Page 67 of Warrior’s Lady

Relief flooded her at the discovery that he'd been fighting the English and not her family. She reached for his sleeve only to have him turn away. "The castle wall is repaired. I hope that means things were uneventful during my absence."

She pulled her hand back and tucked it in the folds of her gown. Her gaze connected with Orrin's. Surely he would report on what had happened while Camden was away, yet he remained strangely silent.

The humor in Camden's face faded. "Will no one tell me the news?"

"Bishop Berwick came to call," Orrin said.

"Lady Violet used the Stone to heal Rhys," Rhiannon said at the same time. She held her tongue, hoping Orrin would proceed. He did. In a rush, he told Camden what had happened.

Camden stood utterly motionless. Any warmth that she might have imagined in his eyes faded. The morning air fairly crackled with tension.

His gaze shifted to Rhys' once as the story unfolded before it returned to hers. He stared, hard. Only his clenched jaw betrayed the control it took to keep his anger in check. But she could see it, feel it, as though their time apart had heightened her awareness of him.

When Orrin told him about the Stone, his expression became grim, unreadable. "Where is the Stone?" he asked, his voice rough.

She dug the Stone out of her pocket and held the amulet out to him.

"You had the Stone with you?"

"Only to keep it safe while you were gone."

"By allowing Lady Violet to use the Stone you put her in grave danger. Everyone at the castle saw Rhys' healing." Camden's face darkened. "I trusted you with my niece, with," he hesitated before adding, "everything." He stared down at the Stone in his hand.

Pain twisted in Rhiannon's chest. Every decision she'd made while he was gone had been to protect Violet. She'd done everything she could think of to help the little girl. So why was he so angry at her? She straightened her back as a sudden realization struck her. "Are you upset with me or are you upset because you weren't here to protect Lady Violet yourself?"

He flinched at her words and she knew she'd hit upon the truth.

She darted a glance at Orrin. He dropped his gaze, suddenly intent on studying his boots. "When you and Orrin were in the Holy Land the two of you only had each other, I realize that. But your life is different now." She waved a hand at the crowd who had gathered in the lists. "Look around you, at the men and women of this castle who would sacrifice anything to help you battle the bishop and win."

He scowled at her. "I fight my battles alone."

"Then perhaps it's time for you to change." She lifted her chin. "I know a thing or two about trying to change. It's hard, especially when people around you think that it's impossible."

His scowl deepened. "That's unfair."

She shook her head. "No, you're being unfair to me and to everyone in this castle who cares about you."

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. "You care about me?"

If she were honest she would admit her emotions had progressed far beyond caring and into love. She drew a breath to tell him when a prickle of awareness drew her gaze from him to all the castle's residents who hung upon their words. Heat filled her cheeks and the words died on her tongue. "Excuse me, milord." She turned and headed back toward the keep.

Several moments later Rhiannon shut the door of her bedchamber behind her. She leaned against the wood, trying to steady herself. Her breath came in short, sharp bursts not because she'd run through the castle to get to the chamber, but because of the magnitude of what she'd almost revealed.

Her physical response to his presence had been immediate. She'd felt her breasts swell and the heat that had moved through her body in mindless, melting waves. She had wanted to touch him, to greet his return home in a very different sort of way.

She inhaled sharply and clenched her fists at her sides. She wanted to touch him still, even though he'd greeted her with only bitterness and anger.

"Rhiannon."

A shock of desire moved through her.

"Open the door." His voice sounded thick.

"I can't," she whispered, praying her voice wouldn't betray her emotions.

"You can't or you won't?"

Silence followed.

He'd gone. Rhiannon leaned back against the door, grateful that he'd gone, and disappointed all the same.

A moment later he stood in the doorway that separated her room from Violet's. She could see the tension in his body as he slowly moved toward her.

"Camden."

"We need to finish what we started below in the lists."