Page 46 of Lionheart

"Ilook forward to their return after the English leave Cragdon."

"Thinkyou Edward will return Cragdon to you? Lionheart is now lord of the keep. Allyou once held belongs to him."

"Lionheartcares naught about Cragdon. He is Edward's vassal, sworn to follow hisprince."

"Whatif there is a child?" Mair asked. "Your belly could already beswelling with the Englishman's babe."

Vanora'shands flew to her stomach. "He will not care. Heirs mean naught to him; headmitted as much. He claims loyalty only to his prince and his country. Were Ito quicken with his child, the babe would remain mine own."

Mair'seyes widened, but her answer was forestalled when the tub and hot waterarrived. After the servants were dismissed, Mair helped Vanora into the tub andlaid out her clothing.

"Youare making a mistake if you think Lionheart would deny his child, lambie,"Mair scolded as she bent to scrub Vanora's back.

"Thepoint is a moot one, Mair, for I am not with child." Her voice lowered."Know you a way to keep Lionheart's seed from taking root inside me?"

Mairstilled. "Is that what you wish?" Pain darkened Vanora's violet eyes.Nay! She wanted Lionheart's child. It would be something of him to cherish therest of her lonely days. When Lionheart left, she would be a wife without ahusband, abandoned by the man who had married her in haste and left her withoutregret.

"Ican prepare a concoction but it does not always work and can harm the babeshould you conceive while taking it," Mair warned.

Vanorasighed. "I do not want to hurt my child should there be one. I do not wishto bear a child whose father would abandon him, but I must obey God'slaws."

"Youare wise to listen to your heart, child," Mair said. "God will notabandon you."

Lionheartsummoned Alan and asked him to see what was keeping Vanora. How long could abath take? The meal had already begun, and Lionheart wondered if Vanoraintended to defy him and eat alone in the solar. He knew she resented him forwringing a response from her when she would have withheld one, but he did notlike her capricious moods.

Vanora ranhot and cold. He knew not how her mind worked. His brow lowered, his thoughtsturning dark. Mayhap he was better off not knowing. He was becoming obsessedwith his bride, something he had vowed would never happen.

He foundhimself wondering what it would be like to know Vanora's affection instead ofher enmity. Would she become a loving wife? Or would she abandon him like hismother? Experience had taught him that love did not exist, that it was a myth,the stuff of storytellers and poets. Yet whenever he thought of Vanora, hewondered. 'Twas lust, he decided. As long as he remembered why he had wedVanora, his heart was in no danger.

His heartgave an unexpected lurch when Vanora entered the hall and she strode towardhim. Clad in a royal purple overtunic trimmed in marten fur and belted withgolden links, she looked as regal as a queen. It occurred to him that he hadnever seen a woman with such a commanding presence. She knew exactly what shewanted from marriage and was not afraid to demand it. Unfortunately, it was notwithin his power to grant her wish.

He felthimself harden and was not surprised that he wanted to make love to her again.

Thatstartling thought brought Lionheart up short. It was not good to need a womanto the point that she consumed his every thought. Mayhap he needed to separatehimself from Vanora for a time. Aye, he decided. 'Twas time to redirect hisefforts to finding Llewellyn instead of bedding his wife.

"I amleaving tomorrow," Lionheart said abruptly. " 'Tis time I broadenedmy search for Llewellyn."

"Howlong will you be gone?"

"Iknow not. Do not give the men I am leaving behind too much trouble in myabsence. You are not to leave the keep without an escort and can go no furtherabroad than the village. Nor may you or your cohorts visit Daffid. I have notforgotten what happened the last time I left Cragdon. Prisoners have a way ofdisappearing from the keep when I am not around. I know there is a secret exit,though I have yet to find it. It would ease things between us if you told mewhere it is."

Vanora'schin rose defiantly. "There is no secret exit."

He senther a skeptical glare. "So you say. Rest assured that I shall findit."

Vanora wasglad Lionheart was leaving. She did not know how much more she could endure ofhis lovemaking. The man who bedded her, who knew her intimately, was not thisman sitting beside her, issuing orders and expecting them to be obeyed withoutquestion. This man was the real Lionheart, she reminded herself. Any softeningshe felt for Lionheart the lover was instantly obliterated by his arrogantcounterpart. Her relief was heartfelt, for despite all her efforts, she hadbegun to care for him.

"Iwish you Godspeed," Vanora said. "I shall manage quite nicely withoutyou."

For somereason, her words appeared to displease Lionheart. He rose abruptly and stormedoff. What did he expect? Vanora wondered. He had regretted their marriageseconds after they were wed.

"Whatdid you say to anger your husband?" Father Caddoc asked when he joined hera few minutes later.

"EverythingI say or do angers him, except. . ." Her words fell away. "Why oh whydid you insist that he wed me?"

FatherCaddoc searched her face, then nodded, as if satisfied by what he saw."Give him time, child. A man like Lionheart must be led gently intolove."

Vanoragasped. "Love! Love is the last thing I want from Lionheart. The man doesnot know the meaning of the word."