Page 8 of Lionheart

FatherCaddoc darted a glance at Vanora, then said, "He is with—"

"Father!"Vanora cried. "Mind your tongue. Do not provide information to theenemy."

With ajolt of insight, Lionheart believed he had uncovered the White Knight'sidentity. He was Vanora's betrothed. An unexplained fury seized him.

"Whereis he?"

Vanoragave him an innocent stare. "Who?"

"Yourbetrothed. He is the one who led Cragdon's warriors, the one wearing the whiteand gold tabard, is he not?"

Vanora'ssmile was far too smug for Lionheart's liking.

"Nay,he is not."

"Shespeaks the truth," Father Caddoc confirmed.

Lionheartsurged to his feet, water dripping from his powerful form as he stepped out ofthe tub. "May God forgive you your lies, priest, for I will not," hegrowled. "Men do not disappear into thin air. Fetch the healer to stitchmy wound, and send Sir Giles to me."

FatherCaddoc stared at Lionheart's naked, scarred body a long, thoughtful moment,then said, "I will not leave Vanora alone with you."

"Isaid go!" Lionheart roared.

WhenFather Caddoc hesitated, Vanora said, Fear not, Father, I shall be fine."

With acompassionate glance at Vanora, he turned and fled. Vanora attempted to follow,but Lionheart stopped her with a single word.

"Stay.I did not give you permission to leave, lady."

Two longsteps brought him close enough to touch her. Reaching out, he spun her aroundto face him. She tried not to look at anything but his chest, but her waywardgaze wanted to stray to more interesting areas of his anatomy, although hischest was certainly memorable. Dark ringlets swirled around his flat malenipples. The sculpted ridges of muscle were marred by numerous scars and nicks.Her gaze took in the extraordinary width of his shoulders, then wandered downhis bulging biceps to his large hands.

From thereit seemed only natural to drop her gaze to that part of him that proved hismasculinity. He was in full arousal, erect and hard and rampant. Her breathcaught in her throat, and she returned her startled gaze to his face, where amodicum of safety lay. Their gazes clashed with the force of a volcaniceruption.

"Haveyou looked your fill?" Lionheart asked. "How do I compare with yourbetrothed?"

Refusingto be cowed, Vanora swallowed her embarrassment and glared at him. "I wasnot staring. Besides," she said, forcing her gaze downward to his groin,"you have naught to be proud of."

The tauntmust not have set well with Lionheart, for Vanora could almost feel theunrelenting heat of his anger sweep over her. His hands tightened on hershoulders, but she struggled free and backed away.

"Iwill see what is keeping Mair. Your wound needs tending."

"I amhere," Mair said from the doorway. Such was their preoccupation with oneanother that neither Lionheart nor Vanora had heard the tiring woman enter.

Vanora wasthe first to react. Putting distance between herself and Lionheart, sheretreated to relative safety behind Mair's comfortable bulk. "SirLionheart needs your attention, Mair. He has suffered an 'insignificant' woundthat is in need of stitching."

Hands onample hips, Mair let her contemptuous gaze sweep over Lionheart's nude body."Cover yourself, Sir Lionheart," she rebuked. " 'Tis not rightthat you should bare yourself before my mistress. Have you no shame?"

Vanora'sbrows lifted in surprise when Lionheart grabbed the towel from the bench andwrapped it around his loins. "Do you not fear me, woman?"

Mair'sgaze slid down his body. "I am an old woman; I fear no man. You may bareyour 'weapon' to me, but I will not allow you to shame Vanora, I fearnot what you may do to me but what you intend to do to my lady. Vanora is aninnocent, and not for the likes of you to despoil. Now sit you down and let meget on with my stitching. Fetch the medicine chest from yon cupboard,Vanora."

Vanoraacted with alacrity, removing the chest with its precious contents from thecupboard where it was kept and placing it on the bench within Mair's reach.Mair probed Lionheart's wound with a fingertip, then wiped away the blood witha soft cloth.

"Threadthe needle, Vanora," Mair ordered.

Vanoraopened the chest, found a needle and pushed a fine silk thread through the eye.Then she handed it to Mair.

"Braceyourself, Sir Lionheart," Mair warned as she took the first stitch.