Page 82 of Lionheart

A lightwent on inside his head. He did not need a seer to tell him that he hadstumbled upon the long-sought secret entrance into the keep. The tunnelexplained a great deal, but left much more unexplained.

There wasno time like the present to learn where the passage led, Lionheart decided ashe ducked inside. He had no torch to guide him, so he felt his way throughabsolute blackness by clinging to the wall and placing one foot before theother. The path was relatively dry and seemed to lead steadily upward. Atlength he bumped into a blank wall and stopped in his tracks. Was this the endthen?

Thinshards of light seeped from around the edges, and Lionheart realized he wasfacing a door. Feeling blindly, he found a latch and released it. Inhalingsharply, he stepped from the tunnel, wondering where he would find himself.

ChapterFifteen

Lionheartstepped from behind the altar into the empty chapel, his mind whirling withconfusion. He knew not what to make of this astonishing development. The secretentrance came as no surprise, but the knowledge that the White Knight was ableto come and go at will stunned him.

Rackinghis brain, Lionheart began a mental evaluation of every servant within thekeep. The majority were women, the only males being a potboy, a spit turner,and two elderly men. None of the four fit the White Knight's description. Hedismissed Father Caddoc out of hand.

Had theknight been residing within his keep without his knowledge? Impossible! Yetindisputable evidence led him to believe that he would find the knave withinCragdon's walls. Rage surged through him. Everything became crystal clear.Vanora not only knew the knight's identity but she sheltered him beneath herroof. And the priest and her tiring woman were co-conspirators.

Lionheartstrode out the door and was in the courtyard when the truth hit him . . . hard.He felt his heart thud. He took a deep breath, but there was still a cold lumpin his throat. He did not want to believe it, but the facts were irrefutable.He had always admired his wife's taut, sleekly muscled body. She was like noother woman he had ever known. Her strength, he realized, came from wielding asword. What a fool he had been! His nemesis had been beneath his nose all thetime, and he had been too consumed with lust to notice.

Lust...

Aye, 'twasthe only explanation, for there had been countless clues to lead him to thetruth. Clues he had ignored in order to satisfy his raging hunger for hisbride. No more, he vowed. He had given Vanora sufficient time to confess, butshe had defied him time after time, refusing to name the knight. He could notabide liars.

Lionheartsaw Sir Brandon crossing the courtyard and summoned him with a wave of hishand.

"Isaught amiss, Lionheart?" Brandon asked.

"Followme," Lionheart said without preamble. Turning on his heel, he retraced hissteps to the chapel.

"Takea look behind the altar," Lionheart directed. He had left the door ajarpurposely, and it did not take Brandon long to discover the opening.

"God'sblood! What is this?"

"Theentrance into the castle we have been searching for. I want it sealedimmediately. Is that dear?"

"Aye,perfectly."

His facecarved in harsh lines, Lionheart left the chapel, marched across the courtyardand stormed into the hall. He looked neither right nor left as ha angry stepscarried him up the winding staircase to the solar. Servants scurried out of his way, crossingthemselves when they saw the rigid set of his shoulders and his forbiddingexpression.

He burstinto the chamber and slammed the door behind him. Legs spread in aconfrontational manner, arms akimbo, he glared at Vanora.

Vanora hadbeen expecting Lionheart, for Mair had told her of his unexpected return.Vanora had retired immediately to the solar to make up a story explaining herabsence, one she hoped would satisfy her husband. One look at his face,however, told her all was lost.

He knew!

Somehow,some way, Lionheart had learned she was the White Knight. She had never seenhim in such a rage. The blood vessels in his neck stood out, and his hands wereclenching and unclenching at his sides. His lips had thinned, and his eyes . .. heaven help her, the look in his eyes chilled her to the bone. She shiveredand waited for the heavy hand of his anger to fall upon her.

"You!"he raged, pointing a finger at her. "You played me for a fool! Did youthink I would never find out?"

"Ihave no idea what you are talking about," Vanora said, pretendinginnocence.

He stalkedforward until they stood nose to nose. His rage was so stunning she could notmove, much less speak.

"Doyou not?" He removed his sword and thrust it at her. "Take it. Showme your skill."

She shookher head and backed away. He followed.

"Iknow you can use it. Go ahead, take it."

Hoping toappease his anger, she took the sword but let it hang limply in her hand."I cannot raise a sword against you."

Helaughed, the harsh sound grating in her ears. "You had no such problem inthe past."