see him. You may tell him that for me."

"Coward."

She turned indignantly but Giles was already halfway across the hall.

A short time later Elen found herself facing the master of Gwenlyn across the floor of her chamber. She had forgotten how well he held himself, how the smile spread from his lips to warm the emerald depths of his eyes. He was taller than she remembered, his hair more golden, his face more bronzed from his hours in the summer sun. Her memory didn't do him justice, she realized with a pang.

"Giles tells me he's done his best to keep you entertained while I was away," Richard remarked easily.

Elen shrugged and moved toward the empty fireplace, struggling to avoid the irresistible draw of his gaze. "Yes. He's allowed me to visit my uncle's cell. As I recall, you did promise to give him his freedom about Gwenlyn.

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