"We'll figure out a way." Keeping his voice just above a whisper, he lit a candle using the hearth fire and set it on the mantle. Turning back to her, he frowned in the candlelight. "What happened to your face? 'Tis red on this side." He carefully touched her cheek.
"That witch slapped me a few minutes ago."
"Why?" he growled.
"Guess I called her one too many insulting names."
His scowl faded into a grin. "You're a strong and brave lady. I'm proud to call you my wife."
Melting inside, she threw her arms around his neck. "I'm proud of you too, and I'm glad you're my husband."
His presence and his warm embrace comforted her, but at the same time, she feared for his safety more than her own. After all, Wilona was deranged in her quest for vengeance.
"What is her plan?" Dani asked.
"Nay telling, but we will find a way to defeat them." He kissed her cheek where it burned.
Dani stroked his face, savoring the warmth and prickliness of his jaw.
She didn't want to tell him what Wilona had revealed about the emotions that would cancel the spell. In Dani's view, falling in love was a touchy subject. Gavin couldn't decide to fall in love to eliminate the curse. It had to happen naturally.
He had called her brave, but was she brave enough to tell him she had fallen in love with him?
∞∞∞
Gavin paced, feeling more agitated with each moment that passed. He had to develop a strategy for protecting his wife, whom he treasured above all else. He blamed himself for the jeopardy she was in.
"I have to figure out how to get you out of here tonight." He peered through the keyhole but saw nothing. Not wanting anyone to look in, Gavin cut off a small piece of the plaid and stuffed it into the keyhole. 'Twould also help block the sounds of their conversation.
"I'm glad you did that," Dani whispered. "It will keep Wilona out. Remember when those midges bit us all over?"
"Aye."
"She shifted into one of them… the last one that crawled through the crack. She spied on us in bed."
"Saints! What a harpy." Even without the keek-stane, she had devised a way to observe them. She had to be stopped.
He peered out through the part in the draperies into the torch-lit bailey, three floors below. No escape that way. They would have to figure out a strategy for leaving by the exit door, unless…. He glanced around the room. Could there be a hidden door? Secret passageways? He pressed his fingers against the paneled interior wall.
"What are you looking for?" Dani whispered behind him.
"A way out. Check for secret panels or doors."
"Oh, cool." She went to the other wall and began searching.
A quarter-hour later, neither of them had found an alternate escape route. Thoughts spun through his mind as he grappled with ideas. How could they leave without detection?
'Twould be impossible to defeat three dozen of Wilona's guards at once. Of course, he could overpower them one or two at a time, but only if he could kill or seriously injure each one before the next came along. He didn't want to have to fight them, for he couldn't protect Dani at the same time. They could grab her while he fought and threaten her life. Then he would be out of commission.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I'm trying to work out a way to get you out of here and to safety."
He could pound on the door, trick the guard into opening it, and then dispatch him. But the noise would alert other guards or servants. Even if they made it down the stairs, 'twould be difficult to fight his way across the great hall and through the bailey with so many armed men coming at him.
"I'm sorry I got captured. The last thing I want to do is put your life in danger," she said in a meek tone so unlike her. He knew she meant it.
"I tried to warn you about the injured lamb."
