Page 69 of Lionheart

Both Gilesand Vanora shook their heads.

"Tellhim he can find me with my warriors should he ask for me," Edward said,striding out the door.

"Whereis he?" Vanora hissed. "Do not lie to me, Sir Giles."

Gilesswallowed hard. "The last I saw of him he was accompanying Althea to herbedchamber. I am sure his intentions were honorable," he quickly added.

"Havea man's intentions ever been honorable?" Vanora retorted as she stormedoff toward Althea's chamber. If Lionheart had been bedding his leman, she wouldmake him very sorry.

Vanorapaused at the top landing and held her ear to the door. Thick oak prevented herfrom hearing what was going on inside. She thought she heard creaking bed ropesbut could not be certain. Inhaling a steadying breath, she lifted the latch andpushed open the door.

Her gazewas drawn to the bed, where a man and a woman sported in obvious enjoyment. Shetried to stifle the cry of outrage that gathered in her throat but could not.How could he? Only a depraved man or an unfeeling one could make love to hiswife and then seek out his leman the next day. Apparently, Lionheart was both.

Vanora'scry resounded loudly in the stillness of the chamber. Lionheart managed to freehimself from Althea's clinging arms and legs in time to see Vanora fleeingthrough the open door. He tried to follow, but Althea clung to his neck andrefused to let go.

"Lether go, Lionheart," Althea pleaded. "Everyone knows you wed Vanorafor her land, and because her priest demanded it of you. Had you been able tobed her without wedding her, you would have done so. Cragdon is yours now; youneed no longer pretend you are satisfied with the marriage."

"Youare wrong, Althea," Lionheart bit out, unwinding her arms from his neckand flinging her away. "I could have taken Vanora without wedding her if Ihad wanted to force her. Or I could have found another woman to satisfy mylust, but only Vanora would do. I wanted her, Althea. 'Tis as simple asthat," he said with a jolt of insight.

"Areyou saying you love her?" Althea gasped. "Not you, Lionheart. Youtake but do not love. You were ready to leave Vanora behind and follow Edwardbefore he commanded you to remain."

"Aye,"he admitted. "But that does not mean I would not have returned at somepoint in time." That truth startled him. He would indeed have returned,because there was a connection between him and Vanora that defied distance andtime.

He strodetoward the door.

"Whereare you going?"

"Tofind my wife."

"Daffidand your wife were kissing. What are you going to do about it? And what aboutthe White Knight?"

Lionheartdid not answer, but his mind would not let the matter rest as he beat a hastyretreat. If Althea had seen Daffid and Vanora kissing, he wanted to know thedetails before he decided on his own course of action. It was unacceptablebehavior, and he would not stand for it. As for the White Knight, he wouldforce Vanora to reveal his identity and have the man's guts for garters.

Lionheartstormed into the solar. Vanora was not there. He strode along the gallery,opening doors until he found her. She was putting fresh linens on a bed in anunoccupied chamber.

He pausedin the doorway. "What are you doing?"

Her glaretold him it was none of his business.

"Vanora—"

"Oh,very well. I refuse to sleep in the same bed

with you.I am moving out of the solar to make

room foryour leman." "What you saw was not what it seemed." "Myeyes did not deceive me, my lord." "Things are not always the waythey look." "You were engaged in intimate relations with

Althea,were you not?"

"Nay,I was not." His eyes narrowed. "You were

observedkissing Daffid in the chapel."

"Isee Althea wasted no time in telling you.

What elsedid she say?"

"Wewill get to that later. Why were you kissing